Shrewsbury sees the positives in defeat

Shrewsbury lost 55-17 in a cup tie at Kidderminster at the start of October. Saturday's Sundorne Castle rematch in Midlands Two West North proved much tighter.

Shrewsbury remain seven points clear of the bottom two. They led through a penalty from Jamie Simpson but conceded a converted try right on the stroke of half-time.

Simpson's second penalty cut the arrears to 7-6 but the visitors pulled clear in the closing stages with a second try and a penalty.

Recent signing Will Lever, an 18-year-old winger from Whitchurch, was selected as Shrewsbury's man of the match.

Bridgnorth maintained their promotion push with a 28-18 home win over Bournville in Midlands One West.

Victory leaves them second – with all the top four locked together on the same number of points

But Bridgnorth have a game in hand – their postponed match at bottom-of-the-table Walsall which has been rescheduled for January 2.

On a muddy Edgar Davies Ground surface, Bridgnorth tackled one of their promotion rivals who fielded vastly experienced prop Terry Sigley.

However, the home pack – despite being without Richard Hooper – held their own in the set-pieces while Darren Brick controlled the line-out.

Will Biddell opened the scoring with a well-struck penalty after only five minutes before a line-out move brought the first try.

Simon Fletcher put a fine kick into the corner; Brick rose high to claim the ball and Ed John was driven over for the score. Biddell landed an excellent conversion for 10-0.

A second try came when Ted Parker crossed after some typically energetic charges from Will Crossley.

Bournville, showing some good handling in the conditions, responded and touched down for an unconverted try leaving the half-time score 15-5.

Two penalties for each side – one following a yellow card for Gareth Bladen – left it 21-11. But Bournville then took out Brick at the top of his jump for another yellow.

Home skipper Dan Griffiths opted for the scrum and the All Blacks forced their depleted opposition over for Brick to take his revenge. Biddell confidently converted the difficult kick.

In the dying minutes, Jimmy Gore also got a yellow and a converted try brought Bournville to within 10 points again.

Right on the whistle another penalty gave the visitors a shot at the bonus point which would have taken them top – but the kick sailed wide.

Telford Hornets took a stunning fifth consecutive victory by destroying league leaders Barton-under-Needwood 38-10.

The visitors arrived on top of the Midlands Four West North pile, but left looking anything other than promotion contenders.

It was the Hornets who gave the display of their life with hard-tackling, high-tempo rugby.

Elsewhere, Market Drayton lost 34-14 at home to Bromyard while Bishop's Castle and Onny Valley went down 26-0 at Rugeley.

Oswestry maintained their fine form in Cheshire South with a 22-3 home win over Congleton.

Meanwhile, Newport's slide down the National Three Midlands table continued with another damaging defeat.

There was no doubting their effort and commitment in the 31-12 home loss to Peterborough Lions.

But that will be scant consolation to the players and supporters as they slipped to 11th out of 14 in the table. A good start in January is imperative to restore confidence.

Ultimately they were over-powered by a big, well-drilled Lions team who still fancy a run to the second spot that would secure a play-off position.