LUDLOW suffered a disappointing 26-10 defeat at Spartans in their opening game in Midlands Two West (North), loose passes and poor tackling allowing their hosts to take the spoils.

Ludlow did start brightly and were pressing hard for an opening score five metres from the line only for a wayward pass to to be scooped up by the Spartans fly half and booted the length of the field putting Ludlow under pressure on their own line.

Spartans opened the scoring on 11 minutes through a well-worked effort from flanker Andy Bushell which was converted by Tom Hardy.

A second try duly followed from another break upfield and this time it was back row Perry Bates-Powell who scored in the corner to open up a 12-0 lead.

A high tackle on Ludlow centre Jack Lines earned a yellow card for Spartans lock Jamie Owen and when the resulting penalty was kicked to the corner, a catch and drive move from the line-out ended with Freddie Brick going over. Lines added the conversion to make it 12-7 at the break.

A Lines penalty early in the second half closed the gap to two points but the home side had the better of the second period and wrapped up the points with a brace of converted tries from full-back Alex Garbett.

Ludlow are in cup action on Saturday when they take on Evesham at The Linney.