NEW leaders Pershore RFC will be expecting few favours from their county colleagues Redditch when they visit Bromsgrove Road in Midlands Four West (South).

The Piddle Park outfit have leapfrogged Droitwich to the top of the league on goal difference after their fine recent form and are red-hot favourites to take the points away from Redditch on Saturday.

Redditch have won just one league game all season and go into the game on the back of a weekend 16-6 defeat at second-placed Droitwich.

The only bright spot so far this season for the Kingfishers came last month when they comfortably beat bottom side Trinity Guild 34-10. However, their performances have been steadily improving since November and on Saturday provided promotion chasing Droitwich with a stern test at the Memorial Ground.

With the situation so tight at the top, Droitwich could go back to the league summit by racking up more tries than Pershore when they travel to Southam.

However, the Warwickshire-based side will be in no mood to give their visitors easy points as they have moved into third placed and are challenging the Worcestershire duo at the top. Indeed, a Southam win will see them move level on points with Droitwich as the race for the title hots up.

Another intriguing title race involving county sides is in North Midlands One where Ledbury are the new pacesetters. The Ross Road club moved two points clear of promotion favourites Stourport after winning their last three league games while the second-placed Walshes Meadow side have been left frustrated with two recent postponements.

Ledbury have reacted well to their October defeat in Stourport and are now looking the likeliest title challengers after Bishops Castle's slump in form.

In the same league, Bromyard welcome third-placed Veseyans to Tenbury Road while Upton should notch their third win of the season when they face bottom side Erdington at Collingshurst Meadow.