CLEOBURY Mortimer's magical Cup run had a knock on effect as they boasted a bumper turnout of players for an 8-0 league victory over Marconi Coventry and their second team game.

The Love Lane club had 19 men available for the Midlands Four West South win which extended their unbeaten run to 12 matches.

And Cleobury also had 22 players to call upon for their 35-0 second team defeat at Ludlow.

Spokesman Dave Hinves said: "The successes of recent weeks have shown an upturn in interest locally for rugby. "

There was an "after the Lord Mayor's show" feel about the first team win following the epic Powergen Junior Vase triumph over Sunderland the previous weekend.

In front of a much smaller crowd Cleobury rested several key players as they came up against a fussy referee and bottom-placed opponents with nothing to lose.

Two league points and no injuries were the only positives to emerge from a dour match with winger James Manley scoring his 12th try of the season and Allan Shields adding a penalty.

In only their sixth game of the season the seconds lacked cohesion and fitness and could not cope with experienced and motivated hosts Ludlow in a convincing defeat.