IT was another weekend full of spills and thrills in the Regional 2 West Midlands division as the battle for the league title intensified.

There is now just nine points separating the top six teams in the division as league leaders Ludlow were once more stopped in their tracks by Malvern.

The Spring Lane outfit won 30-21 to maintain their 100% home record, whilst stretching their winning run to seven matches and move to within three points of Ludlow.

Second-placed Old Halesonians are just two behind as they also recorded a seventh straight victory of their own, seeing off Hereford, who themselves drop to fifth having been second not so long ago.

Worcester's drop off continues as they lost for a fourth time in as many weeks to slump to seventh in the standings.

Having won five of their opening six, they were well placed in second but have dramatically fallen away and are now five points adrift of the top six.

Stratford Upon Avon kept themselves in the mix for the title with a narrow win over struggling Evesham to go five points off the top, whilst Walsall racked up 99 points in a demolition of bottom of the table and winless Droitwich.

Walsall remain sixth but are only nine away from the summit and as we approach Christmas, half of the league can consider themselves in the race to become champions.