THE rugby returned after a week-long break on Saturday, with both Stow on the Wold and Shipston on Stour in action in the Regional 2 Midlands West.

For Stow, they made the trip up the M5 to Worcestershire to face Worcester in their league clash and they returned to the Cotswolds with a bonus-point victory.

Having been edged out by Hereford in the previous round two weekends ago, Stow were able to see off the challenge of strugglers Worcester by 29-14. The win moves them back into fourth in the table, three points ahead of Hereford, whilst Worcester stay second-bottom with what was their seventh defeat of the season. 

As for Shipston, it was a brave performance at title-chasing Silhillians but despite their best efforts, they returned home empty-handed following a narrow 14-6 defeat.

By missing out on a losing bonus-point, they stay in eighth, whilst Silhillians remain three points off league leaders Newent, who beat bottom-of-the-table Berkswell & Balsall by 19-3.

Elsewhere in the division, third-placed Cheltenham beat Ludlow 21-17 and in an equally tight contest, Hereford edged Moseley Oak by a single point in a 16-15 victory at home.

This weekend's fixtures sees both Stow and Shipston at home to Cheltenham and Malvern respectively, both 2.15pm kick-offs.