LEDBURY tasted defeat for the first time this season as Manor Park brought their incredible run to an end in a narrow 16-12 victory.

Having started the 2023/24 Counties 1 Midlands West (South) campaign with nine bonus-point wins from nine, Manor Park produced the first blow to Ledbury's title hopes.

They now fall behind league leaders Luctonians 2s by four points after they made it 10 bonus-point wins from 10 against Old Coventrians on Saturday.

The top two go head-to-head in a mouth-watering clash at Ross Road on December 2.

Manor Park started the game well and took an early lead with a converted penalty, before missing the chance with another kick at goal.

Ledbury grew into the game and started to dominate territory, forcing the hosts back as the penalties began to rack up and it was not long before Manor Park were down to 14 as their flanker was sent to the bin for another infringement.

Ledbury took immediate advantage as Ben Mason scampered over in the corner.

The home side went down to 13 as another went to the bin and again, Ledbury made sure to capitalise as George Wallin crossed after a barnstorming run from Harry Harris. The conversion was added by Wallin and Ledbury led 12-3.

Harris was forced off ten minutes into the second-half and that caused a reshuffle in the front row, which proved to be a turning point. 

Manor Park began to dominate the set-piece and a pushover try soon came with the conversion to bring them right back into it. 10-12.

The home side were rampant in the scrum, causing a real issue for Ledbury, who were just not able to create any sort of momentum. 

Iolo Bubb went close to scoring mid-way through the half but Manor Park took the lead for the first time approaching the final 20 minutes as another Ledbury scrum disintegrated into the mud near their own line, the penalty being slotted. 13-12. 

Ledbury did what they could to try and work their way back up the pitch, but an infringement in front of their own posts enabled Manor Park to add the three points and with that, the game, and the perfect season record, was up for Ledbury. 16-12.