HIGH-FLYING Cleobury Mortimer failed to keep up their great home form with a narrow 12-9 top-of-the-table defeat to Solihull in North Midlands One.

They were left disappointed after failing to take the chances created against strong and experienced opponents.

Solihull's pacey attacks led to a 6-0 lead through two penalties within 10 minutes and it took time for Cleobury to weather the storm.

Though pushed back in the set scrums, the villagers emerged with parity in the line-outs and an edge in the loose play.

Cleobury set up a platform for attacking moves and pegged the points back with two Colin Smith penalties.

The home side started the second period much better with Smith's third penalty.

But Solihull responded with a quick equaliser and took the lead with a fourth penalty late on.

Cleobury threw everything into attack but were held out by a determined defence and also missed three difficult kicks at goal during the match.