WORCESTER girls' under 18s were denied a national final after being edged out in a three-team contest.

They stormed to a 43-0 victory over Castleford but a 14-12 defeat to Newark, who won both games, cost them in the semi-finals at Lichfield.

The girls regularly reach the national latter stages but their hopes of winning the cup in London this month were dashed.

Tries from Roisin McBrien, Maddie Rendell, Flo Thomson and Jasmine Gibbons put Worcester in charge of the first half.

Charlie Manns and Rendell added conversions.

Manns, Dijana Clarke and Leah Teague added to the try count in the second period.

A draw against Newark would have been enough for the final but their opponents' full-back caused problems to put Worcester 14-0 behind at half-time.

The city side hit back with tries from Teague and Rendell with Manns adding a conversion.

But the final, crucial conversion went a foot wide of the upright.

Worcester had been crowned area champions with a 39-7 victory over Ellesmere at Stafford.

Manns (2), Rendell and Thompson scored first-half tries with a conversion adding to the tally.

Manns, Thompson and Clarke dived over in the second period.