WORCESTERSHIRE and Herefordshire won the RLF North Midlands Championship by beating holders Shropshire 16-3 in a lively but scrappy final at Stourbridge last night.
The two counties completed their campaign unbeaten following wins over Greater Birmingham and Shropshire in their group matches.
Solid defence under pressure and two tries in a five-minute period late in the first-half from number eight Andy McEwan and winger Steph Ellis helped to secure the win against a Shropshire side missing five key backs.
Shropshire, who won the title for the first time in four years 12 months ago, lacked cohesion in attack as a consequence and had to rely on a first-half penalty from Jamie Simpson for their points.
Luctonians scrum-half Simpson opened the scoring when he slotted a 24th-minute penalty having earlier struck a post with a similar kick.
But the two counties hit back immediately with McEwan, the powerful Dudley Kingswinford number eight, breaking flimsy tackling and powering over.
Hereford fly-half Dean Powell missed the conversion after previously hooking a kickable penalty close to the posts.
The two counties stretched their lead with an opportunist try when Pershore’s Ellis capitalised on a favourable bounce to sprint clear for another unconverted try.
Old Halesonians centre Rees Pritchard almost went over for a third try just before the break.
They led 10-3 and nudged 10 points clear after the interval when Powell found the target with a well-struck penalty after 54 minutes.
Missed opportunities proved costly for Shropshire as Powell banged over his second penalty 10 minutes from time.
Meanwhile, North Midlands will be forced into changes for County Championship Bill Beaumont Cup Division Two North winner-takes-all group match with Warwickshire at Rugby Lions on Saturday.
Former England Under 18s flanker Guy Thompson (Hereford), prop Craig Voisey (Rotherham), hooker Dan Oselton (Moseley) and lock Gareth Taylor (Malvern) are unavailable.
Anthony Marfell (Luctonians), Will Betts, Dale Garner (both Birmingham and Solihull) and Simon Daws are the likely replacements.
North Midlands head coach Alan Hubbleday said: “It’s pretty much become knock-out rugby and anything can happen in that situation.”
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