WORCESTERSHIRE and Herefordshire, the defending RLF Hart Gilmore North Midlands rugby champions, kept alive their hopes of reaching this season's final with a 30-22 win over Shropshire at Shrewsbury.
The Combined Counties must now await the outcome of the final group match between Greater Birmingham and Shropshire at Edwardians on April 30 to discover whether they have qualified for the final at Stourbridge on May 7. Greater Birmingham beat Worcestershire and Herefordshire 22-10 last week and the top two teams in the group progress to the final.
Worcestershire and Herefordshire's win was not as comfortable as it appeared at half-time when they led 25-0 and they needed a try from Malvern winger Rob Young to end Shropshire's spirited fightback.
Malvern scrum-half Sam Hardcastle scored twice and fly-half Gary Preece (Hereford) and prop Chris Maritza (Evesham) once each. Malvern centre Gareth Richards added a conversion and a penalty.
Paul Bolland, Derek Sandall and Paul Appleby scored Shropshire tries, but a Young try then gave the Combined Counties a 30-15 cushion.
Tom Pemberton scored Shropshire's fourth try near the end.
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