LOVE Lane wasn't the only place where fingernails were being gnawed down to the quicks on Saturday - hundreds of miles away there was one man and 30 children also on tenterhooks!

Cleobury Mortimer Rugby Club chairman Roy Powell, who works as a PE teacher at Lacon Childe School, was unable to attend the big match because it clashed with a pre-arranged school skiing trip.

But even though the Love Lane supremo could not be there in person, he and his party of pupils were huddled in their Italian hotel getting updates via the wonders of modern technology.

Club spokesman Dave Hinves said: "He was kept in constant touch with the events via texts and mobile phonecalls.

"Most of the 30 youngsters gathered round the hotel lounge awaiting news and gave a huge roar of approval when the result was confirmed."

Triumphant skipper Paul Harding described the game as "the longest I've ever played in!".

He said: "It seemed to go on forever and was so tight that it all came down to one penalty.

"We knew that we needed to score more points than them because of the away team rule and we worked hard for it.

"I am very proud of every player. We were very disciplined and this is a fantastic day for the club and for the town.