GREATER Birmingham won the Three Counties Championship for the first time since 2001 with a 28-5 triumph over holders Worcestershire and Herefordshire in the final at Shrewsbury.

It ended the two counties' hopes of taking the title for a fourth consecutive year as Birmingham avenged defeat in a group match at Stourbridge three weeks ago.

This time Worcestershire and Herefordshire were hit by the unavailability of players from Malvern, Hereford, Kidderminster Carolians and Dudley Kingswinford which forced changes.

Although battling away gamely, they struggled to penetrate Birmingham’s defence.

All that divided the sides after the opening 30 minutes were two early penalties from Sutton Coldfield fly-half Ben Morgan.

In the last seven minutes of the half Old Saltleians number eight Dom Woodcock went over for the opening try.

On half-time Sutton Coldfield wing Tom Burrows outpaced the defence to open up an 18-point lead.

Bromsgrove prop Cam Simpson got the two counties back in the match when he went over from close range.

But the score was cancelled out by a close-range effort from Birmingham flanker Ethan Channer and Woodcock's second try.