NORTH Midlands won the Tetley's County Shield with a 58-5 win over Eastern Counties in the final at Twickenham.

It was North Midlands' first major honour since they won the County Championship in 1978 and their final appearance since they were edged out by Lancashire in the Championship showdown 22 years ago.

The victory was hailed as a three-year team effort after by captain Duncan Hughes, the Stourbridge fly-half.

Hughes, a former Worcester player, masterminded an eight-try victory, including two touchdowns from centre Toby Wilson, as the North Midlands' backs cut through their opponents.

"This is the culmination of three years hard work by coach Dave Stout in trying to get the players from the senior clubs in the area," said Hughes.

"The North Midlands is not a hotbed of rugby like Gloucestershire and Devon but we have some good clubs and we are looking forward to playing in the County Championship next season."

Eastern Counties will also compete in the Championship after reaching the final but coach Dave Smith admitted: "We lost to the best side on the day. They are a very strong outfit."

North Midlands started as pre-match favourites against an Eastern Counties side relying heavily on National League Three South North Walsham.

They lived up to their billing with a 22-0 half-time lead thanks to tries from Wilson, wing Tom Beechey and prop Terry Sigley.

Then the floodgates stayed open in the second.

North Midlands scorerswere: Tries - Wilson (2), Beechey, Sigley, Hall, Hubbleday, Perry, Taylor; Pen - Hughes (2); Cons - Hughes (6).

North Midlands: J Hall (Stourbridge); J Aston (Moseley), T Wilson (Stourbridge), M Eastwood (Malvern), T Beechey (Stourbridge); D Hughes (Stourbridge, capt), S Perry (Coventry); A Sturdy (Stourbridge), A Hubbleday (Pertemps Bees), T Sigley (Pertemps Bees), J Taylor (Bromsgrove), T Churchill (Bromsgrove), G Taylor (Stourbridge), S Dawes (Old Patesians), G Eager (Aston OE). Reps (all used): R Sigley (Moseley), B McGowan (Luctonians), D James (Moseley), R Arnold (Bromsgrove), G Taylor (Moseley), G Gregory (Pertemps Bees), S Halbert (Moseley).