Shropshire 32pts Worcester and Hereford 16-

LUDLOW Rugby Club supplied five players for the Shropshire team who beat defending champions Worcester and Hereford at Stourbridge to win the Robinson Low Francis North Midlands Championship for the first time since 1985.

Their fly-half Mark Williams proved to be Shropshire's match winner with 17 points as they won the play-off match 32-16 after losing to their opponents in a previous group game.

Also in the successful team were wingers Derek Sandell and Ben Turner, prop Matt Young and flanker Paul Wright.

Other local clubs were represented with Worcestershire and Herefordshire including winger Richard Wozencroft (Tenbury), fly-half Greg Harwood (Luct-onians) and prop Andy Heap (Cleobury Mortimer).

An interesting twist to the occasion was that the Luc-onians senior coach Stewart Jardine looked after the Shrop-shire preparations and his club assistant Andy Douthwaite coached the opposition.

The uncompromising clash got off to a flier with the defending champions opening up an early ten point lead with a try from Malvern's Mark Gaubert and a conversion and penalty from Droitwich full-back Simon Mountjoy.

Bridgnorth centre Mike Preece pulled back five points with an unconverted try, but a second penalty from Mountjoy took the twin counties eight points clear. Whitchurch full-back Pete Burgess ended persistent pressure with a second Shropshire try and they closed to within a point when Williams added the conversion.

Mountjoy landed a third penalty but Shropshire hit back to take the lead when Williams landed two penalties in quick succession.

Shropshire's pack took control of the final quarter and Ludlow's Turner went over for a decisive try. Williams added the extra points and then crossed under the post for the final try, again landing the conversion.