EVESHAM Rugby Club have secured promotion to Midlands Two West (South) for next season.

In dramatic fashion the Vale side left it until the final minutes of the last league fixture before earning a 22-20 win over local rivals Shipton-on-Stour.

Although Evesham only required a losing bonus point to ensure promotion from Midlands Three West (South) the team were eager to post a win in front of the home crowd.

The game began quickly with the ground hard and the weather fair.

But despite starting strongly Evesham were 12-0 down following two tries against the run of play.

This confirmed the travelling Shipston side were certainly intending to spoil the party.

Fly-half Mike Harris notched three points in return but the Avonsiders were unable to further affect the scoreboard as they went into half-time 12-3 down.

Having regrouped at the interval Evesham, who had lost their previous league game 42-16 at Rugby St Andrews, faced the tough challenge of overcoming the points deficit.

On cue number eight Mike Ainsworth and scrum-half Dan Humpston linked smartly to post Josh Sands in the corner for their first try.

Shortly after Evesham's backline cut through the away side's defence, allowing CJ Jeffery to cross in the corner.

Conceding a penalty and a third try in reply the scores were balanced at 20-15 to the Warwickshire visitors.

Then captain Nathan Chambers combined with centre Alexander Jackson to race home for the home side's final try.

With the pressure falling to Harris the young fly-half slotted the conversion to put Evesham ahead. 

With only 10 minutes of time to play Evesham kept Shipston deep in their own half with smart game management and the visitors were unable to post further scores.

It was a great season for Evesham who also reached the RFU Midlands Senior Vase final before losing to unbeaten Droitwich.

Third-placed Ledbury lost 10-5 at home to Rugby St Andrews to ensure Evesham finished seven points ahead in second spot with runaway champions Droitwich winning all 22 games.

Pershore finished third from bottom in Midlands Four West (South) after a tough end to the season continued with a 78-0 thrashing at Coventrians.

Seventh-placed Bredon Star enjoyed an emphatic end to the Gloucester Division One campaign, thrashing St Brendan's Old Boys 50-12 at home.