THE Cleobury Mortimer duo of Tom Leach and Paul Hulland both got on the scoresheet as Shropshire won the Iskitz Three Counties Championship for the third successive season with a 24-13 victory over Worcestershire & Herefordshire at Old Halesonians.

The win completed a successful season for rugby in Shropshire with four county clubs - Newport, Bridgnorth, Cleobury Mortimer and Church Stretton - winning league titles and Bridgnorth reaching the RFU Intermediate Cup final.

“We spoke about trying to win this for a third season to complete what has been a great season for Shropshire rugby,” said coach Steve Dolphin. “To finish top of the three North Midlands counties again has capped things off well and is a credit to the hard work that has been put in across the county. We’ve picked the side from a range of clubs spread from level five to level nine so it has been a true county-wide effort.”

Shropshire made hard work of it and were only four points up at half-time but Cleobury Mortimer flanker Leach was driven over for Shropshire’s second try eight minutes into the second half and a third touchdown from skipper Hulland stretched their lead to 24-6 before Worcestershire & Herefordshire’s persistence produced a late converted try.