THERE was national cup success for Tenbury and Clee Hill in the RFU Junior Vase at the weekend.

Midlands Five West (North) title hopefuls Tenbury sprung a shock in Coundon, Coventry, when they won a nailbiting cup tie 23-22 away to an Old Wheatleyans side who top the league a rung above their visitors in the rugby ladder – in Midlands Four West (North).

And not to be outdone, Division Four West (South) Clee Hill also went through, in their first competitive fixture against northern counterparts Burbage 22-8.

A Matthew Bowen try gave Clee Hill a 5-0 lead but their Leicestershire hosts hit back with a penalty and went ahead after the break with an unconverted try.

Robbie Jordan restored Clee’s advantage with an unconverted score for 10-8 before a Bryn Rees try, converted by Jordan, and another Bowen score saw the visitors into the next round.

“A lot of the team made a lot of errors because of the conditions,” said Clee Hill skipper Sam Links, after a downpour soaked the pitch.

“They also had a very good pack, that were strong and physical in the line-outs and scrums.

"In the second half we were a bit fitter and stronger, it was in the last half hour that we were able to pull it back in our favour.”

National progress meant Clee Hill and Tenbury will have wait until their Junior Vase adventures end before they can stage North Midlands Vase quarter finals, at home to Aston Old Edwardians and away to Ross on Wye, respectively.

Promotion-hopefuls Clee return to league action on Saturday, at home to Bloxwich.

Division Two West (North) title-chasers Ludlow were left without a fixture because North Midlands Shield opponents Kidderminster were in action in the RFU Midlands Cup.

With Kidderminster beating Crewe & Nantwich 46-28 at home, Ludlow will attempt to stage the shield semi-final against their Midlands Two southern section rivals a week on Saturday, and will return to their league campaign away to Newcastle (Staffs) on Saturday.

Church Stretton’s North Midlands Vase Plate hopes were ended by higher division Pershore, the Division Four visitors winning 40-5.

Bishops Castle & Onny Valley have a North Midlands Vase Plate quarter final at Dudley Wasps a week on Saturday, after first round opponents Market Drayton were unable to raise a team at the weekend, giving the hosts a walkover.

Bishops Castle host Stourport in the league on Saturday. Cleobury Mortimer visit Handsworth in Midlands Three West (North).