TENBURY CC captain Ben Thompson has hailed his “miracle workers” for their title-winning exploits – but admits he’s already plotting back-to-back promotions.

Thompson’s men capped an amazing undefeated second half of the season with an emphatic final-day win at West Malvern that saw them pinch the Worcestershire League Division Nine title.

Tenbury had not topped the league all season but overhauled long-time leaders Old Elizabethans – who ended up missing out on promotion completely – on the very last day.

“I’m really proud of the team over the course of the season,” beamed Thompson. “At the halfway point we needed a miracle to win the league.

“To go the second half of the season unbeaten was a real team effort and it was great to see so many promising youngsters doing well – for some of them it is their first taste of silverware.

“It will be great to have 11 new clubs to visit next season and we are looking forward to some local derbies at Cleobury and Martley – but the aim will be for back-to-back promotions.”

Thompson revealed that once they had sealed promotion with their own win, Tenbury’s players ‘huddled around a phone in the pub car park’ awaiting Old Elizabethans’ result against Ombersley.

“It wasn’t in our hands at the start of the day,” added Thompson. “Ombersley did us a massive favour beating OEs and on hearing the result the entire team went crazy celebrating.”

Promotion was virtually wrapped up when Tenbury posted a whopping 272-8 at West Malvern, a total anchored by opener Tom Pugh’s excellent 95.

Alfie Watts (40) – who shared a rapid-fire opening stand of 64 in eight overs with Pugh – and Chris Giles (37) added support in a fine top-order effort.

Nigel Payne (28no) and Oliver Tyler (24) added late runs before Robbie Farrar (6-36) and Zack Yarranton (2-24) bowled with real pace to skittle West Malvern for 101.

Elsewhere, Cleobury narrowly missed out on promotion in Worcestershire Eight, finishing third after a final-day walkover win over Eastnor seconds.

Church Stretton will definitely finish bottom of Shropshire League Division Four after a losing draw at home to Madeley seconds.

Keith Yapp (3-26) helped restrict Madeley to 183-8 but Callum Hodson’s 5-18 left Stretton clinging on for the draw at 104-9 in reply.

More heroics from Tom Moulder helped Bishops Castle secure safety with a five-wicket victory over Trysull and Seisdon.

Moulder took 3-55 to help limit the visitors to 161-6 and then hit an unbeaten 64, supported by Richard Fifield (57) to lead Castle to victory at 162-5.

Skipper Simon Palmer admitted: “Tom has got us out of trouble a lot this season and won us a few points.”

Corvedale are still in danger of relegation from Division Six after a 55-run defeat to Acton Reynald seconds.