Upton upon Severn winger Alex Pimlow scored a hat-trick as Worcestershire & Herefordshire beat Shropshire 35-29 to reach the North Midlands final.

Ross Coombes and Lachlan Porteous also crossed for the defending champions at Droitwich to set up a showdown with Greater Birmingham next Tuesday.

Shropshire's Watisoni Leqeti crossed three times and Vic van Staden had a vital touchdown disallowed.

If Shropshire had lost by a point, they would have been in the final.

Shropshire had a scratch side due to injuries and senior call-ups, and lost influential fly-half James Curgenven with a leg injury during the game.

County spokesman Gordon Wood said: "I take my hat off to those who came in and gave it their all."

The combined counties side are looking for their third consecutive title when they face Birmingham in the final at Stourbridge.