Defending champions Worcestershire & Herefordshire went out of the North Midlands Championship, losing 34-26 to Greater Birmingham at Droitwich.

The result was in doubt right up to the 79th minute when Solihull winger Luke Smith sealed the game.

Upton-on-Severn winger Chris O'Neil scored a try in each half for Worcestershire & Herefordshire.

Greater Birmingham had to come from 14 points down inside the first 25 minutes to seal victory.

O'Neil's first try and an opportunist second from Kidderminster Carolians full-back Andy McClellan, were converted by Hereford's Dean Powell.

Greater Birmingham rallied effectively with Walmsley slotting a penalty which was the prelude to three tries in the last eight minutes of the first half.

Camp Hill lock Chris Goddard rolled over for the first, Smith went over for his first, and then Dudley Kingswinford scrum-half Robbie Harlow emerged from a heap of bodies to claim the third.

Walmsley converted all three tries which gave Greater Birmingham a 10-point advantage at the break.

O'Neil's second try and Powell's conversion trimmed the deficit six minutes into the second half, before Walmsley landed a difficult penalty into the breeze.

The lead was trimmed when replacement flanker Rich Preece (Hereford) went over but Powell's conversion hit the left hand upright and bounced out.

W & H had further pressure but they struggled to win crucial line-outs and Smith's late clincher ended their hopes of another final.

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