Bridgnorth withstood an onslaught from Dudley Kingswinford (DK) to lift the North Midlands Cup for the first time with a 20-17 win in Stourbridge in March, according to North Midlands RFU.
It appeared Bridgnorth were easing to a comfortable victory when they led 20-7 at half-time, but DK were a transformed team in the second half and came within a penalty kick of snatching victory. DK hit them hard early and the Midlands One West club took the lead after 14 minutes when Matt Squire rounded off a sustained attack and Vaughan added the extras. But Bridgnorth, a division higher in Midlands Premier, soon levelled when captain Callum Madden drove over from close range and Llew Williams landed the conversion.
Bridgnorth were rewarded for pressure by two penalties which stretched the lead before Afa Haisila rounded off a sweeping attack with a polished finish. DK responded with a passionate second-half display which narrowly failed to bring them victory before Bridgnorth marched on to a historic win. Bridgnorth had won the North Midlands Shield and North Midlands Cup Plate in the past but until now they had never won the main county cup competition.
