A LAST-gasp try and conversion denied Worcest-ershire & Herefordshire a sixth successive title in the RFL Hart Gilmore North Midlands Rugby Championship at Stour-bridge.

Malvern winger Ben Hughes looked to have seen the combined counties home with a long-range try but there was a sting in the tail from opponents Greater Birming-ham, who grabbed victory with the final kick of the game.

Constant pressure from the Birmingham side culminated in Aston OE number eight Richard Mc-Namara going over to tie the scores at 31-31.

Camp Hill fly-half Ian Chetland then kicked the vital conversion from around 40 yards to secure the most dramatic of wins by 33-31.

The defending champions looked odds-on to retain their crown when they surged to a 20-10 lead thanks to tries from Kidderminster Carolians centre Matt Smith and Cleobury Mortimer prop Tony Heap.

Hereford's Jeremy Grisman kicked four penalties and two conversions to complete his side's scoring but it was not enough to stop Greater Birmingham from lifting the prize they last won in 1994.

Previously, Worcester-shire & Herefordshire had beaten Greater Birming-ham 24-17 at Ledbury.

A try from Evesham prop Chris Maritza, converted by Hereford's Finbar Heavens, plus a penalty, gave them a 10-0 half time margin.

Dixonians duo M Donoghue and D Best touched down for Birmingham but Worce-stershire & Herefordshire held on to win.