LEDBURY RFC are celebrating their second promotion in three league seasons following an emphatic 57-26 win against Droitwich in their final league game.

The club said that the promotion is ‘testament to the strength of the playing squad, the outstanding coaching abilities of the senior Coaches and the support and dedication of all involved within the club, both staff and numerous volunteers’. 

Details will follow as to the exact league structure for next season following the deliberations of the RFU.

Ledbury concluded their Counties 1 Midlands West (South) league campaign with a 57-26 home victory against Droitwich.

Prior to kick off, both teams and the entire crowd of supporters gave a rousing minutes applause to remember former club captain, Reg Watkins, who sadly passed away a few days before the match.

Ledbury began with a score straight out of the blocks with Ben Mason breaking, drawing his man before releasing to Josh Bishop who scored a peach of a try, converted by Iolo Bubb.

Droitwich replied and started to control proceedings with a try through their prop. That was until first scrum, which resulted in a penalty for Ledbury and from the ensuing scrabble to keep them out, the referee awarded a penalty try (14-7).

A rejuvenated Droitwich kept the home side out and brought the scores even after their second row forward crashed over after some concerted pressure on the Ledbury line.

In a flash Ledbury responded with a close range try from Harry Harris, after a quickly taken penalty taking the half-time score to 19-14.

The second half began with a bang and after Jonny Whitting made a huge break Freddie Hemingway dummied his way over to score a scintillating try, converted by Bubb.

Ledbury were running riot and from the kick-off, Jock Welch received and found Hemingway in close support, resulting in a converted try for Charlie Barber-Starkey.

The home side looked to have put the game out of sight as Rob Gummer crashed over after another great passing movement which again Bubb converted to make it 40-14.

However, Ledbury then took their foot off the pedal and some inept defence allowed the Droitwich flanker to score in the corner, followed by a brilliant conversion from the touch-line into the face of a gale.

Ledbury nerves settled when, from a lineout on the Droitwich 22, Ed Bennion gathered a bobbling ball and careered over for a converted try.

Minutes later, in a similar position, Bennion repeated the same routine, seizing onto a stray ball knocked back from a lineout to waltz over untouched( 52-21).

The visitors weren’t finished though and were rewarded with a late try in the corner. The final play of the match saw Jack Hughes take a quick penalty to find Tom Hill in support who gave Luke Clarke the scoring pass to finish the game 57-26.