SHROPSHIRE WIN DIVISION 3

UKDA DIVISION 3

WINNERS – SHROPSHIRE

2^nd Gwynedd

3^rd – Wirral

Despite a 23 – 16 loss to Gwynedd, Shropshire came away from this weekends fixtures as the Division 3 champions. Gwynedd didn’t gain enough points to take the top spot in the division. Finishing 2^nd, just 5 points shy of the champions, they join Shropshire in promotion to Division 2.

With their their first fixture having to be postponed at the beginning of the season, they knew they had to play catch-up. They started on the road to Wiltshire taking a 24-12 win and it was only upwards from there. With a 22-14 and 24-12 win in their next 2 games, the race was on. Despite a hiccup and narrowly losing out to Gloucestershire in their rearranged game, they keep the belief and came back strong beating Montgomery and Radnor 26-10. 2 months later would be their biggest victory of the season as they beat Isle of Wight 30 -6. with that win and the following 22-14 at home against Pembrokeshire, their promotion was guaranteed. With the final game being at home, the party could get started early. Congratulations and good luck next season.

Gwynedd on the other hand, had a shaky start to the season with back to back 17-19 losses. their first win coming at home against Bedfordshire 22-14. From then on their climb began. with some great results helping them along the way. Against fellow Welsh sides they flourished, beating Montgomery and Radnor 27-9 and Brecon 22-14 before a long trip to the Isle of Wight resulting in a 21-15 win. Again the Welsh side of Pembrokeshire struggled against their Northern neighbours as Gwynedd took 25 of the points on offer. With Gloucester and the divisional champions also losing out to the resurgent Gwynedd, they had promotion in the bag. Good luck in Division 2 next season.

Isle of Wight finished 10^th for the 5^th successive season with Montgomery and Radnor finishing 9^th as last years 9^th place finishers, Pembrokeshire climbed above them finishing 8^th.

The other counties, Wirral (3^rd), Breconshire(4^th), Bedfordshire (5^th), Wiltshire (6^th) and Gloucestershire (8^th) will be joined by West of England and Buckinghamshire who were relegated from Division 2.