Star comment: A day for Bridgnorth to be proud of
What a grand day out! For one day only, the town of Bridgnorth moved. In their hundreds and thousands the population made the trek to Twickers, the home of English rugby, to support the all-conquering All Blacks, as their local rugby heroes are called.
Sport stirs the soul like that. Bridgnorth faced Maidstone in the RFU Intermediate Cup final. Just making it to Twickenham and being able to savour running out onto the hallowed turf, which has been graced by some of the greats of the game, was a victory and an achievement never to be forgotten and never to be taken away.
Those players wrote their name in Shropshire sporting history. Okay, they may not have become household names across the county, but next time they walk the streets in Bridgnorth they can get well-deserved pats on the back (although we fancy that one or two of them may pointedly mention at the time that they are "rather thirsty".)
And by taking along so many supporters, Bridgnorth made it like a home game, cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd.
These parts have seen rugby glory before. Cleobury Mortimer emptied in April 2006 when hundreds of townsfolk travelled to Twickenham to watch Cleobury's rugby players take on Dorking in the final of the Powergen Junior Vase. The result? Who cares? It was party time, an occasion to celebrate just being there and to be a part of it, although for the record, we suppose we'd better mention that Cleobury lost 46-3.
That's the thing about rugby. Players and supporters love the game, and that love counts for more than club rivalry or a win-at-all-costs attitude.
Even as Bridgnorth's finest were performing heroics with the oval ball at Twickers, Shrewsbury Town, those exponents of the round-ball game, have been having a promotion party. They have had a great season which has brought a feelgood factor to the county town. After all the tension as things headed for the climax, the achievement of automatic promotion was a great relief. Supporters could at last stop holding their breath.
Telford United supporters have not had so much to cheer, but having won promotion last season and their first championship title for 62 years, things were always going to be tough this season.
Do not be surprised if they do great things next season.
