THERE was heartbreak for Rugby on the final day of the Birmingham League Division Three season as they missed out on the league crown after suffering a nine-run defeat to Newport.
Having beaten title rivals Stourbridge the previous weekend, Rugby knew a win in their final match on Saturday would secure the league title but they fell at the final hurdle.
In a game reduced to 36 overs Rugby fell short on 172 all out in their chase of Newport’s 181-9, a result which allowed Stourbridge to snatch the title by seven points after they beat Stratford by eight wickets.
Rugby had announced themselves to the Birmingham League with a bang, starting the season with five consecutive wins to stake an early claim as title contenders before an indifferent run of form saw them drop off the pace.
However, a seven-match winning streak had fired them to the top of the table, before Saturday’s disappointment left captain Owen Edwards trying to see the positives.
“It was a horrible way to finish the season, because we didn’t do ourselves justice,” he said.
“We’ve been really consistent all summer and often over-performed, so I am really proud of what we’ve accomplished and I’d have bitten your hand off for a top two finish at the start of the summer.
“But having got so close, it is hard to be pragmatic because we just didn’t hit our straps on Saturday and let the title slip away.
“Frustratingly, it’s probably one of our two worst performances of the season, which couldn’t have come at a worse time.”
