Rugby Union

Lancashire retained their Bill Beaumont County Championship title in a seesaw final at Twickenham, where they defeated Hertfordshire 32-16.

Lancashire cruised to another Twickenham final with a comfortable-looking victory over Cheshire in the final round of group matches in the Bill Beaumont County Championship.

Preston Grasshoppers have completed their first major piece of business after promotion with the news that title-winning captain Paul Millea is staying put.

Lancashire racked up a second high-scoring win in their pursuit of another rugby union County Championship title.

Champions Vale of Lune slipped to a final-day defeat as Wilmslow pipped Northwich to the promotion play-off place in North One West.

Paul Arnold revealed his Preston Grasshoppers team found the challenge of winning the North Premier league title a lot harder than it looked.

Preston Grasshoppers wrapped up their title-winning season with a 10-try flourish, which preserved their 100 per cent home record in the North Premier League.

Preston Grasshoppers hope to put last Saturday’s defeat – only the second of the season – behind them and finish with a flourish when they host Sandal to round off their title-winning campaign in the North Premier League on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

Billingham 31 Preston Grasshoppers 27

Champions Hoppers suffered their second defeat of the season against a determined Billingham side who capitalised on some lapses in defence and at times indifferent handling.

Preston Grasshoppers head coach Paul Arnold has urged his title-winning players to enjoy the final few weeks of the season.

A county wheelchair rugby player is celebrating after a big win for his team.

Preston Grasshoppers recovered from a sluggish start to rack up 57 unanswered points and put a resounding gloss on collecting the North Premier League championship trophy at the end of their 22nd victory of this impressive season.

No rest for the champions. Preston Grasshoppers, newly-crowned kings of the North Premier League, and Vale of Lune, confirmed as title-winners in North One West last weekend, are both straight back into action tomorrow.

Gareth Dyer is head of rugby operations at Preston Grasshoppers

I have always been of the view that league tables do not lie.

Preston Grasshoppers 42 Ilkley 26

Despite a determined effort by Ilkley to spoil the promotion party, Preston Grasshoppers clinched the North Premier League title – and an immediate return to National League Two North – with three matches to spare.

Preston Grasshoppers’ ability to grind out victories from losing positions is what has set them apart from the pack this season.

This proved to be the proverbial game of two halves with Hoppers coming back from what looked like an irretrievable deficit at half time.

Preston Grasshoppers return to to action after their latest Saturday off with a first league visit to Lymm, who are fourth in the North Premier League – 20 points behind their visitors.