Hockey: Women's County Cup - in pictures

Shrewsbury retained their title as champions of Shropshire with a commanding performance in the County Cup.

The holders won all their games in the round-robin four-team tournament at Meole Brace – and they didn't even concede a single goal in doing so.

It left Telford & Wrekin and Bridgnorth – both rivals this season in the West Midlands Women's League Feeder West – to fight it out for the minor places along with County Women's League team Wem.

"We were really pleased to be able to retain the trophy and it's a real confidence booster for us ahead of the start of the new league season a week on Saturday," said Shrewsbury skipper Lynsey Cater.

"The county tournament is always tricky because all the matches are local derbies.

"You know they are all going to be difficult because local pride is at stake.

"Our aim was to win all our games and not to concede any goals so we were delighted to be able to do it."

Shrewsbury opened with a 3-0 win over Wem and followed up with victory over Bridgnorth by the same margin.

Finally, in what proved to be the tournament decider, they defeated Telford & Wrekin to claim the cup.

The eight goals were shared around between five players – with Zoe Mortimer, Annette Berg, Georgie Hessey, Lucy Ratcliffe and Cheryl Heath all on target.

Ratcliffe is a new arrival at the club, having signed from north Shropshire neighbours Whitchurch, who play in the Cheshire Women's League.

And re-inforcements were certainly needed for the county town side, who will be up against their own second team in Feeder West when the season starts.

"Our first home match will be against our seconds (in the opening game of the season on September 24) and it will be tricky but we have to treat it like any other game," Cater added.

Telford & Wrekin had to settle for second place on Saturday while Bridgnorth completed the round robin in third, with Wem propping up the table.

By CHRIS HUDSON