A phenomenal first half performance proved to be the difference as Maidstone overcame undefeated Bridgnorth to clinch the RFU Intermediate Cup at Twickenham.

The Willow Way-based outfit got off to the perfect start, with centre Olly Newton crossing the whitewash inside two minutes and scrum-half Ben Pitkin converting. This set the ball rolling for what was a dominant first 40 minutes.

Maidstone overcame some hammering Bridgnorth runs, and some fierce counter rucking saw the Shropshire team concede a penalty inside their own half, with Pitkin taking the three points.

Stones turned up the pressure and in the 20th minute winger Alex Eastwood crossed in the corne for the second try of the game, with Pitkin continuing a great afternoon with the boot to add the extras.

Bridgnorth's best opportunity of the first half came after sustained forward pressure pushed them to within five metres of the try line, but the attack was quickly dealt with by an impressive Maidstone defence.

Helped by the weaving running of full-back Jason Smith the London 2 South East champions continued to push forward and on the half-hour mark flanker Josh Pankhurst scored a brilliant solo try from 35 metres out, which was promptly converted by ever-reliable Pitkin.

A spirited Bridgnorth fight back in the final 10 saw them bag two penalties to bring the half-time score to 24-6.

The game looked all but over going into the second 40, but following some tactical substitutions Bridgnorth began to resemble a different side.

Then, against the run of play Maidstone broke upfield and following several phases open side Eddie Cranston cut a great line to dive under the posts for his team's fourth and final converted try.

The All Blacks fought back and following a sustained period of forward pressure captain Dan Griffiths steered a powerful driving maul over the line for an unconverted try, bringing the score to 31-11 going into the final 10 minutes.

The Midlands 2 North West side refused to lie down, and a second storming maul from a 10-metre line-out set up the perfect platform for Will Biddell to cut a superb inside line and cross for his side's second try.

The winger converted his own score and with seven minutes to go Bridgnorth looked the more confident side.

Maidstone were not going to let the game slip away from them however, and they withstood yet more forward pressure to seal a 31-18 victory and cap what has been a fairytale season.

The win was made even more special for captain Ben Williams who got down on one knee after the final whistle to pop the question to fiancée Jo Cook, who promptly said yes.