A TEAM packed with South Pacific players proved to be too strong for local sides as they powered their way to victory at Droitwich RFC's tens tournament at the Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground on Saturday.

The invitational side named Pacific Blues defeated a strong Bromsgrove team in the semi-finals and the edged past the hosts in the final to take the glory.

Nine teams battled it out to qualify from the two groups stages into the semi-finals.

Droitwich made an emphatic start by topping Pool A, with Bromsgrove qualifying as runners-up, in order to ensure a semi-final clash against Pool B's second placed side Pershore.

In a tight game, where Droitwich and Pershore were locked at 12-12, it took a moment of magic by Leon Hopkins to score the winning touch down late on. In the second semi-final Bromsgrove were beaten by Pool B winners Pacific Blues.

In the final Droitwich's opponents took an early lead, which despite increasingly heavy pressure by the tournament's hosts, would not be relinquished by Pacific Blues.

Jim Richardson was named Droitwich's player of the tournament after a series of potent attacking performances, while Phil Horton also showed he was getting back to his best after being sidelined by injury last season.

In the plate competition Ludlow got the better of Malvern.

Head coach Dan Protherough said: "It was good we got to the final.

"Our preparations are going quite well but there are a few things we need to nail down and hopefully we'll sort that out in the next few weeks."