Telford Raiders Win Third Consecutive Midlands Premier League Title in Thrilling Final
Telford Raiders secured their third consecutive Midlands Premier League title in a hard-fought final against the Nottingham Outlaws, finishing with a close 16-10 victory. Despite being favourites after convincingly defeating Nottingham twice in the regular season, the Raiders approached the final with caution, aware that the Outlaws would bring a different level of intensity.
The match began with a tense arm wrestle, but the Raiders soon applied pressure on the Outlaws’ defence. Player-coach Nathan Parker broke through, scoring out wide, with Dan Robinson adding the conversion. Shortly after, hooker Harry Stoker capitalized on a quick play-the-ball, darting under the posts for a try, again converted by Robinson, giving the Raiders a strong lead. The Outlaws were reduced to 12 players after a sin-binning for dissent, and the Raiders took advantage, with Ben Foskett powering over just before halftime to extend the lead to 16-0.
The second half saw the Raiders lose momentum due to injuries to Ethan Ferry and Luke Brough, which disrupted their shape. The Outlaws fought back, scoring out wide to make it 16-6. Two Outlaws tries were disallowed for clear forward passes, but they managed a late score to close the gap to 16-10. Both teams displayed relentless defence in the closing stages, making the final a true nail-biter that could have gone either way.
Raiders Team Manager Martin Foskett expressed immense pride in the squad’s achievements, stating, “I am proud to be a part of this squad. We have had a great season which has culminated in our 3rd consecutive Midlands Premier League titles, a Harry Jepson Cup, and a Challenge Cup game. Roll on 2026!”
The Raiders’ resilience and depth shone through, securing their place as champions in a season marked by consistent excellence.
