THERE was double cause for celebration for Hounslow's rugby teams on Saturday as Chiswick lifted the Middlesex Cup and Grasshoppers the Middlesex Bowl.

At The Reeves in Hanworth, Chiswick (pictured) wrote their names on the Middlesex Cup for the first time in their 55 year history after beating hosts Staines 39-20 in the final.

Meanwhile, at McFarlane Lane in Osterley, it was hosts Grasshoppers who triumphed in the Middlesex Bowl final, seeing off the challenge of the Honorary Artillery Corps 44-27.

For Chiswick, the trophy was a fitting send off for former chairman David Goodenough, who has retired to the south coast and been replaced by club record appearance holder Kelvin Campbell.

He said: “Back in my playing days, the Middlesex Cup was won by the likes of Harlequins, Wasps and Saracens, and Chiswick would usually go a few rounds before being hammered by one of them.

“Even in the days of professionalism, it is usually won by semi-pro clubs like Ealing, Staines or Ruislip, so for Chiswick to win it is a real sign of the emerging talent at the club.”

Despite falling behind to a Staines penalty, Chiswick came back with tries under the posts from

Henry Steatfield and Sam Hood, Simon Hallett converting both, before Tom Steer kicked a penalty.

Staines pulled back a try from a quick tap penalty before the break, but Chiswick hit back after the interval with a Jon Gibson try, converted by Hallett, which opened the floodgates.

Two tries in three minutes took the game away from Staines, Romayo Brookes scoring the first and Steatfield sprinting 60 yards for his second of the day, Hallett converting the latter

Staines pulled back some pride with two tries in the last 10 minutes, sandwiching a penalty from Hallett, but the game was already won by Chiswick.

Over at Grasshoppers, Matt Orishaguna slipped in to open the scoring with an unconverted try, but back came HAC, and after Chris Brown ran a great line from a scrum to score a try which also went unconverted, HAC drew level with a penalty.

By half time, Gs had surged 22-10 ahead with tries from Mark Cunningham and Tom Woodhouse, with Conor Gilmore adding a conversion, but an early HAC try after the interval reduced the deficit.

Korede Okelana's try, converted by Gilmore, was followed by a HAC try, but Gilmore kicked the gap back to 10 points, which then stretched to 15 thanks to an unconverted Jamie Hope try.

HAC wouldn’t lie down and closed the gap once more , but last word went to Brown, who rounded off a magnificent performance with his second try, converted by Gilmore.