Cornwall captain Ben Hilton has disciplinary case dismissed

Ben Hilton will skipper Cornwall in the County Championship final at Twickenham on Sunday after the Launceston lock had a disciplinary case dismissed.

Hilton had been accused of punching or striking an opponent in a National Two South match against Worthing.

Fellow forward Barry-John Chapman will miss the final against Lancashire after being banned for eight weeks.

He was found guilty of stamping following an incident during the same game last month.

Chapman's suspension will run initially from 21 May to 4 June and then from 2 September to 13 October.

A third Launceston player, Tim Mathias. who was also charged with punching or striking an opponent during the Worthing match, will have to learn his fate after his case was adjourned until a later date.

Cornwall's Ashley Lawton will be relieved that Hilton can play in the final.

"We call Ben Hilton 'The Cornish Granite', and he is," he told BBC Radio Cornwall after the team's win over Hertfordshire last weekend.

"In the first 10 minutes he got virtually knocked out, but got straight up and kept playing.

"At half time in the changing room he was actually being sick and I said to him, 'you have to stay on because you're an inspiration not just to me, but to all, the boys around you and the supporters as well'.

"He puts his heart on the field and that boy bleeds black and gold."