DURHAM will face Eastern Counties at Hartlepool Rovers on Saturday in the County Championship Plate final after beating Sussex 39-13 at the same venue.

The win guarantees them promotion to the Shield next season, where they will renew rivalries with Northumberland and Cumbria.

Durham dominated the early play and went ahead with a try by Durham University centre Rob McDermott and a conversion and penalty by Middlesbrough full back Simon Moore.

A penalty and a length-of-the-field interception try put the visitors back in contention, but centre Chris Dunlop (Durham University) quickly made amends for the pass which gave them their try by crossing to give Durham a 15-8 interval lead.

A Moore penalty nudged Durham further ahead before outstanding flanker Dan Cooper crossed for replacement full-back Gareth Foreman to convert.

A brace of Foreman penalties then put Durham in control at 31-8 and after Sussex's second try Foreman wrapped up the win with a try and another penalty.

"I'm really pleased for the lads," said Durham president Jim Ainslie. "They're a very special bunch and they thoroughly deserve the success they're getting."

Lancashire will be back at Twickenham on Monday week to defend their County Championship title in a rematch of last season's final against Devon after beating Yorkshire 27-17 at Sedgley Park.

The Red Rose prevailed in often monsoon-like conditions because they were much more streetwise throughout, whereas their opponents fell off tackles, turned over possession and played a high-risk game in the first-half, falling 27-3 behind.

Northumberland's hopes of reaching the final of the County Championship Shield vanished when they lost 23-17 to Warwickshire at Coventry. Darlington flanker Phil Dawson scored an unconverted try and Blaydon fly-half Anthony Mellalieu kicked four penalties.