WARRIORS’ grounds team have scooped a major national award.

They won the Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) Professional Rugby Union Grounds Team of the Year Award on Thursday night at stadiummk in Milton Keynes.

Warriors’ two-man grounds team of Martin Knight and Stuart Lambert, who were finalists for the prize last year, saw off competition from Premiership side Harlequins to win this year’s award.

In addition to the Warriors’ stadium and training pitches, there are six senior and 13 junior pitches of varying size plus an indoor third-generation synthetic surface training area – a total of 50 acres which the duo have to maintain.

Warriors’ head of operations Brian Ryan said: “I’d like to congratulate Martin and Stuart for this very prestigious award and they fully deserve the recognition.

“It has been a major achievement to be nominated as finalists two years in a row and fully demonstrates their commitment and expertise in delivering first-class surfaces.

“The stadium pitch in particular has developed into one of the best rugby surfaces in the country and I know they will put all of their efforts in keeping this in such good condition for years to come.”

Worcestershire County Cricket Club head groundsman Tim Packwood and his hard-working staff have won the Professional Cricket Grounds team of the year award.

The other members of the county groundstaff are Luke Weston, Martin Watts, Ash Hill, Arthur Jones and Steve Gravenall.

The honour was a fitting way for Tim to celebrate 25 years at New Road, while Martin has been part of the team for 35 seasons.

The square was under 10 feet of floodwater just eight weeks before the start of the 2014 campaign.

With the county also scooping the major County Recognition Award at the ECB Business of Cricket Awards, and the NatWest T20 Blast matchday experience at New Road voted among the best in the country, it shows everyone is heading in the right direction on and off the pitch.