Brick to captain Shropshire in RLF North Midlands Championship final

17/05/10 by Paul Bolton

Ludlow lock Darren Brick will captain Shropshire as they attempt to retain the RLF North Midlands Championship in the final against Worcestershire & Herefordshire at Stourbridge's Stourton Park ground on Tuesday May 18 (7.30pm).

Brick missed Shropshire's defeat by Worcestershire & Herefordshire in a group match at Droitwich two weeks ago because he was on club duty.

He was due to play for Shropshire against Greater Birmingham last week but that match was cancelled because Greater Birmingham could not raise a team so the holders were awarded a walkover into the final.

Shropshire, who won the triangular competition for the first time in four years 12 months ago, have called up Andy Crabtree at full-back and his Harper Adams University team-mate Chris Mann at loosehead prop.

England Colleges hooker Dan Kirby, who came on as a replacement against Worcestershire & Herefordshire in the group match, starts in the final.

The RLF North Midlands Championship is contested annually by the three Domestic Unions that comprise the North Midlands RFU and gives players from outside the National Leagues and those who do not play regular first team rugby at National Leagues level the opportunity to experience a high standard of representative rugby.

The competition has again been generously sponsored by RLF (Robinson Low Francis), the national firm of construction and property consultants, who are long-time supporters of the RLF North Midlands Championship and grassroots rugby in England.

Shropshire squad:
15 Andy Crabtree HAUC
14 Matt Farrington Bridgnorth
13 Rob Clymer Newport
12 Jimmy Mullock Whitchurch
11 Ben Williams HAUC
10 Tom Gravell HAUC/Whitchurch
9 Chris Hares Whitchurch
1 Chris Morton HAUC
2 Dan Kirby Bridgnorth
3 Keith Fowles Whitchurch
4 Darren Brick (Capt) Ludlow
5 James Lloyd Whitchurch
6 Gareth Wills Whitchurch
7 Robin Le Coq HAUC/Whitchurch
8 Richard Baxter Whitchurch
Replacements from
Phil Berry HAUC/Whitchurch
Jack Wells Newport
Phil Rogers Newport
Matt Young Ludlow
Matt Evans Whitchurch
Sam Parton HAUC
Nick Hulse Eccleshall
James Hutchinson HAUC
Danny Matthews Leeds Uni
Adam Faulkner Newport
Harry Shepherd HAUC
Jimmy Gore Bridgnorth