North Midlands number eight Adam Brankley scored a try but could not save Midlands Under-20s from a 28-24 defeat by the North at Chesterfield today.
Brankley of Harper Adams University was set up by his county team-mate Jack Harrison (Newport) but the North snatched victory with a late try.
Brankley played the full 80 minutes while fly-half Harrison, prop Jordan Grass (Newport) and full-back Joe Hearle (Southend) came on as replacements for the second half. A fifth North Midlands player, flanker Sam Montieri (Bedwas) missed the match because of injury.
The match was watched by the England Counties Under-20s selectors who will meet later this week to pick a squad to tour Russia in June.