Worcestershire & Herefordshire will field a front row of newcomers when they begin their defence of the Iskitz Three Counties Championship against Shropshire at Worcester’s Weston’s Fields tonight (Wednesday February 7) (8pm).
Old Halesonians pair Sam Jones and Ethan Priest will be joined by Bromyard tighthead Will Allman as the newcomers in W&H’s starting line-up against a new-look Shropshire side.
W&H will be attempting to complete a hat-trick of title wins in the competition having successfully defended their title last season, beating Greater Birmingham in the final at Edwardians.
The nucleus of last season’s successful side remain including Bromsgrove flanker Jay Martin, who will captain the side, and Kidderminster Carolians scrum-half Chris Pinner, brother of former Worcestershire and Leicestershire cricketer Neil.
W&H will play their second group match against Greater Birmingham at Birmingham Exiles on February 21 with Shropshire hosting Greater Birmingham at Telford Hornets in the final group match on March 14.
The final between the top two teams in the group will be played at Ledbury on May 20.
The Iskitz Three Counties Championship is contested annually by the three Domestic Unions that comprise the North Midlands RFU and provides county representative rugby for players from outside the National Leagues.
Iskitz, the Malvern-based international sports kit suppliers, are generously sponsoring the Three Counties Championship for a fourth season.
Worcestershire & Herefordshire
15 Andy Holloway (Old Halesonians); 14 Wilf Watson (Evesham), 13 Ross Attwood (Bredon Star), 12 Ben King (Malvern), 11 George Tildesley (Stourbridge Lions); 10 Mike Diston (Evesham), 9 Chris Pinner (Kidderminster Carolians); 1 Ethan Priest (Old Halesonians), 2 Sam Jones (Old Halesonians), 3 Will Allman (Bromyard), 4 Tom King (Old Halesonians), 5 Russ Brown (Droitwich), 6 Jay Martin (Bromsgrove – captain), 7 Josh Tomlinson (Bromsgrove), 8 Max MacFarlane (Upton on Severn).
Replacements (from): Tom Gazey (Evesham), Dave Wargen (Ledbury), Matt Young (Old Halesonians), Lewis Jordan (Hereford), James Shewell (Droitwich), Brian Ranns (Pershore), Luke Yarranton (Hereford), Ron Anscomb (Ledbury), Dan Humpston (Evesham), Dafydd Oliver (Pershore), Freddy Morgan (Kidderminster Carolians), Ash White (Pershore), Sam Gladwin (Redditch), Bryn Williams (Bromsgrove).