Shropshire gain place in rugby championship

Shropshire have been gifted a place in the final of rugby's RLF North Midlands Championship - after Greater Birmingham pulled out of last night's do-or-die group game.

Defending champions Shropshire were due to face Greater Birmingham in a crunch clash at Harper Adams, Edgmond.

With both sides having already lost to Worcestershire & Herefordshire, last night's fixture would have decided who went through to face them again in the final at Stourbridge next Tuesday.

But Birmingham pulled out because of a shortage in the front row caused by the late withdrawal of hookers Craig Lea and Jim Goulding.

"It was a little bit disappointing that a Union the size of Greater Birmingham wasn't able to raise a side," said chairman of rugby Gordon Wood.

"They blamed the fact that Bournville had played in the final of the North Midlands Cup on Saturday and had injuries occuring from that.

"When they spoke to me at 5pm yesterday, they only had 13 players with not much prospect of getting any more, so they conceded.

"It's not an ideal way to go through to the final because one likes to win matches," added Wood. "But we're now planning to go out there and retain the trophy."