A QUARTET from Bromsgrove RFC suffered heartache at Twickenham as North Midlands were beaten 20-13 by Hertfordshire on Sunday.

The regional side, containing Bromsgrove players Jon Taylor, Richard Arnold, James Lloyd-Jones and Dan Ott, staged a daring fight back in the second half.

However, the side was unable to win the shield for the second season in a row at the home of English Rugby Union.

North Midlands trailed after only four minutes when Hertfordshire full back Rob Colborne punished an off side by scoring a penalty.

The Midlands side were then forced back by the Southern Division champions, who pushed home their advantage, when fly-half Richard Manion touched down for a try which Colborne converted.

A second penalty by Colborne left the defending champions on the rocks just before half time.

However, former Bromsgrove coach Dave Stout transformed his side with his half time talk.

Substitute Ollie Thomas made the difference when his grubber kick put winger Joe Shaw under pressure.

Toby Wilson's tackle won the ball back for Bromsgrove on Hertfordshire's own line and Stephen Halbert touched down. Thomas was inches off converting the try, but his kick hit a post.

Taylor's dominance in the line out gave Bromsgrove the advantage and Thomas made it 13-8 with a penalty.

However, Ray Adde's try, converted by Colborne, put Hertfordshire back in control.

But the Midlands hit back after Richard Bromham was sin-binned, with Wilson touching down, only for Thomas' conversion to be off target.