Counties prepare for final contest

9:00am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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WORCESTERSHIRE and Herefordshire have made four changes to their side for the final RLF North Midlands Championship group match against Shropshire at Droitwich tonight (7.30).

The two counties, seeking a third consecutive title, booked their place in the final at Stourbridge on May 20 by beating Greater Birmingham 21-20 in their opening group match.

The unavailability of Malvern full-back Chris Hooper means Ross Coombes, of Droitwich, switches from the wing with his club-mate Craig Mortelmans coming into the side.

Bromsgrove hooker Bob Merritt comes into the front row and Phil Horton, of Droitwich, and Duncan Kelly, of Stourbridge, are brought into the back row.

If Worcestershire and Herefordshire beat Shropshire by more than a point, they will play Greater Birmingham in the final.

But if Shropshire win or lose by a margin of one point or draw, they will progress to the final.

Worcestershire & Herefordshire: Coombes; Pimlow (Upton-upon-Severn), Porteous (Stourbridge), Ford (Stourbridge), Mortelmans; McLellan (Dudley Kingswinford), Gwynne (Malvern); Shewell (Droitwich), Merritt, Dempsey (Old Halesonians), Samra (Stourbridge), Grace (Pershore), Horton, Davies (Droitwich), Kelly. Replacements: Eversham (Pershore), Goddard (Droitwich), Western (Old Halesonians), Meredith (Luctonians), Godfrey (Droitwich), Poke (Droitwich).