Trophy bid begins at home

9:00am Friday 11th July 2008

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NORTH Midlands pair Luctonians and Hereford have both been handed home draws in the first round of next season’s EDF Energy National Trophy.

Luctonians, who beat their Herefordshire rivals in the North Midlands Cup final at Stourbridge in May, will host Kettering at Mortimer Park on October 18.

Hereford have an attractive tie against National Three North outfit Fylde, the former club of ex-England and British Lions captain Bill Beaumont.

Meanwhile, Luctonians will begin their North Midlands Cup defence at home to Newport.

Hereford will begin their campaign with a trip to Brom-sgrove in the quarter-finals, while Malvern host Camp Hill.

North Midlands Cup Preliminary round (to be played on or after September 6): Dudley Kingswinford v Malvern. First round: Malvern v Camp Hill, Luctonians v Newport, Bromsgrove v Hereford, Dudley Kingswinford or Solihull v Whitchurch.

North Midlands Shield first round: Droitwich v Old Saltleians, Old Halesonians v Shrewsbury, Bournville v Cleobury Mortimer, Old Yardleians v Kidderminster Carolians, Bridgnorth v Kings Norton, Edwardians v Woodrush, Worcester Wanderers v Veseyans, Ludlow v University of Worcester, Upton on Severn v Stourbridge Lions.

Byes: Aston OE, Bishops Castle, Dixonians, Ledbury, Oswestry, Pershore, Moseley Oak.

North Midlands Vase first round north: Five Ways OE v Highley, Clee Hill v Birmingham Exiles, Telford Hornets v Warley, Old Griffinians v Birmingham CS.

South: Stourport v Tenbury Wells, Greyhound v Chaddesley Corbett.

Byes: Aldridge, Market Drayton, Yardley & District, Bredon Star, Dudley Wasps, Evesham, Redditch, Ross-on-Wye.

North Midlands will begin next season’s County Championship Shield campaign at Cumbria on May 9, 2009.

They host Leicestershire on May 16 and visit Cheshire on May 23.