North Midlands Rugby Football Union Limited

North Midlands youth sides enjoyed contrasting fortunes this evening with the Under-19s retaining the Sable’s Head Trophy with a 26-14 win over Warwickshire at Broadstreet but the Under-18s slipping to a 25-13 defeat at the hands of a lively Staffordshire at Stourbridge.

North Midlands Under-19s held a comfortable 62-10 advantage from the first leg at Droitwich two weeks ago which allowed them to rotate their squad for the re-match.

They also encountered stiffer opposition from Warwickshire but still eased into a 26-7 lead before the hosts were awarded a late penalty try.

Number eight Dan Smith of Luctonians scored a try in each half for North Midlands with the impressive scrum-half Louis Silver (Worcester) and winger Nick Adams (Worcester) also touched down.

Silver converted three of the tries, including his own, to retain the trophy, a mounted antelope’s skull.

The county Under-18s were forced into late changes at Stourbridge caused by injuries and the unavailability of players from Worcester Sixth Form College.

They held Staffordshire to 5-5 at the break with replacement winger Jack Philp of Bromsgrove School scoring the opening try.

But Staffordshire’s hefty back row forwards began to make ground in the second half and North Midlands had to settle for a penalty before right wing Danny Mee (Sir John Talbot College and Whitchurch) scored a late consolation with the try-of-the-match from long range.

North Midlands will now play the runners-up of the group containing Leicestershire, East Midlands and Notts, Lincs & Derbyshire in the Super Sunday tournament at Broadstreet on November 1.