Post by Communications Team on May 24, 2013 10:23:24 GMT
Thorpe and Radburn to start in Twickenham final 23/05/13 by Paul Bolton
North Midlands have called Moseley prop Stef Thorpe and Birmingham & Solihull hooker Will Radburn into their starting XV for the County Championship Bill Beaumont Plate final against Northumberland at Twickenham on Sunday May 26 (9.30am).
Both scored tries when they came on as replacements in the dramatic 40-36 win over Somerset at Bridgwater & Albion last Saturday which clinched North Midlands' place in the final and also secured them promotion to the First Division of the Bill Beaumont Cup next season.
Birmingham & Solihull pair Michael Hill, who made his debut against Somerset, and Finlay Sinclair both drop to the replacements bench as North Midlands attempt to avenge defeat by Northumberland in the Plate final at Alnwick two years ago.
Apart from a re-jigged front row North Midlands have named the same squad that was on duty against Somerset and head coach Scott Bemand has been able to pick from strength with no fresh injuries or unavailability.
North Midlands (v Northumberland)
15 Caolan Ryan (Moseley); 14 Callum MacBurnie (Coventry), 13 Rhys Owen (Loughborough Students), 12 Stefan Shillingford (Dudley Kingswinford), 11 Drew Cheshire (Luctonians); 10 Ollie Thomas (Moseley), 9 Joel Dudley (Jersey); 1 Anthony Marfell (Luctonians), 2 Will Radburn (Birmingham & Solihull), 3 Stef Thorpe (Moseley), 4 Liam Mather (Moseley), 5 Steve Smith (Bromsgrove), 6 Phil Horton (Bromsgrove), 7 Ben Pons (Moseley), 8 Paul Hulland (Luctonians). Replacements: Finlay Sinclair (Birmingham & Solihull), Michael Hill (Birmingham & Solihull), Ed Parry (Dudley Kingswinford), Dave Hughes (Bromsgrove), Dave Brazier (Moseley), Will Burton (Luctonians), Jack Wardle (Bromsgrove).
