Players from Whitchurch dominate the Shropshire squad as they begin their defence of the RLF North Midlands Championship against Worcestershire & Herefordshire at Droitwich tonight (7.30pm).

There are 10 players from the north Shropshire club in the squad selected for this evening’s game – with the controversial withdrawal of all but three of the Newport players.

Newport winger Adam Faulkner, a current England Deaf international, is in the squad however, having attended training last night.

Shropshire won the triangular tournament for the first time in four years last season by beating Greater Birmingham 33-25 in a tight final at Stourbridge.

Re-run

Shropshire’s second second group match is a re-run of that final against Greater Birmingham at Harper Adams on May 11.

Shropshire team: Dan Livesy, Ben Williams (both Harper Adams), Rob Clymer (Newport), Jimmy Mullock (Whitchuch), Adam Faulkener (Newport), Tom Gravell (Whitchurch/Harper Adams), Chris Hares, Keith Fowles (both Whitchurch), Jack Wells (Newport), Gareth Wills, Mastt Evans, James Lloyd (all Whitchurch), Nick Hulse (Eccleshall), Robin Le Cocq (Whitchurch/Harper Adams), Richard Baxter (Whitchurch).

Replacements: Chris Morton (Harper Adams), Phil Berry (Whitchurch/Harper Adams), Sam Parton, James Hutchinson, Will Paxton, Harry Shephard (all Haroer Adams), Jimmy Gore, Dan Kirby (both Bridgnorth).

• Shropshire Colts open their campaign in the Houghton-Harries Competition tomorrow evening with a home clash against Worcester & Hereford at Telford RUFC (7.30pm). Their second match in the triangular tournament is against Greater Birmingham on Wednesday, May 12.