Derek Wright wins recall the county side

They make five changes to the side beaten in last year’s semi-finals by North Midlands for the qualifying group two clash with Merseyside next month, including a recall for Wem USC stalwart Derek Wright, who already has 100-plus caps to his name.

He’s called back to duty alongside Spencer Clarke (Sir John Bayley) and Stuart Rutter (Wrockwardine Wood) on Sunday, May 6, while new Newport captain Sam Millward will make his debut and Clarke’s team-mate Chris Worthington switches allegiance after being unbeaten for Staffordshire last season.

Selectors Mick Jones and Mark Thomas drop Jamie King (Bowring) and Ash Wellings (Hanwood) to reserve for the 12-a-side legs at Bowring and the Wheatsheaf in St Helens, their cause not being helped by a number of star names not playing regularly this season.

A county association spokesman explained: “We aren’t helped by four players not playing much, or if at all, with Glyn Picknell, Alex Jones, Andy Moss and Rob Burroughs all out of the squad

“But it is still an extremely strong line up that will want to go one better than the semi-finals in 2017.”

“Bowring is the home venue and after the fine win over Warwick & Worcester there last season we will be confident of a good home win.

“Merseyside are taking us to the Wheatsheaf, a notorious green that has recently been used again by them so our away side will have their work cut out to get a good score on there.”