SOLHULL, the North Midlands Shield holders, will begin their defence of the rugby trophy with a first round home draw next season.

Solihull, who beat Old Yardleians in the final at Stourbridge in May, will play the winners of the preliminary round tie between Bournville and Five Ways OE.

Old Yardleians have been drawn away to Veseyans in the first round.

The competition will follow the format of last season's tournament with the preliminary and first round matches being played on a junior county basis - Greater Birmingham, Shropshire and Worcestershire & Herefordshire - to produce 16 qualifiers for the second round.

All Shield matches will be played on the first available weekend when neither club is involved in league or RFU Cup rugby.

North Midlands Shield draw 2003/04: Greater Birmingham: Preliminary round: Edwardian v Selly Oak, Bournville v Five ways Old Edwardians. First round: Veseyans v Old Yardleians, Birmingham CS v Old Griffinians, Yardley & District v Aldridge, Birmingham Barbarians v Edwardians or Selly Oak, Birmingham Exiles v Kings Norton, Warley v Harborne, Solihull v Bournville or Five Ways OE.

Worcestershire & Herefordshire: Preliminary round: Old Halesonians v Woodrush, Greyhound v Chaddesley. First round: Evesham v Redditch, Old Halesonians or Woodrush v Ross on Wye, Greyhound or Chaddesley v Worcester Wan-derers, Bredon Star v Upton on Severn, Stourport v Bromyard, Dudley Wasps v Tenbury.

Shropshire. Preliminary round: Oswestry v Bridgnorth, Clee Hill v Newport. First round: Market Drayton v Clee Hill or Newport, Ludlow v Bishop's Castle, Cleobury Mortimer v Oswestry or Bridgnorth.