SOLIHULL proved their Midlands Four pedigree by springing their third North Midlands Shield upset of the season at the weekend.

The Powergen North Midlands One champions-elect knocked Midlands West Four North outfit Ludlow out 22-17 to continue their best ever run in the competition.

The result sets up a home semi final against either North Midlands One title rivals Worcester Wanderers or Midlands Four West North outfit Old Salts.

Richard Gamlin's side squeezed into the semi finals at their traditional Sharman's Cross Road base and are out to complete the first half of their double bid at Redditch on Saturday (ko 3pm).

The visitors can seal their third successive championship by winning or even picking up a point at Bromsgrove Road and should be safe even if they lose.

Solihull lead the table by two points from Worcester Wanderers with both having one match to play.

But the leaders have a points difference advantage of 93 on their rivals and with Worcester visiting third placed Veyseyans they are unlikely to repeat the 102 points they rained in against struggling Bromyard.

The hosts potentially have more at stake as they scramble to finish out of the bottom three.

It looks increasingly like three teams will be cut from the division and the Kingfishers are currently fourth from bottom but level on points with third bottom Bromyard going into the last match of the season.

Stan Hull's Redditch side have a superior points difference over Bromyard which was boosted by Worcester's weekend exploits.

But to be sure of staying out of the bottom three, Redditch have to beat the title favourites.

Anything less will leave the hosts anxiously waiting to hear how Bromyard get on at home to Redditch's arch rivals Woodrush.

If the RFU decide to cut four teams from North Midlands One Redditch's fate will depend on Worcester Wanderers winning a rumoured promotion play-off against the runners-up in Staffordshire One.