THE Powergen North Midlands One title race is set to go to the wire after leaders Solihull lost 29-18 to second placed Worcester Wanderers at the weekend.

Portway tenants Solihull played the top two clash at their traditional Sharman's Cross Road base in Solihull and saw their rivals draw level with them at the top on 24 points with four matches to play.

A win for Richard Gamlin's side would have seen them require just two wins from their four game run-in but now Solihull, promoted with Worcester Wanderers from North Midlands Two last season, need to win all their outstanding games to secure the title and promotion.

The clubs have much in common with Wanderers developing out of the cash injection into Worcester Rugby Club and Solihull gaining their own identity out of the old Birmingham Solihull third team.

Both new clubs were told they had to start at the foot of the Rugby ladder and are chasing each other up the leagues.

It has not been decided whether one or two sides will go up from North Midlands One because of the regional nature of the game and Solihull will want to be certain by landing the title and going up to Midlands West Four South.

Gamlin's troops had lost only one league match before Saturday, their opener against third placed Veyseyans, who are probably this season's biggest losers from the decision to make Wanderers and Solihull play in leagues they will dominate.

But the third placed side could yet upset the apple cart because they have to play both the top two before the end of the season and are only three points off the pace.

Solihull have to visit mid-table Woodrush in a rearranged fixture and also face Redditch (away) and Stourport (home) sides who are battling for the North Midlands One status.

Worcester have what looks like a banker at home to league strugglers Five Ways Old Edwardians but it is too late for them to cut into Solihull's points difference cushion which came in to 209 at the weekend.

Solihull are set to visit North Midlands Three minnows Harborne in the Second Round of the North Midlands Shield on Saturday (ko 3pm).

Second row Anthony Thompson and back row Rory McLean are available after holidays.