NORTH Midlands 18-Group Schools suffered their first rugby defeat in their final match of the season when they were beaten 13-10 by Leicestershire at Worcester.

It was the third season running that North Midlands had been denied an unbeaten record in their final match and they could not hold on to the early lead that was established with a try from Andrew Crawford, a blindside flanker from Fairfax School in Sutton Coldfield.

The Midlands 18-Group Schools selectors will now choose a squad for the Midlands divisional trial which will take place at Loughborough GS on Sunday. The divisional festival will take place at the Castlecroft complex in Wolverhampton between January 3 and 6.

Meanwhile, more than 100 young girls got their first taste of rugby union when they attended a special coaching day at Worcester Rugby Club.

The year nine pupils from Christopher Whitehead High School in St John's, Worcester, were attending two 'Introduction To Rugby' sessions at the Sixways site.

The girls were shown the basic skills of rugby through a series of fun team games in the club's state of the art indoor training centre.

The session was run by Worcester's England international players Nicola Goodwin and Jo Yapp with assistance from members of Worcester ladies' Premiership side.