Twickenham or bust! That’s the equation as the North/Midlands section of the RU County Championship’s Bill Beaumont Cup reaches its denouement next weekend, with three of the four sides capable to getting to the final at Twickenham and three looking over their shoulders at the prospect of relegation if results go against them.

A Lancashire win in their final game would guarantee them a trip to Twickenham – and probably a rematch against Devon, who top their group – but defeat might open the door to both Yorkshire and Warewickshire.

The Roses match at Harrogate promises to be an especially keen affair after Yorkshire went down 14-10 against Warwickshire at Nuneaton and Lancashire edged out Cheshire 23-21 with a last-gap penalty.

While Cheshire are favourites for the drop after lost both their games, the scoring statistics are so close that they can escape if they pull off the win that has been so narrowly eluding them thus far.

There were a few in the crowd at New Brighton yesterday who felt that they had been cruelly denied by their arch-rivals, not by the late Steve Nutt penalty that settled the game, but by an earlier conversion that some observers felt was wide of the upright.

Cheshire were ahead for much of the game after Nutt had opened the scoring with a penalty and Stockport fly-half Tom Eaton had levelled. Matt Simpson (Leeds Met Uni) crossed and Eaton converted before Fylde centre Richard Kenyon scored a try that Nutt converted.

Manchester lock Jonathan Keep’s try put Cheshire 15-10 ahead at half-time and an exchange of penalties between Nutt and Eaton preserved that margin before Fylde wingman Oliver Brennand put Lancashire ahead with a try that Nutt converted.

Eaton then nudged Cheshire back in front with another penalty after 79 minutes, but three minutes into stoppage time Nutt delivered the coup de grace.

Whether a performance is similar quality at Claro Road will return the Red Rose men to Twickenham, however, is another matter and coach Mark Nelson is sure to be spelling out a few harsh truths when he meets with his players this week.

Doubtless Yorkshire’s Bob Hood will have similar encouragement to offer when he discusses Yorkshire defeat at Nuneaton.

“It was very disappointing, but we’re still in the fight,” said Team manager Graham Siswick: “Now we need to beat Lancashire by five points and hope that Warwickshire do not beat Cheshire heftily at Coventry.

“Of course a defeat by Lancashire and a Cheshire win could leave us in the relegation slot, so it’s all to play for all four teams.

“On the credit side, we’ve had two difficult away games and now we have a home game, so it’s up to us. You expect loose games with lots of points at this time of year, but that’s not happened and we’ve seen some pretty nuggety stuff that has set up an interesting finish.”

Warwickshire are still very much in contention for Twickenham after their win. They scored two converted first-half tries through Rotherham prop Paul Boulton and Nuneaton No 8 Glenn Southwell to get the upper hand and lead 14-0 at the break, with Yorkshire never getting out of first gear.

A try by Leeds Carnegie No 8 Max Lewis, his third in two games, launched an improved second-half showing by Yorkshire, who defended well when Warwickshire pressed, but found themselves too often at odds with the referee.

A try from a rolling maul by Otley replacement flanker Dan Hyde put Yorkshire back in contention, but they were left to lament the fact that two conversions and a penalty were missed by Otley wingman Robin Kitching, whereas Warwickshire’s Huw Thomas, the Nuneaton scrum-half, nailed two difficult shots to make the difference.

Northumberland are just one win away from a trip to Twickenham on June 1 after claiming a 39-17 win over neighbours Durham in the County Championship Shield at Alnwick on Saturday.

They now complete the three-match pool programme with the visit of unbeaten North Midlands to Tynedale on Saturday, with the winners heading for the final.   

Blaydon Number 8 Jason Smithson touched down to give Northumberland an early lead,  Tynedale fly-half Gavin Beasley converting, but Durham hit back with a try from their first visit to the Northumberland 22, a penalty kick to touch and the resulting line out setting a platform for Mowden Park scrum half Andrew Foreman to cross in the corner. Middlesbrough full-back Simon Moore added an excellent conversion.

Tynedale flanker Andrew Murray touched down for a converted try soon afterwards to give North the lead again and Beasley was able extend the lead further with a penalty before Tynedale flanker Grant Rastall touched down for an unconverted try.

Durham then enjoyed a long period of possession and territory and were able to close the half time gap to 22-10 when Moore slotted a penalty.

Durham University winger Matthew Horrocks was denied a spectacular try by an excellent last ditch tackle by Tynedale full back Jack Smales, who then struck at the other end by finishing off a fine passage of play by the home side.

North kept the pressure up and replacement prop Peter Southern (Tynedale) skilfully beat the last defender to cross for a converted try to give North a 34-10.

Durham responded with a try by Darlington Mowden Park flanker Aaron Myers, goaled by Moore, but Northumberland had the last word when Blaydon wingman Andrew Fenby finished off another excellent move with an unconverted try.

With North Midlands beating Cumbria 36-19 at Stourbridge, the scene is set for a promotion and Twickenham showdown next Saturday (May 17).

North Midlands, who were relegated from the Bill Beaumont Cup last season, found Cumbria to be spirited opponents despite the winning margin.

Flanker Jake Abbott (Stourbridge) gave North Midlands the lead with a fourth minute try converted by Cameron Mitchell (Pertemps Bees), but Cumbria were soon back on level terms when Penrith lock Robert Dawson crossed and Kendal’s Chris Park converted.

Mitchell struck a penalty to give North Midlands a lead that they were not to lose and then scored a try himself and added the conversion put the home side 17-7 ahead at half-time.

Ryan Henshaw (Malvern) scored North Midlands' third try five minutes into the second half and Mitchell again added the extras before replacement hooker Richard Protherough (Coventry) marked his county debut with a try and Moseley centre Ollie Winter completed the scoring for the hosts with a well-worked try that Mitchell improved.

But Cumbria finished strongly, scoring tries by Aspatria’s Gary Holmes, switching from No 8 to centre because of late call offs, and Carlisle wing Matt Charters, Park adding one conversion.

The defeat leaves Durham and Cumbria in a relegation battle at Darlington on Saturday (May 17), but Kevin Johnson, the Cumbria Team Manager remains optimistic.

“We took a lot of positives out of yesterday’s performance,” he said: “We need to tighten up our defence, but the forwards are playing really well and providing us with plenty of ball. Hooker Joe Graham was outstanding again yesterday and has a great future in the game.

“I don’t expect our injury situation to change, but the lads who switched positions to help out did a decent job.

“After two games we know where our weaknesses are and I think we can grind out a win against Durham.”

Bill Beaumont Cup placings

County Championship Shield placings