LUCTONIANS will begin their defence of the North Midlands Cup with an away game at Newport in the quarter-finals next season.

Luctonians won the county cup for the first time last month, beating Whitchurch in a tight final at Stourbridge, and will now represent North Midlands in next season's Powergen Cup.

Whitchurch will begin their North Midlands Cup campaign with a trip to Bromsgrove with Dudley Kingwsinford, back in the competition after a long absence following their relegation from the National Leagues, entertaining University College Worcester.

Camp Hill will host Malvern in the other tie.

The quarter-finals are scheduled to be played on or before the weekend of January 14 and 15 with the semi-finals on the weekend on or before the weekend of April 1 and 2. The final will be played on Sunday, May 6.

North Midlands Cup quarter-finals draw: Dudley Kingswinford v University College Worcester, Newport v Luctonians, Camp Hill v Malvern, Bromsgrove v Whitchurch.

Solihull, the defending North Midlands Shield champions, will begin their title defence with a trip to Hereford in next season's first round.

Solihull, who won the Midlands 4 West South league title as well as the county Shield, have been given a bye through the preliminary round which is due to be played on or before the weekend of January 14 and 15. The first round is scheduled for the weekend of February 25 and 26.

Aston OE, the North Midlands Cup winners in 2003 and 2004, have dropped into the Shield following relegation last season.

North Midlands Shield preliminary round: Old Halesonians v Veseyans, Dixonians v Worcester Wanderers, Bishops Castle v Edwardians, Aldridge v Droitwich, Old Saltleians v Harborne, Ledbury v Stourbridge Lions, Ludlow v Cleobury Mortimer. Ties to be played on or before January 14 and 15.

First round draw: Old Yardleians v Ludlow or Cleobury Mortimer, Old Saltleians or Harborne v Bishops Castle or Edwardians, Old Halesonians or Veseyans v Pershore, Shrewsbury v Kidderminster Carolians, Ledbury or Stourbridge Lions v Bridgnorth, Aldridge or Droitwich v Dixonians or Worcester Wanderers, Hereford v Solihull, Telford Hornets v Aston OE. Ties to be played on or before February 25 and 26.

n North Midlands have created a new Vase competition for the 25 lowest-ranked league clubs in the county.

The competition has been introduced to narrow the gap in standard between participating clubs and the first round draw has been regionalised.

First round games are due to be played on or before the weekend of January 14 and 15 with the final scheduled for Sunday May 6, the same day as the North Midlands Cup and North Midlands Shield finals.

North Midlands Vase first round draw, South group: Bredon Star v Greyhound, Tenbury v Stourport, Evesham v Upton on Severn, Ross on Wye v Birmingham Exiles, Bromyard v Chaddesley Corbett. Byes: Redditch, Clee Hill, Woodrush.

North group: Old Griffinians v Birmingham CS, Selly Oak v Dudley Wasps, Bournville v Market Drayton, Birmingham Barbarians v Kings Norton. Byes: Warley, Oswestry, Five Ways OE, Yardley & District.