NORTH Midlands' prospects of progressing in the Bill Beaumont Cup were completely dashed by Devon who crushed them 50-18 in front of a shirt-sleeved crowd at Dudley Kingswinford, writes Nick Pullen.

Having already suffered a defeat to Kent the previous week, North Midlands needed to win this match but fell away badly following a promising start.

Newton Abbot hooker Dean Avery went over for a try inside two minutes after Devon won early line-out ball.

But North Midlands soon struck back, Stourbridge winger Josh Trinham intercepting to race over 30 metres and score by the posts for Birmingham and Solihull fly half Mitch McGahan to convert.

McGahan then slotted over a penalty before making a decisive break which was taken on by Trinham before sending his Stourbridge team mate Ashley Elvers over for a try.

Leading 15-5 was as good as it got for North Midland as Devon came back to dominate.

Although McGahan added another penalty, Devon went onto build a 29-18 lead by half time.

Barnstaple winger Will Topps, Ivybridge centre Lewis Patterson and Exmouth winger Ollie Rice all crossed for tries, each one being converted by Barnstaple scrum half Jordan Petherbridge who also added a penalty for good measure.

North Midlands failed to supply a single point in the second half as Devon continued to extend their lead.

Torquay No.8 Dan Williams added another try while Tiverton flanker Wayne Sprangle helped himself to a brace of tries, two of which were converted by Petherbridge with replacement James Matting kicking the other.

North Midlands: Ollie Raynor (Old Hales); Tom Hunt (Bromsgrove), Frank Kelly (Luctonians), Ashley Elvers (Stourbridge), Josh Trinham (Stourbridge); Mitch McGahan (Birmingham and Solihull ), Jacob Nash (South Leicester); Bobby Green (Bromsgrove ), Gino Belmonte (Bromsgrove ), Joe White (Luctonians); Sam Knott (Luctonians), Ed Parry (Capt, Dudley Kingswinford); John Kelly (Luctonians), Max McFarlane (Old Hales ), Steve Leach (Old Hales).

Replacements: Stefan Thorpe (Stourbridge), Will Crane (Moseley), Nick Murphy (Stourbridge), Sam Boxhall (Luctonians), Connor Nicholls (Stourbridge), Joe Bridger (Stourbridge ), RhyanScott- Young (Luctonians).