Evans joins Gloucestershire challenge as they chase vital win

Gloucestershire make six changes to their squad for tomorrow afternoon's RFU Bill Beaumont Cup Division One South match against the North Midlands at Stourbridge.

This is a must-win game for Gloucestershire after the 23-16 defeat to Cornwall. North Midlands were soundly beaten by last season's defeated finalists Hertfordshire. Defeat would mean Gloucestershire having to beat Hertfordshire at Cinderford next weekend to avoid relegation.

Gloucestershire coach John Barnes said: "If Hertfordshire beat Cornwall it would give us a chance of progressing if we could turn Hertfordshire over at Cinderford. However, all efforts must be on beating North Midlands and worrying about next week after that result."

The county add former England Students captain Will Warden to their second row options.

The pack is strengthen by Cinderford No 8 George Evans, former Canada U20 prop Richard Townsend from Hartpury College and Cross Keys lock Danny Hodge. Taunton centre Christain Gervais joins the backs.

Another addition is prop Jake Caulfield who joined Bristol Academy from London Irish at the start of this season but has been on loan at Clifton. The Ireland U19 international has recently been training with the Ireland U20 squad.

North Midlands: C Ryan (Bromsgrove); O Winter (Birmingham & Solihull), W Richards (Luctonians), S Shillingford (Dudley Kingswinford), C Mitchell (Plymouth Albion); O Thomas (Moseley), J Brookes (Dudley Kingswinford); C Voisey (Moseley), N Byron (Luctonians), R Yeomans (Luctonians), J Clutterbuck (Worcester Warriors), E Parry (Dudley Kingswinford), P Horton (Bromsgrove), B Pons (Moseley), P Hulland (Luctonians). Reps: C Lea (Birmingham CS), S Thorpe (Dudley Kingswinford), S Blackburn, W Cooper (both Bromsgrove), D Harper (Stourbridge), S Brown (Moseley), W Burton (Luctonians).

Gloucestershire (from): M Wilcox, N Codlin, R Winchle (all Cinderford), J Hannam (Lydney), R Haile (Taunton), G Lewis (Hartpury College), C Gervais (Taunton), R Teague (Cinderford), S Plummer (Dings Crusaders), S Arnott (Southend), J Smart, Sam Wilkes (both Cinderford), R Townsend (Hartpury College), C Meddick (Dings Crusaders), J Caulfield (Clifton/Bristol), D Wright (Rugby), W Warden (Richmond), D Hodge (Cross Keys), B Walker (Hartpury College), W Foden (capt), G Evans, B Sparks (all Cinderford)

Defending RFU County Championship Shield holders Dorset & Wilts will have to pull off a big victory when they take on Berkshire at Bournemouth tomorrow (2pm), if they are to progress to knockout stages.

The twin counties lost to Oxfordshire, but coach Don Parsons said: "It's all to play for and with the players who were not available for the Oxfordshire match we're hoping to pick a first choice fifteen."

Berkshire are buoyed-up by last Saturday's 23-16 defeat of Oxfordshire, but they go in to the game at Salisbury without their match-winning full-back Spike Chandler.

Dorset & Wilts (from): J Tarrent, F Wilfred (both Bournemouth), S Bailey, R Jones (both Corsham), C Hughes (Bournemouth), L Gilbert (Chinnor), T Dunkerley, Gavin Hart, Sam Hardcastle, Dan Pollard, Robbie Searle, Scott Chislett, (all Bournemouth), C Elton (Bradford-on-Avon), B Stewart, K Lynch (both Bournemouth), J Warren (Dorchester), B Saville (Ampthill), A Bradley (Bishop Wordsworth GS), B Lyons (Chippenham), C Knott (Swindon), M Beswick (Chippenham).

Berkshire (from): B Nowak (capt), D Antonelli (both Bracknell), W Rasbridge (Univ of Reading) J Duffelen (Redingensians), I Kibirige (Univ of Reading), W Clarke, A Webb, C Rumble, M Clarke, J Baker, O Root, S Hallett (all Redingensians), H Molitika, R Aiono (both Bracknell), J Sawbridge (Univ of Reading), P Petelo, M Bunn (both Bracknell), N Thomas, (Redingensians), S Kenneally (Reading), H Stapleton (Redingensians), S Lear (Univ of Reading), R Brember, B Yates (both Bracknell), M Grindall (Univ of Reading).