The Young Shield is the end of season playoff between the top eight teams in the Premier League. The top club plays number eight, runners-up play number seven, etc, etc.
The competition was inaugerated in 1997 when Exeter were the surprise winners beating favourites Reading and Long Eaton.
Last year the Isle of Wight were even more surprising winners. They seemed to have missed out on qualification until they produced an amazing win at Sheffield to secure a place. They then defeated holders Exeter and went on to beat Glasgow in the semi-finals and champions Peterborough in the final.
The year, the qualifiers are Sheffield, Newport, Edinburgh, Swindon, Newcastle, Exeter, Berwick, and Isle of Wight. Newcastle were the surprise qualifiers after pulling of a shock win at the Isle of Wight in the last Premier League match of the season.
First Round
Sheffield 56: Isle of Wight 34
Isle of Wight 42: Sheffield 48
Sheffield qualify for Semi-Finals by 104 points to 76
Berwick 47: Newport 43
Newport 62: Berwick 28
Newport qualify for Semi-Finals by 105 points to 75
Exeter 59: Edinburgh 31
Edinburgh 53 Exeter 36
Exeter qualify for Semi-Finals by 95 points to 84
Swindon 55: Newcastle 35
Newcastle 44: Swindon 46
Swindon qualify for Semi-Finals by 101 to 79
Semi-Final
Sheffield 54: Swindon 36
Swindon 51: Sheffield 39
Sheffield qualify for Final by 93 to 87
Newport 50: Exeter 40
Exeter 45: Newport 45
Newport qualify for Final by 95 to 85
Final
Sheffield 57: Newport 33
Newport 49: Sheffield 41
Sheffield win Young Shield by 98 to 82