Sheffield Shield are awarded based on wins, losses, draws and ties, with the top two teams playing a final at the end of the season. Regular matches last for four days; the final lasts for five days. In 1891–92 the Earl of Sheffield was in Australia as the promoter of the English team led by W. G. Grace. The tour included three Tests played in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. At the conclusion of the tour, Lord Sheffield donated £150 to the New South Wales Cricket Association to fund a trophy for an annual tournament of intercolonial cricket in Australia. The three colonies
History of the Midlands Merit League Akkies RLFC. The final table (27 July) was as follows: Play-offs: Championship semi-finals Moorends-Thorne Marauders 'A' 44 Sheffield Forgers 22 Nottingham Outlaws 'A' 4 Wigan Riversiders 48 Shield semi-finals Nottingham 30 German Exiles 24 Sheffield 36 Birmingham Bulldogs 24 FINALS: Sunday 17 August 2008 GRAND FINAL: Moorends-Thorne Marauders 'A' 28 Wigan Riversiders 18 SHIELD: Nottingham Outlaws 34 Sheffield Forgers 32 2009 saw the largest ever entry, with over 30 teams split into two leagues; "Yorkshire and Humber" and "North West" with Midlands teams joining the newly created Midlands Rugby League. The top four teams in the two pools played-off for