Phillip Blashki and now over 500 descendants, mostly in Australia, have been documented. Phillip was primarily a silversmith and had a stall at Melbourne's Great Exhibition of 1888. He was also an optician, watch repairer, jeweller and maker of masonic regalia. He produced several notable items of public importance, including Australian cricket's Sheffield Shield the cost of which was donated by Lord Sheffield in 1893, following his tour (led by W G Grace) of Australia of 1891-2. Blashki's tender was the one accepted. He also produced the NSW Cricketers Association's 'Hordern Shield'. Phillip Blashki started in Geelong as a hawker and retailer
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