WORCESTER Wanderers can go one step nearer a Twickenham final on Saturday when they take on Solihull in the quarter-finals of the Powergen Junior Vase.
The two Midlands Four West (South) rivals meet at Sharmans Cross Road for what promises to be a massive game for Worcester. They beat Avonmouth OB in the last round and are again expected to have player-coach Steve Lloyd on the bench as their secret weapon.
The former Harlequins lock, who was forced to retire from senior rugby five years ago because of a chronic back injury, scored two tries in Worcester's fifth round victory against Harborne just as the Wanderers looked to be heading out the competition.
Lloyd missed out on an appearance at Twickenham during an illustrious 13-season senior career but he now has the chance to make up for the disappointment with Worcester Wanderers.
"We are thinking of driving down to Heathrow Airport and chartering a plane to Birmingham," said Lloyd, with tongue planted very firmly in cheek.
Their opponents Solihull have already beaten Worcester once this season, an 18-6 defeat at Sixways back in November, but with a cup-tie atmosphere at the home of National One side Pertemps Bees, the Wanderers will be hoping for an 'upset'.
In the last round Solihull raised £3,000 from a raffle so that they could charter a plane to fly them to Newcastle for their tie against Gosforth. They enjoyed themselves so much that they drank Gosforth's Bullocksteads clubhouse out of bitter, lager and wine but it will be serious business when they take on their North Midlands rivals for a place in the semi-finals.
"We enjoy our trips, the Gosforth game particularly," said Solihull's coach Richard McCrainor. "The lads put a lot of effort into fund-raising so that we could travel in style and we enjoyed the day out.
"Gosforth were great hosts and, by the end of the evening, we were reduced to drinking alco-pops because there was nothing else left in the clubhouse."
"We are hoping for another big day against Worcester. Neither Pertemps Bees nor Worcester Warriors, our two senior partners, are playing this weekend so we hope that we will pull in some of their supporters.
"We usually play our home games at Portway, the Bees' second ground, but we will be on the main pitch at Sharmans Cross Road for the quarter-final, the stand will be open and it will be the biggest game since the club was re-launched five years ago."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article