CLEOBURY Mortimer have been in a class of their own during this season's remarkable record-breaking Powe-rgen Junior Vase adventure - and now we can reveal why!

Nearly all of the players who have put the town on the rugby map with their cup heroics honed their oval-ball skills at the same school.

No fewer than 13 of the 15 set to start Saturday's big quarter-final clash with Old Saltleians are former pupils of the Lacon Childe School where four of the five substitutes also attended.

Tony Heap, Jon Banford and Pete Howman are the only exceptions.

And club secretary Jon Redfern believes the squad's schooling has played a major part in fostering the togetherness in the dressing room.

He said: "The fact that they are such a close knit set of lads from the same community has helped us immensely."

Among the former Lacon Childe schoolmates is Colin Smith, the club's all time top scorer, who will be on the bench against Old Salts.

Smith was involved in the club's first ever match in 1992, scoring all the points in a 13-9 defeat.

Cleobury go into the crunch tie with their confidence at an all-time high. They are third in Midlands Four West South and maintained their momentum with a 24-8 victory over Shipston on Stour on Saturday.

With the league clash acting as a dress rehearsal for this weekend's main event, Cleobury were delighted to finish with a win and a clean bill of health.

Paul Hulland opened the scoring, while there were also tries from Willie Bache and Allan Shields, who kicked three conversions and a penalty.

Cleobury seconds' clash at Worcester Wanderers was called off at late notice by the hosts.