JUBILANT skipper Paul Harding believes the tantalising trip to Twickenham is a richly-deserved reward for Cleobury Mortimer Rugby Club and their fans.
Harding is still pinching himself that he will be leading the village team out at the home of English rugby on April 9.
But after nursing a hangover following Saturday's semi-final success celebrations, he insists Cleobury's big day-out is a prestigious pat on the back for all of their hard work.
"The lads deserve it because we're a close knit bunch of 22 or so who do our best week in, week out," said Harding.
"Sometimes we struggle to put out two teams so for a club of our size to be playing at Twickenham is a fairytale.
"I will be so proud to lead the lads out and it leaves me numb just thinking about it!"
So vocal was the Cleobury support at Saturday's semi-final at London Exiles that the Cleobury players thought they were running out to face a partisan home crowd.
"We heard all the noise as we were coming towards the pitch and we thought it must be all the Exiles fans," he revealed.
"To see it was coming from our fans and to see them out-numbering their fans three-to-one was a great feeling and it gave us a massive lift."
Harding said the supporters also spurred the players onto their last-gasp try with their constant backing from the sidelines.
"They definitely helped us get the ball over the line for that winning try," said Harding.
"To be fair to them they've been like a 16th man for us in the last few cup matches and they deserve a day out at Twickers just as much as us.
"We've been given 750 tickets initially but I'm sure with all of the interest we'll be going back and asking the RFU for even more.
"It wouldn't surprise me if we took 1,000 and when you think the population of Cleobury is only 3,000 or 4,000 that's remarkable support."
Cleobury return to the bread and butter of Midlands Division Four West South at Old Halesonians on Saturday.
But Harding insists the players will be as committed as ever during their league games and will not wrap themselves up in cotton wool.
"We can't go into games fearing we'll get hurt because we play to win and we need to play games to keep our fitness up," he added.
There is good news on the fitness of Harding's cousin, full back Julian Harding, who is under-going intense physiotherapy with the aim of being available for Twickenham.
He sustained a dislocated collarbone in the semi-final win and feared he would miss his dream day on April 9.
See next week's Shuttle/Times & News for Twickenham final ticket details.
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