Rugby: Cleobury Mortimer hope for Twickenham route

The road to Twickenham opens up for Cleobury Mortimer once again tomorrow - as they look to book a place in the last 16 of the Junior Vase.

Cleobury famously reached the famous ground for the final of the same competition back in 2006 and are just four wins away from a repeat performance.

The Midlands Four West (North) side from south Shropshire will start as slight favourites for their trip to the second city to face Birmingham Civil Service.

But they know they have a fight on their hands against hosts who have lost just once all season and currently top Midlands Five West (North).

"We've got a bus going from Cleobury and we're hoping we'll have a few spectators coming along to cheer us on," said team manager Paul Harding, who was captain of the 2006 side.

"I went down to training earlier this week and the lads were looking very confident.

"There's a bit of a buzz building about the place now and if we get through this round then I think it could really lift off."

Harding admits they do not have much information on the Birmingham Civil Service team, though he did see them in action at Clee Hill last season.

The memory of that one game has been enough to convince him that there must be no complacency about tomorrow's challenge.

"I'm a Cleobury man through and through but I actually live right opposite Clee's ground," Harding revealed.

"I went along and saw their game with Birmingham Civil Service last year and they had a big, physical pack — I'm sure our lads will enjoy that.

"Their three front row players were all good lads, though for all I know it could all have changed since then."

Cleobury have a full-strength squad available for the big game, with Ian King back at No 8. He would have been unavailable for last week's game with Cannock, though that fell victim to the weather in any case.

By CHRIS HUDSON