County Championship news from the South West
May
Dorset & Wilts are set for a second Twickenham final in successive seasons, when they take on Surrey for the County Championship Shield Crown on Sunday May 29th, kick off 11am.
The Twin Counties, reigning Shield champions, booked their place in the final after a comprehensive 61-37 semi final defeat of Essex at Bournemouth last weekend. They have also defeated Berkshire 33-26 and Oxfordshire 54-12 on route to the final.
Dorset & Wilts Head Coach Simon Culley said: “This has been a very tough campaign. All our games have been against good teams, some of whom were very physical. And as with any representative side, particularly amateur ones, ensuring consistent availability has been tough. Luckily our boys have been extremely committed and we have been able to pick very similar teams each week. Additionally, several of last year’s winning team were injured but the positive has been that this has allowed another generation of players to come through and take this opportunity.”
Although Berkshire were the team to test the Twin Counties most this season, with only a try separating the two sides, Culley knows that Dorset & Wilts will have to find another gear to see off a strong Surrey side come Sunday.
He added: “There’s no doubt Surrey are going to be extremely strong. They went to Cumbria and picked up a win which was very impressive. We have a lot of respect for them. And as defending champions we have a target painted on our chest and we have to live up to the challenge in every game we play. Luckily the team has stepped up to every new challenge so far but we now have one more big test which is the most important one. However, I know the experience of playing at Twickenham last year has made us even hungrier for more success and with half the squad involved from last season I hope we can bring that experience to the table and benefit from that.”
In the Bill Beaumont Cup Gloucestershire’s ambitions of a third Twickenham title were thwarted by a well-drilled Hertfordshire team who’ll now take on Lancashire in the cup final on Sunday. The 53-8 defeat was also the biggest defeat the county have suffered in the history of the Championship.
Gloucestershire Team Manager Mike Rafter said: “All credit to Paul Turner and his Hertfordshire team. Going in at half time 15-8 down and a converted try away I felt we might be able to turn it round, but our mistakes in the second half and failure to use the wind opened it up for them. They gained confidence as ours fell away. However, we will be back next year and we will be competitive again.”
