County Championship news from the South West
May
GLOUCESTERSHIRE are just one game away from securing a second successive Bill Beaumont Cup final appearance at Twickenham.
The squad, led by coaches Matt Salter, Phil Greenaway and Paul Williams, are the only South West side to have won two cup games on the trot, and now only Cornwall stand in their way of a Twickenham finale.
But Team Manager Mike Rafter, a county rugby stalwart and now Gloucestershire's Team Manager, says his side could face their toughest challenge yet this Saturday at Redruth RFC, kick off 3pm.
"I think they are like a wounded animal at the moment and will be looking to lash out," said Rafter, whose side have so far defeated Hertfordshire and Devon. "They'll be incredibly disappointed to have lost to Devon and to have only just scrapped a win against Hertfordshire last weekend.
"We all know Cornwall are a proud rugby county and that Redruth is formidable place to take them on so we know it's going to be a very tough task to get a victory on their turf."
Gloucestershire are nevertheless favourites to book their place in the final as they top the South League table with two convincing wins that has seen them rack up 49 points and not concede a single try.
Rafter added: "We are happy with the way our campaign has gone so far. This tournament is hard because every team has so little time together as a squad but we have got some good results, including a victory against Devon which was our first win over them in over ten years. In our match against Hertfordshire we also showed how good our defence is, still not letting any side break our line. Hopefully that can continue against Cornwall."
Also in action this weekend in the Bill Beaumont Cup is Devon, who'll need to put a cricket score win over Hertfordshire to keep alive their title aspirations.
In division two of the Bill Beaumont Cup SOMERSET take on Hampshire at Basingstoke RFC, kick off 3pm. They know they must defeat Hampshire well, and at the same time hope that league leaders Kent lose to Middlesex to keep any chance alive of securing their spot in the Division 2 final.
In the County Championship Shield, two South West sides clash in the semi finals. OXFORDSHIRE must travel to Swanage & Wareham to take on pool winners DORSET & WILTS on Saturday, kick off 3pm.
Oxfordshire secured their place in the knock out stages as the best group runner up with two out of three wins this season, but Dorset & Wilts top their table and have a home semi final spot so will no doubt be the favourites on Saturday.
Oxfordshire Head Coach Richard Williams, who took over the coaching reigns this season and is also a former county player, said: "We'll certainly be the underdogs for this match, but I don't think we should be underestimated.
"We played Dorset & Wilts last season in the Shield, and we know they have a lot of players from Bournemouth, so they are certainly no strangers to us. They have done well this season, winning three games from three, but I think this could be a close match. If we can put in a full performance for the full 80 minutes then I am quietly confident."
In the other semi final Leicestershire take on Cumbria.
Fixtures
County Championship Shield
May 22: Shield Semi-finals - Dorset & Wilts V Oxfordshire, 3pm, Swanage & Wareham RFC, Leicestershire v Cumbria
May 30: Shield Final at Twickenham
Bill Beaumont Cup
May 22:
North Division One - Cheshire v Northumberland, Yorkshire v Lancashire; South Division One - Hertfordshire v Devon, Cornwall v Gloucestershire. North Division Two - Eastern Counties v Durham, Warwickshire v North Midlands.
South Division Two - Hampshire v Somerset, Kent v Middlesex.
May 29: Division Two Plate final - Winners of South Division Two v Winners of North Division Two.
May 30: Cup final: Winners of North Division One v Winners of South Division One at Twickenham
