RUGBY: Abingdon to relish their big day out (From Herald Series)

RUGBY: Abingdon to relish their big day out

11:47am Thursday 23rd April 2009

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The Oxfordshire Shield final will be something of a ‘Herald derby’ with holders Blue Boar taking on Abingdon at Iffley Road on Sunday (12), writes Ed Mezzetti.

Blue Boar, from Longworth, will start as slight favourites, with Abingdon having struggled in their BB&O Premier Division campaign.

But Abingdon captain Ron-nie Booth said: “We are just going to go there and enjoy it.

“If we play as I know we can, it will be a very entertaining final for the neutral.

“It is a big day for us. Getting to any final is great.”

Booth said fly half Robert Milnes and wing Vincent Barnes were players to look out for.

Michael Hedges’s experience sees him handed the No 8 shirt, with Steve Grant starting at lock.

“It is the strongest team that we have got,” added Booth.

“Vincent Barnes doesn’t look like a winger, but he has got gas to burn.”

Blue Boar include brothers Will and Chris Sandbach, sons of former player and sponsor Ted, in their back line.

Sam Stoop captains their side from centre, while last year’s winning skipper James Brufell returns from injury on the bench.

Boar secretary Brian Kentish said: “April 5, 2008 proved a red-letter day in the history of the Blue Boar Rugby Club.

“Unexpected victories over Bicester in the semi-final and Oxford in the final meant that the Shield would reside behind the bar for the last 12 months.

“And now we have the opportunity to retain the trophy for another year.

“When the club was formed in 1977 following a challenge by Blackwells Bookshop, we scarcely thought that one day we would be competing in successive county finals at Iffley Road.”

Kentish added: “Abingdon and the RAF base have been regular opponents of the Blue Boar over the years and three former Abingdon skippers, Paul Murphy, Terry Morgan and Chalky Lappin have all the captained both clubs.

“Paul Murphy, who has always had Blue Boar support in his position as RFU representative, is now president of Abingdon.

“Doubtless he will have a couple of hats available for the game!

Abingdon: Seguinard, Barnes, Stalker, Maddison, Wilde, Milnes, Lemon, Caudle, Cook, Abbey, Booth (capt), Grant, Humpage, Goswell, Hedges. Reps: North, Beauchamp, Broughton, Crossland, Roberts.

Blue Boar: Davies, Boggis, Stoop (capt), W Sandbach, Cover, C Sandbach, Whitfield, Lay, North, Paul, Cox, Graham, Alder, Harrison, Kingdon. Reps: Morgan, Spencer, Barnes, Blanchard, Brufell.

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