TAVISTOCK will have two chances to pick up some silverware on Wednesday night when they play in both the finals of the RNEC Cup and Pedrick Cup at the Rectory.
The Pedrick Cup will be the first Plymouth Combination final to be played. That will kick-off at 6pm and will see Tavistock seconds take on Saltash seconds.
That will be followed at 7.30pm by the RNEC Cup final which will see Cornwall/Devon League side Tavistock play Devon Two outfit OPMs.
OPMs’ second team have played in recent cup finals, including last season, but it is a while since their first XV has been in one and so they are keen to impress against their higher league opponents and also make up for narrowly missing out in the Devon Two promotion race and the Devon Junior Cup.
“The last final I remember has to be about seven years and that was a Devon cup and I think we got byes all the way to the final,” said OPMs’ Henry Matthew.
“So we are looking forward to Wednesday and trying to get a bit of silverware. We are going to enjoy it.
“It’s a cup final and anything can happen.”
Tavistock have had no trouble finding enough players to field two teams on the same night.
“I’m pleasantly surprised to say I had 40 available and hence had to do a selection,” said Tavistock coach Hammy Kerswill.
“We are expecting equally difficult games against both Saltash and OPMs.
“The club are fully backing the squads and we hope to have a good following. The cup structure has been a bit frantic this season but silverware is silverware and the cups hold much prestige.
“We notoriously always sent two teams to finals nights years ago and so it’s great to see some history repeated, despite the decrease in player numbers in the modern game.”
Tom Friend will captain Tavistock’s second team against Saltash, while Mark Friend returns after missing last weekend to start at centre for the first XV.
The only player not available is player-coach Kerswill, who injured his back at the weekend.
Saltash should also have two games on Wednesday. Their first team are due to entertain bottom side Wessex in the Cornwall/Devon League.
That is one of their two games in hand on leaders Wellington and second-placed Penryn. If they were to claim a bonus-point win then they would move above Penryn and into second spot.
Meanwhile, Plymstock Albion Oaks are also in action on Wednesday.
They travel to Withycombe in the semi-finals of the Devon Intermediate Shield.
If Oaks could win then they would host Honiton in the final.
Plymstock would love to reach the final of the county competition and add it to the Lockie Cup final, which they will play next Wednesday.
“It is something to aim for,” said Oaks coach Callum Cload. “If we could get some silverware in the season it would be brilliant.”
Admission into the Rectory on Wednesday is £4 for adults, with under-16s free. People attending are asked NOT to park on residential streets around the ground.