THE first two Plymouth Combination cup finals take place at Brickfields tonight as Tamar Saracens and Plymouth Argaum battle it out for the RNEC Cup and holders Devonport Services III face off with Tavistock II for the Pedrick Cup.
The Pedrick Cup final will be the first game at 6pm, with the RNEC Cup final taking top billing at 7.30pm.
Tamar Saracens and Plymouth Argaum have both had tough season in Counties Two Devon, finishing in the bottom three, but both are looking forward to tonight’s showpiece event.
Neither club have been short of players wanting to feature in the big game.
“I think we have 28 available,” said Tamar Saracens head coach Mike Lewis. “We have had some selection headaches.
“It’s nice to have that problem, but I just wish we had that problem every week!
“We want the right team to win, but you also want to be fair to boys who have trained all year.”
His opposite number at Argaum Dean Avery added: “I think we have about 30 people available. It is a lovely fixture to have at this time of the season and down at Albion under the lights. That brings a bit of excitement.
“Everyone does want to play in a cup final, but due to work commitments, half-term and a number of the Royal Marines having gone home we are missing seven players.
“But we have got a big squad and even with seven missing, it is going to be one of the strongest teams we have put out this season.”
For Argaum it will be their final match of the season, but Tamar Saracens are still in the Papa Johns Cup and will play South Molton on April 26.
But Lewis believes his players’ minds are firmly on trying to win the RNEC Cup in front of family and friends at Brickfields.
“I think the lads are looking at this as the biggest game as it is a cup final,” said Lewis.
The RNEC final nearly did not happen as Tamar Saracens had been told they could have the trophy as Argaum had borrowed a couple of Saltash players to make a 15-a-side match against the Cornish club in the Lockie Cup – a match Argaum lost 90-0.
But Tamar Saracens did not want to win the cup in that fashion, and they did not think it was really fair on Argaum, who had travelled to unbeaten Saltash and played a game.
“We said we didn’t want the cup that way,” said Lewis. “We wanted to play in a cup final.
“Our boys want to play at Plymouth Albion as they don’t get to do it every week. We wanted it; Argaum wanted it; so we got the game on.
“Obviously, we want to win, but it’s not just about the winning – it’s about having these special days under floodlights and in a big stadium.
“The boys will be gutted if they lose, but they will still remember it for ever and you do want to try and create those special memories for players.”
Lewis added: “In cup finals and big games we have tended to get over-eager and too excited and have maybe not played to our strengths.
“We just need to step back a bit and play with a bit more freedom and flow.”
Argaum head coach Avery added: “We look forward to rounding off a season with a cup final.
“We always tend to have some good games against Tamar Saracens.”
Admission into Brickfields is £6. Car parking at the ground is currently limited due to major building work, but there is an overflow car park at Stonehouse Creek.