SKIPPER James Shewell has urged Droitwich to concentrate on their own game as they prepare to take on Tarleton in the semi-finals of the RFU National Senior Vase this weekend.
The Midlands Three (West) South champions welcome the Lancashire (North) winners to the Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground tomorrow (Saturday) knowing victory would mean they would grace the turf at Twickenham in the final.
Droitwich have won all of their games this season while Tarleton have lost just once – that coming in a 25-17 defeat to Didsbury Toc H last Saturday.
And with a bumper crowd expected to cheer on Adam Drew’s men, Shewell says the players are all geared up for arguably the club’s biggest game in their 45-year history.
“We are expecting a crowd of around 500 and they will be massive for us because it could be the difference on the day,” he said.
“There is a feeling of excitement round the camp right now as it’s felt like we have been waiting for this moment for a long time.
“We are not nervous yet but we are confident because we have won the league, are yet to lose and have that big game experience.
“Playing at Twickenham is the unthinkable because you don’t really expect it to happen but we are trying to focus on the game itself.
“There’s a massive incentive for us as opportunities like this do not come around often.”
Unbeaten Droitwich made it 21 wins out of 21 in the league on Saturday as they claimed a 36-15 victory at Shipston on Stour.
Dan Wilkinson, Nat Maginnis and Russell Brown scored a hat-trick of tries while Bobby Scott-Walker kicked a penalty as well as four conversions.
Two penalty tries were also awarded to the visitors who now sit on 103 points with one game left to play.
“Shipston are a very good side who don’t lose at home that often so we knew it was going to be difficult,” said Shewell.
“The conditions were very tough and they were a very physical side but I thought we came through it quite well.
“We actually managed to keep all 15 players on the pitch this time which was pleasing.
“We always keep trying to move the goal posts and now that we have reached more than 100 points our only aim now is to end the season as invincibles.”
