OEs have named a strong line-up for Friday night’s Kent Cup quarter-final at Sidcup, as they bid to reach the last four for the fourth time in seven years.
Although competition regulations means Elthamians are unable to field any player who has made consecutive starting 1st team appearances in the five games prior to the Kent Cup match, the club’s second string, captained by centre Johnny Williams (pictured above), still features 11 players with first team experience this season.
Director of rugby Gavin Lach admits his line-up is a reflection of how seriously the club are taking the game. “We are taking this very seriously,” he said. “Sidcup are riding high in London One, it’s a local derby and they will want nothing more than to knock us out of the Cup. So we are well aware of the challenge in front of us.
“But that’s what makes the later stages of the Kent Cup so intriguing – match-ups like this. We have never won the Kent Cup, despite being in three finals in the last seven years, so of course it would be great for the club to get some silverware. But we are not looking any further ahead than Sidcup. We have prepared for the game this week just like we would a normal National Two South fixture.
“A lot of the players know each other well on both sides, there should be a big crowd under the floodlights so there should be an excellent atmosphere at Sidcup on Friday and I’d urge all our supporters to get down to Sydney Road and get behind the boys.”
OEs line-up:
1/ R Boxall
2/ J Fordham
3/ L Murphy-Woolridge
4/ G Davies
5/ C Tallis
6/ T Scorgie
7/ P Johnson
8/ J Cullen
9/ C Edwards
10/ C Surman
11/ R Bennett
12/ J Williams (capt)
13/ J Webber
14/ C Nagel
15/ M Ubee
Replacements
16/ D Baladasan
17/ G Whichello
18/ O Nasir
19/ W Luxford