Included in the competition are the two main finalists from last year, St Agnes and Old Blues, who fought out an epic 7-7 contest before St Agnes won with the first try scored in extra time.New to the tournament are Esher, while there is a welcome return by Alton who have entered the competition every year and won the Bowl in 1999.
All the other teams have played in the tournament before, although Old Halesonians didn’t travel last year.As always, RFU rules are adhered to, which defines a veteran as a player aged 35 or over, while the preliminary matches are ten minutes each way and the finals a little longer, 12 minutes each way.Jersey are in a pool which includes Cobham and Warlingham, but their main chances this year are probably in the plate or bowl competitions – the last time they won the main tournament was in 1999.Games begin at 1 pm on Saturday with the semi-finals taking place on Sunday from 11.30 am.
The finals begin at 12.50 pm with the main final at 1.50 pm.
Teams register at the club from 7.30 pm on Friday and hot food, and a beer tent, have been arranged for both teams and supporters over the weekend.In London South-West League Division III on Saturday, the Jersey RFC’s 1st XV take on newcomers to the league, London Irish Amateurs, away.
