"BRING them on – we're at home," roared Uttoxeter skipper Andrew Moult after Oldfields was chosen to stage the Staffs Junior Vase final.

Uttoxeter booked their place in the showpiece – set for Easter Saturday – after overcoming Coventry Welsh 17-12 in last weekend's semi-final.

They will now face either Pinley or Evesham, who lock horns in eight days' time, for the right to lift the Vase.

Uttoxeter fully deserve to contest the final according to their skipper.

He said: "I said to the boys 'you've worked hard and have been playing well. This is where you deserve to be playing, in finals like this'."

Player-coach Rob Scragg claimed the one try in Saturday's semi-final.

But despite a territorial advantage for long periods and the lion's share of possession Uttoxeter struggled to put away their opponents.

"The referee said 'the better side won, but you made hard work of it' – and he was exactly right," added the skipper.

"The conditions didn't help, but they were the same for both sides.

"But I could never ever see them getting over our try line."

Prior to the Coventry Welsh clash players from both sides, along with Uttoxeter Rugby Club officials and hundreds of supporters, joined together in one minute's silence in memory of Danny Edwards, who died in a road traffic accident five days earlier.

And the Uttoxeter skipper dedicated the semi-final win to the junior rugby player, who was aged just 18.

"That game was for Danny and his family," added Moult. "Emotions were running high. I said to the lads in the changing room that the game was not about Uttoxeter Rugby Club, it was about Danny's family stood out there."

The Oldfields outfit also enjoyed a record crowd for the victory, with almost 500 fans in attendance.

"Even Rocester Football Club would be jealous of that," said Moult. "I would like to thank everyone who came out to support us and hopefully they'll continue supporting us.

"It was like having a 16th man on the pitch. All the lads were proud that so many people turned out. Every game is important now, right up to the end of the season, so if they carry on supporting us it will be fantastic."

And tomorrow's clash against top-of-the-table Dronfield will be one of the biggest. Mike Conlon and Steve Harris will be notable absentees due to injuries picked up on Saturday.

Conlon required stitches after suffering a nasty gash on his leg and is definitely out. Harris also misses the crunch clash with a suspected broken rib – meaning Lee Bloor will take over kicking duties.

"I'm a bit concerned that we have a depleted team," admitted Moult. "But Saturday was a good warm up. Coventry Welsh play a similar type of rugby to Dronfield."

Victory will all but clinch Midlands Four East North promotion for Uttoxeter who would then require just four wins from their final seven games. However, promotion on its own would not satisfy Moult.

"I want to win the league," insisted the skipper. "You never remember who finishes runner-up."

Tomorrow's game, at Oldfields, is a 2pm kick-off.

Match report: Page 47