Old Alleynians, from Dulwich, admit they will be the underdogs when they make their Twickenham debut in the final of the Powergen Junior Vase. And that's just the way they like it.

Already the Alleynians - the old boys team of Dulwich College - have knocked out several sides placed higher than them in the league pyramid.

Shipston-on-Stour will be the fourth if the Londoners' earn the freedom to play their own brand of running rugby on Saturday morning (10.30am).

"The whole competition has been a giantkilling exercise for us," said Tim Sandars, the fly half who kicked them to victory in a 23-20 semi-final win against Bradford Salem.

The Surrey Division One side came back from 20-15 down to win that game, Sandars missing with a conversion attempt that would have won it before getting a second chance with an 80th minute penalty.

That game was an indicator of his sides strengths and weaknesses. They were outgunned up front and conceded two pushover tries, but won enough ball for wing John Hanna, centre Mike Joy and full back Chris Park to score the tries that got them back into the game.

"We've beaten four sides in Surrey One or at an equivalent level," said Sandars. "They've all had huge packs and it's been a real achievement.

"Now I'm trying not to think about Twickenham too much - it makes me nervous - and we can't wait to get out there."

Earning their trip to the Home of England Rugby is a massive achievement for the team after an electrical fault caused a fire that gutted their clubhouse in early January.

But they have a reputation for producing good players like David Flatman, the Saracens and England prop who played for them in the mid 1990s.

Another successful product of school and club is Nick Easter, the Orrell flanker who scored a hat-trick of tries against Northampton Saints in the Powergen Cup earlier this season.

Orrell subsequently reached the final of the Powergen Challenge Shield and will take on National One rivals Exeter Chiefs on Saturday (2.15pm).

That will give the Easter family will have plenty to shout about at the weekend. Nick's younger brother Mark is a key player in the Alleynians side.

The 20-year-old is studying geography and business at Nottingham University, playing for them in the BUSA Championship and still commuting back for the big Vase games.

"We're both in the back row and I'm told we have similar styles, but he's about three stones heavier than I am and more of a ball carrier," said Easter junior.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Shipston-on-Stour v Old Alleynians

Shipston-on-Stour

Division: Midlands

League Position: 1st - Midlands 4 West South (level 8)

Debut in Junior Vase: 1991/92

Junior Vase Record: P36, W25, L11

Highest score: 62-19 v Old Griffinians (H) in Round 1 on 9 September 2000

Biggest win: (54) 54-0 v Nottingham Casuals (H) in Round 4 on 30 November 2002

Shipston are bidding to become only the 2nd Warwickshire club, after Silhillians in 1999 to reach a Junior Cup final. They have participated in the last eleven seasons of the Junior Vase. Shipston's only previous loss to a team from a lower level in this competition came on 7 October 1995 when they visited Oswestry in the 2nd round and went down 17-7. The ten similar matches since, including six this season, have all ended in victory.

Amazingly only one club from as high as level 8 has ever carried off the Junior Vase - Harpenden in 1997, the three others have all lost out to lower sides in the final itself.

Shipston-on-Stour RFC were formed in 1963 by a group of Masters and Old Boys from Shipston High School.

Shipston's Powergen path to the Final

1st Round: Clee (A) Won 15-10;

2nd Round: Bredon Star (H) Won 36-0;

3rd Round: Spartans (H) Won 42-7;

4th Round: Nottingham Casuals (H) Won 54-0;

5th Round: Henley Wanderers (H) Won 13-0;

6th Round: Old Griffinians (H) Won 19-0;

QF: Worksop (A) Won 28-17;

SF: Old Public Oaks (A) Won 12-6.

Old Alleynians

Division: London and South-East

League Position: 4th - Surrey 2 (level 10)

Debut in Junior Vase: 2002/03

Junior Vase Record: P8, W8

Highest score: 55-7 v Royal Bank of Scotland (A) in Round 1 on 21 September 2002

Biggest win: (48) 55-7 v Royal Bank of Scotland (A) in Round 1 on 21 September 2002

Old Alleynians, formed in 1898 by former pupils of Dulwich College, are in their first season in the Powergen Junior Vase. They have already disposed of three teams from one higher level in this season's competition - Stowmarket in the 5th round, Hitchin in the quarter-final and Bradford Salem in the last four. This time they will have to close a two level gap if they are to become only the third London Division team to carry off the Junior Vase. They are no strangers to cup giant killing because in their first ever Senior Cup tie in 1987 1st Round they beat 3rd division Maidstone 12-0 at Dulwich Common when they themselves were three levels lower in London 2 South.

Old Alleynians Powergen path to the Final

1st Round: Royal Bank of Scotland (A) Won 55-7;

2nd Round: Raynes Park (H) Won 18-5;

3rd Round: Ventnor (A) Won 19-6;

4th Round: Old Grammarians (A) Won 19-15;

5th Round: Stowmarket (H) Won 20-13;

6th Round: Streatham-Croydon (H) Won 13-7;

QF: Hitchin (H) Won 28-7;

SF: Bradford Salem (H) Won 23-20.

April 1, 2003 18:30