Oxfordshire Cup final

Kick-off 3.30pm

Sunday, April 26

Banbury Bulls player-coach Grant Holmes says they will revel in their underdogs tag against defending champions Oxford Harlequins.

Bulls are two divisions below Quins in the league structure and were last in the final seven years ago.

But Holmes said: “We have nothing to lose and everything to gain as we are expected to be outclassed.

“Being overwhelming und-erdogs means that quite a lot of pressure comes off our shoulders and hopefully we will use this to our advantage.

“It’s an occasion to enjoy and to showcase to the Oxfordshire public that Banbury also play an attractive style of rugby.

“I have no doubt that if we turn up and play to the best of our ability we can win.”

Banbury are not totally sure of their line-up due to injury concerns, so Ian Isham (utility forward), Chris Harrison (prop) and Jonny Wright (hooker) are on standby as replacements.

Holmes added: “Trying to counter the free-flowing style of Quins won’t be easy, we need to get in their faces defensively and make sure we are strong in the tackle.

“We have been very good this season at turning over possession once the ball carrier has been put on the floor.

“Obviously, we are up against a different class of opposition, but the tactics will remain the same.”

Quins continue with a settled line-up, which sees Ben Nicholl and Adam Pearson, who won the Shield with Blue Boar last year, start in the pack.

Pete Boulton is preferred to Oxford University’s Will Johnson at tight-head prop.

Quins coach John Brodley said: “Part of my job is to make sure the players don’t underestimate them. A cup final is a great leveller.

“We have got to make sure that we play at the top of our game and express ourselves in a positive way.

“We have been fortunate for the last ten games to use just 22 players.

“We have had consistency of selection, which is always good for building up team morale.

Brodley is a former Banbury coach, while his assistant on Sunday, John Gunter, was also with him there.

He said: “I have got a lot of fond memories of Banbury.”

Oxford Harlequins: Huw Jones, Ollie Campbell, Shaunn Lombard, Anthony Cope, Nick Sevier, Mark Forth, Kenny Sewell, Simon Chadbone (capt), Dave Needham, Pete Boulton, Cameron Gray, Angus McDowell, Ben Nicholl, Matt Young, Adam Pearson. Reps: Will Johnson, Matt Edney, Andy Noyce, Ed Davies, Nick Gardner.

Banbury Bulls: Darren De Bruyn, Mike Smith, Adam Walsh, David Taylor, Andrew Collett, Grant Holmes, Dyfrig Davies, Neal Edmunds, Andrew Ell, Andrew Gilbert, Nick Pratt, Matthew Brock, Chris Phillips, Sean Bannister, Simon Brand (capt). Reps: Mathew Shepley, Liam Stratford, David Phipps, Dylan Day, Carl Daniels.