The penultimate game of the OPRFC season falls tomorrow night at Ealing Trailfinders RFC, as the Thundercats taken on Uxbridge in the Final of the Middlesex North West Floodlit Cup, the match kicking off at 7.30pm.

Having defeated Old Merchant Taylors' 19-10 in the semi-finals in Mid-March, the team will go into the game with confidence and a deep squad, six players being named on on the replacements bench.

We should expect a different style from the previous round, with this final being played on the Artifical Grass Pitch at Ealing Trailfinders, a far cry from the match against OMT, where the rain lashed and the wind battered, the forecast looking much more favourably for Tuesday evening.

There has been a full season to establish some of the key performers at OPRFC, so we can point to the likes of Will Taylor at fly-half and captain Tomas Wood at centre as potential gamechangers, along with Matt Delargy and Funbi Osuntoki in the forwards at 7 and 3. Tomek Tsang, whose points from the boot in the semis remained the difference, is also another to look out for.

Quite honestly, there is quality in the side throughout, with eleven of the starting line-up having represented the Twisters at some point this season and most playing at least five games across 2021/22 and an important clutch - James Porter, Wood, Avi Sohi, Daniel Moore and Ed Moss especially - playing a very important part in the league winning season for the Saints.

It will also be interesting to see how the likes of Cathal Sheehan and Alex Gribbon perform from the bench, having been in excellent form for St Benedict's this season, along with Harry Hanley.

Head Coach, Vinnie Berrington, commented :

“We’re really excited to be in the final with our U25s - it shows the talent and depth we have in the club. We want to finish the season strong and pick up more silverware, especially with a young team who are the future of the club.

The boys are aware it will be an extremely challenging fixture, however we are quietly confident in getting the victory.”

On paper, Uxbridge should come into the game as underdogs, four divisions below OPRFC in the 1st XV leage structure, but did defeat Ruislip - another level 7 side - in the semi-final, so we could expect a closer contest than would be suggested.

MATCH FACTS

- 18 of the 21 in the Thundercats squad came through the youth set-up (St Benedict's)

- Matt Delargy will make his 21st appearance for the club as a whole, the most appearances for any player at OPRFC during 2021/22

- Will Taylor will pass 200 points for the season if he scores 22 points in this fixture

- Four players will make their first - and last - appearances for the season during this fixture, if they come off the bench - Mishka Fibbens, Cathal Sheehan, Harry Hanley and Alex Gribbon