Luctonians will be favourites for the North Midflands Cup

Hereford's delight at reaching their first North Midlands Cup final in eight years has been tempered as they will be forced to field a depleted team.

The meeting with Luctonians this Sunday (11 May) at Stourbridge clashes with the end-of-season tour to Antwerp.

"It's disappointing," said Hereford skipper Ceiron Griffiths. "It's some time since we got to the final.

"It would have been a humdinger against Luctonians," added Griffiths, who will be one of those missing the game.

"We booked our tour some time ago and when we realised that there might be a clash it was too late to change it.

"On a positive note, it does give opportunities to some of our many youngsters to play in the final.

"Most of the side that will face Luctonians played in our semi-final win over Dudley Kingswinford last Saturday.

Winning the county cup is a route through to the National Trophy which we played in last year and went through three rounds Luctonians Dave Thomas

"Around 60 per cent of the side have played league rugby for us this season, and it will be a very young side.

"If you take out hooker Gareth Miles, who is 33, the average age of the team will be 22 to 23."

Luctonians also have a thriving youth section and are relishing the prospect of the first all-Herefordshire North Midlands Cup final.

"The rivalry between the clubs goes back many, many years," said Luctonians' rugby director Dave Thomas.

"It's a game that both clubs want to win, given their proximity to each other.

"We've had a successful season, we got through to the promotion play-offs and we'd like to end the season with something tangible.

"Winning the county cup is a route through to the National Trophy which we played in last year and went through three rounds before we were beaten by Rosslyn Park."