RUGBY: Basildon are gunning for glory in the under 18s National Cup final this weekend.
Basildon take on Sandal this Sunday at the Sixways Stadium in Worcester.
And coach Simon Beadle is delighted with how well his side have performed.
“I’m so super proud of this team and everything they’ve done,” said Beadle.
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“Getting to this final is the icing on the cake and all of us coaches are really proud.”
Basildon have fought hard to set up this weekend’s final.
But such success is nothing new as the girls also reached the final four of the competition in the past two seasons.
“The 21/22 season was the first time and it was a bit unexpected,” said Beadle.
“To get as far as we did, to the semi-final, was brilliant.
“The year after we had the experience to do it again.
“We lost to Dings in the semi-final who were another very good, well-drilled side but it’s set us up for this year.
“For the girls, who have been in it for the past two years, this is their last season.
“It was a very young group to start with and they’ve used the experience they’ve gained throughout the last two years.”
Basildon won the Kent League and Essex Cup last season and are also unbeaten in the newly formed Essex League this term.
And there has also been no stopping them in the National Cup.
“We topped the pool and beat Eton Manor which was the pinnacle of how we’ve played this season,” said Beadle.
“We were two tries down to Worthing after that before coming back to win by a point with a phenomenal performance “We beat Winscombe 33-14 in the semi-final and that set up Sunday’s game.”
However, Beadle is not too sure what to expect against Sandal.
“We’ve done a bit of digging but not found any game footage just yet,” said Beadle.
“They’ve got some girls in the centre of excellence in the north and a young lady who is selected for England under 18s but we’re in the same boat.
“We’ve got nine girls in the centre of excellence either with Saracens or Oxford/Thames.
“Keira Muir in the England under 18 set up this year too but we’re focusing on us not them because we can’t affect what they do.”
But it promises to be a memorable occasion.
“Lots of family and friends are coming and we have two coaches full of people travelling up,” said Beadle.
“It will be fantastic and the girls are really excited for it.”
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