In 2006, after Banks had lost 13-3 to Millbrook at the same stage of the competition, the Hospitals’ XV went on to beat Millbrook 17-6, away from home, in the final.
The medics are not a team to be taken lightly and already this season they have beaten Alresford 61-7 and, last weekend (to set up this meeting with Banks), they beat Romsey RFC by 41 points to 15.
However, if Banks do win they will have what, on paper, appears an easier run-in to the final as their semi-final opponents will be either Eastleigh or Fareham Heathens.
‘We’ve had two excellent wins in the last couple of weeks,’ said Banks’ captain Peter Haworth before training on Wednesday.
‘We’ll miss Richard Stevens, who dislocated his thumb on Sunday and is flying out to New Zealand soon anyway, but the Trower boys are playing well for us at the moment, and scoring 15 tries against a game St Jacques’ side in the J Promail JRA league on Sunday underlines just how keen our team is to win, no matter what the level of competition.’
