If it’s May, then once again it must be RFU Community Plate Final time for Workington Zebra Finches, writes John Hastings.
Following their successes at Twickenham in 2023 and in Worcester last year, Workington are just 80 minutes away from an unprecedented hat-trick when they revisit Worcester Warriors’ impressive Sixways Stadium to take on Devon side Okehampton.
And after narrowly missing out on the RFU League 2 North title, the Finches will be fired up and determined to make amends.
Kick off is at 11.00am and is the first of several RFU Community Finals that will be played out on the club’s artificial turf.
This season’s plate journey for Workington has consisted of two walkovers, a convincing Quarter Final romp at Yarnbury and a close victory against Harpenden at The Ellis.
Workington go into the match with 10 of the starting XV playing in their third final, including captain Juliet Porter, while for four others it’s their second final, with only Megan Mayhew-Beach sampling her maiden final in Finches colours (though she has won two finals in Rugby League with Workington Town).
Sadly, injuries mean that the Finches will be without winger Megan Donald and flanker Beth Adams, as well as forwards Rebecca Crawford, Laura Southam and Kelly Manford – however, the strength in player depth this season means that these absences will be compensated.
Okehampton were only formed in 2020, but have already won back-to-back league title promotions – losing just one game in 32 – and they will be aiming for a League and Plate double.
Their RFU Plate route began with a walkover then a landslide win at Gordano followed by a scare in the Quarter Final when they squeaked through at Melksham as the away team after a draw before racking up an amazing century at Windsor in the Semi-Final.
Key players for the Oaks include full back and record try scorer Issy Edworthy, winger Abi Knight-Mansworth and stand-off Phoebe Ogborne, while captain Becky Dennis will be calling the shots as hooker in both scrums and line outs.
It is safe to declare that Workington coaches Chris Davidson and Simon Thomson along with captain Juliet Porter will have done their homework on them and plans will have been made, while every single Finches player will be ready for the Oaks from kick off in what promises to be a tight encounter.
