EVESHAM Rugby Club will be aiming to start the year by securing a place in the quarter-finals of the RFU Midlands Junior Vase.

The Vale outfit host Bedford Swifts on Saturday in a re-arranged third-round tie (2.15pm).

Evesham’s players have been training this week in readiness for their clash with Swifts, who are second in Midlands Four East (South).

Swifts have won three of the last five league matches and are 11 points adrift of leaders St Neots.

Evesham club spokesman Charlie Homer said: “Every competition is extremely important to the club and the players have been doing well this season.

“They will be wanting to continue their drive to do well. The team are taking the tie seriously – they are training this week and have been working hard together.”

Evesham, who are third in Midlands Four West (South), have already hammered Greyhound 80-0 before triumphing 15-12 in a hard-fought success at Bishops Castle in the earlier rounds of the competition.