RUGBY Lions head coach Rob Walton admits that pain of losing at Twickenham last May has driven his players last season.
The former National League club were beaten by Longlevens in last season’s RFU Junior Vase final which has proved Rugby’s only defeat in the last two seasons.
Walton’s side have already wrapped up the Midlands Four West (South) title and the Midlands Junior Vase this season and are again just one match away from another trip to Twickenham with Northallerton due at Webb Ellis Road for the RFU Junior Vase semi final this Saturday.
“We have some unfinished business to attend to.” said former Birmingham & Solihull, Rotherham and Coventry lock Walton.
“That defeat against Longlevens still hurts but that hurt drives you on.
“If you look at the squad that played that day, we have probably got ten players missing from that squad now. Players have left and new ones and have come in to strengthen the squad.”
Rugby were expelled from the league structure almost three years ago after they ran into financial difficulties.
But they re-entered the pyramid at the bottom level last season and have made impressive progress since then.
“We said at the end of last season when we reviewed the season that we exceeded expectations.” Walton said
“We couldn’t have written this. To say that the club had not been to Twickenham in its 120 year history until last season and to have the chance to do it twice in 12 months is quite unbelievable.”
