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Matson head coach Leon Liggett is chasing RFU Intermediate Cup final glory at Twickenham

Gloucester > Sport > Rugby Union

Author: Roger Jackson, Posted: Wednesday, 1st May 2019, 11:00

The RFU Intermediate Cup final takes place at Twickenham on Sunday The RFU Intermediate Cup final takes place at Twickenham on Sunday

Matson head coach Leon Liggett is backing his RFU Intermediate Cup semi-final heroes as the club chase final glory at Twickenham on Sunday.

Liggett has chosen the same 22 that engineered a remarkable comeback at Old Colfeians last month, coming back from 18-0 down to win 19-18 in thrilling style.

Standing in their way in the Intermediate Cup final will be Kenilworth, the club from Warwickshire who have won the Midlands Two West (South) title this season after winning 21 of their 22 games.

However, like Matson they didn’t have things all their own way in their semi-final before pulling through 39-34 against South Shields Westoe.

Matson’s semi-final win was the stuff of dreams, of course, a game that will never be forgotten by those who were there.

And what made it even more impressive, if that was possible, was that they had to banish the memories of their defeat at the same stage in the same competition at Tunbridge Wells three years previously.

Not that there was ever any danger of Matson throwing in the towel against Old Colfeians, and Liggett, a former top scrum-half with Cinderford, Lydney and Coney Hill who has been head coach at Matson for the past four years, admitted that it was one of the great days of his rugby life.

“To come back from 18-0 down at half-time, that showed the character of the lads,” he said.

“The scenes after the final whistle were amazing. Everyone ran onto the pitch – parents, partners, wives, kids.

“There were a few tears after the game.”

But now that Matson are at Twickenham for the biggest game in their 62-year history, they are determined to bring the trophy back to Gloucester.

“We’ve done the first part of the job by getting to the final, it’s an amazing feat” said Liggett.

“We want to enjoy the day but we want to get the W.”

Liggett, whose eight-year-old son Leo will be the club’s mascot on Sunday, is hoping that it will be a case of third time lucky for him at Twickenham.

“I’ve played there twice and never won,” he admitted. “I played for Gloucestershire Colts against North Midlands and for the full county team against Devon and lost both times.”

So how’s he feeling just days before the showpiece occasion?

“I’m excited,” he said. “I was more nervous for the semi-final. I just hope we go 18-0 up this time.

“I don’t think my heart could take it if we went 18-0 down again!”

Matson: 15 Vince Lanciano; 14 Ryan Woodhouse, 13 Aaron Morefield, 12 Chris Hawkins, 11 Jevan Brown; 10 Findlay Young, 9 Farrell Gwilliam; 8 Tom Porter, 7 Liam Hazledon, 6 Joe Hart, 5 Ben Broady, 4 John Hennessy, 3 Jack Knight, 2 Tim Collier, 1 Shay O’Malley. Replacements: 16 Jerome Moore, 17 Harry Knight, 18 Joe Payne, 19 Joe Stokes, 20 Connor Gwilliam, 21 Mark Brown, 22 Matty Smith. Head coach: Leon Liggett; team manager: Paul Jones; physio: Joe Greedy. Travelling reserves: Liam Keating, Kian Bayliss, Harry Atkinson, Daniel Herd, Charlie Bishop.

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