The Tetley's Bitter Vase quarter-final against Old Wellingtonians is still more than a week away, but already the players of Stanford-le-Hope rugby club can feel a buzz about the town.

"You can't walk down the street without people talking to you about the game," says player-coach Jamie Daisley, who says there is massive interest in the club with a potential Vase Final at Twickenham in the offing.

"Attendances have increased massively and there are regularly more than a couple of hundred people watching us now. It's amazing the interest the Vase run has caused."

A sizeable crowd was again in attendance at the weekend as Stanford crushed May & Baker 43-0 in their final competitive match before the Vase clash on February 26.

Stanford dominated the game from start to finish but it was a low-key performance compared to the high standards they have set during this current season.

Leading try-scorer Gavin Scott got a hat-trick, with Duncan Taylor weighing-in with a brace and further scores coming from Mark Connelly, Darren Watkins. Dave Kelway added four conversions.

Centre Scott Cooper and Dean Finnegan (No 8) missed the game with injuries but the club are hopeful they will be fit in time to take on Old Wellingtonians in 10 days time.

The team put the finishing touches to their preparations for the Vase game with a warm-up match at Barking this weekend.

Rochford's under-17 rugby side got their revenge against a combined Hertford & Bishop's Stortford side when they came away with a 15-5 victory.

The visitors, who included several county players in their squad, took the lead with an early try but Rochford hit back with two tries, a penalty and a conversion to avenge last year's loss.

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