A PLACE in the last four of the National Colts Cup awaits Colchester Rugby Club’s under-19s if they can overcome the might of Cornwall.

Cornish big-guns Redruth are making the long trip to Essex on Sunday for the quarter-finals of the prestigious national competition and everyone at Colchester is gearing up to give their youngsters their full support.

A crowd in excess of 500 is expected at Mill Road as the Colchester Colts bid to make it into the last four for the first time in their history.

Coach Nic Lloyd said: “We will have the strongest side out that we can possibly put out.

“The lads have a really good record and their home record is even better.

“As an age group, they haven’t been beaten at Mill Road since 2005.

“It really is all systems go and we are very confident of giving Redruth a good run for their money.

“They are obviously a good side to have got this far and their senior first team play in National League Two, which is five levels above our first-team.

“They have full under-17s, under-18s and under-19s to choose from so they have a huge squad of talent, however, we are very much in confident mood and they will have to be at the very top of their game to get past us.

“We will be looking to blitz them early on like we did against London Irish and Bishop’s Stortford.

“Fitness is a big aspect of our game and we know that our lads will keep going for the full 70 minutes.

“Our big strength lies in our backs and we have a great back row that delivers quick ball.

“We look to play a fast game and if conditions are good, it will be right for that.

“We are fast, fit and strong.”

Colchester have so far battled past under-19s sides from Romford, Hertford, Chelmsford, London Irish and Bishop’s Stortford on their way to the last eight and Ross Cowie, the Colchester youth section chairman, said he felt the experience gained in last year’s cup run would stand the team in good stead.

The colts made it to the same stage last season, before bowing out at Dudley Kingswinford, and Cowie feels that will help the Essex youngsters.

He said: “We have eight members of the current side who were in the team for last year’s quarter-final and a further three were in the squad, so we hope that will help our guys.

“We are scheduling six youth games at home before the colts game and are hoping that a good number of people will stay on to support the colts.

“They played in front of crowds of 500 three times last year and there was a similar-sized crowd against London Irish and that proved a great help.

“We are expecting Redruth to be a typical Cornish side.

“It is a real passion for them and rugby is effectively their national sport rather than football, however, they are a smaller club than we are.

“It is great that we have got this far and it will be fantastic if we can go further.

“We are looking forward to a huge day for the club and we will be getting support from right the way through the club.”