DIRECTOR of rugby Adam Drew is urging Droitwich’s home-grown talent to keep their nerve in Saturday’s home RFU National Senior Vase semi-final against Tarleton (3pm).

The Glyn Mitchell Memorial Ground outfit have won all their matches this term on their gallop to the Midlands Three West (South) title.

Now Droitwich are just one victory from a showpiece final at Twickenham.

Droitwich are expecting a bumper crowd of around 700 for the showdown with Tarleton, who hail from West Lancashire between Southport and Preston.

It’s the biggest game in Droitwich’s history, according to Drew, who cannot wait to line up against the newly-crowned Lancashire (North) league winners.

Three of Tarleton’s players – the Skofic brothers – were on international duty last weekend with European rugby minnows Slovenia..

Drew watched Tarleton in action as they slipped to a 25-17 defeat at Didsbury Toc H for their first league loss.

“Tarleton are a very good side, although I think their league might be a little bit weaker,” said Drew.

“They play a good style of rugby but we will be going out to beat them.

“We are fully focused on the task and we know it will take a very good side to beat us.

“I can see where we can beat them but I can also see how they could beat us if we leave the door open.”

Droitwich will be captained by prop James Shewell, with number eight Phil Horton, scrum-half Steve Poke and his brother Rob Poke, a hooker, among the stalwarts hoping to fire the Worcestershire side to victory.

Drew said: “We are really looking forward it and it will be a special day for the club and the players. It can’t come quickly enough.

“We have a 22-man squad with great strength in depth and we play for 80 minutes.

“We were bit depleted against Shipston-on-Stour last weekend because we had four players missing but we still had the strength to win the match 36-15.

“We can really punish teams in the last 30 minutes.

"We will be fielding our strongest side and Twickenham is a huge incentive for us and the motivation to win the game is huge.

"If Tarleton progress to the final, I will shake their hands and say congratulations.”

Droitwich have won 21 successive matches in the league, scoring 804 points and conceding 196.

They have 103 points on the board - 29 points more than second-placed Evesham.

 Drew hailed the influence of player-coach Peter Knight, a blindside flanker, Blair Hunter and Worcester Warriors centre Jackson Willison who has been running sessions with the backs.

“Around 95 per cent of the players who play for us on Saturday will have come through the mini and junior ranks at Droitwich,” he said.

“A lot of people have claimed we have recruited players but we have attracted original players back to their home club.

“One lad has come in from Collumpton but everyone else has been at Droitwich for the past 10 or 12 years.”

Tarleton are in the same division as Orrell and Burnley.

They have won 18 of their 19 league matches, scoring 723 points and conceding 200 with a total of 86 points.

In the group stages of season’s cup programme, they lost 14-11 at Egremont before hammering Dukinfield 48-6.

Tarleton then edged to a narrow 10-7 victory in tough conditions against Thornensians.

Tarleton’s team will be travelling down to Worcestershire with two supporters coaches among the convoy.

Head coach Steve Gough can count Coventry and Fylde among his former clubs.

Gough said: “We like to play running rugby and I think we will be similar to Droitwich who are also free-scoring.

“I came into the club two years ago and we are still in a building process with a very young team.

"Home advantage is key for a game like this but all we can do is try our best and enjoy the occasion."

Gough added: “It will depend what happens on the day but I am sure the players will give their all.”

Entry costs £5, with a programme, and there are plans for a barbeque and an outside bar.

The winners of the tie will meet Farnham or Saltash in the final at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, May 6 (1pm).