RUGBY: Merriman brothers target Oxfordshire cup final brace (From Witney Gazette)

RUGBY: Merriman brothers target Oxfordshire cup final brace

8:52am Wednesday 12th April 2006

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There will be a double celebration in the Merriman family if Witney RFC and Carterton FC win their respective county cup finals.

Witney hooker Andy Merriman, 36, goes for glory with the oval ball against Oxford Harlequins in Sunday's Oxfordshire Cup final at Iffley Road.

His brother Terry, 37, is Carterton manager and has steered them to the Oxfordshire Senior Cup final against Banbury United at the Kassam Stadium on April 25.

This will be the first time the brothers from Brize Norton have made county finals and they are dertermined to make the most of it.

Terry said: "It's a good chance for the two smaller clubs, but both of us will be big underdogs.

"I'm going along to the rugby final on Sunday and Andy said he will come to the football with his son who likes both sports.

"I think both teams will be very well supported.

"Doing the double was the two teams getting there, but you never know what might happen now we have."

Andy said: "It was really football at home, but we both played rugby at Burford School.

"I think Terry played for southern England at schoolboy level, while I played for the country.

"I went on to play local football, while Terry went and had a go at the professional game.

"When I was 26 I played in goal for Brize Norton. I had always enjoyed rugby and a friend of mine, Simon Chatterton, invited me over to Witney."

Andy has been at Witney ever since and he and his teammates are relishing the club's first county cup final.

"Clearly they are two leagues above us, but it's cup rugby so anything can happen," he said.

The final was postponed from April 1 and Witney have named the same side that would have started the original clash.

Skipper Jez Hicks said: "We were confident with that team before and still are. It's probably the best team we could have played.

"It was really disappointing having it called off before. Everybody just can't wait for it now.

"We played really well in the second half against Beaconsfield on Saturday, so we are quite confident."

Oxford Harlequins secured their South West 1 status for next season with a 34-15 victory over Penryn, so can now focus solely on Sunday's final.

Their top tryscorer Andy Henley was suspended for the original match, but is now free to play this time if available.

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