Oakwood sponsored Andover RFC have received a setback to their preparations for tomorrow’s Hampshire County Plate match with Fordingbridge, but don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

As a result of a fixture pile up, the Plate semi-final now clashes with Hampshire's county game with Surrey and two young Andover stars, Alex Hibdidge and Jack Stott, have received their call up papers for the full county squad.

“We are cock a hoop for the players” said coach Andy Waite, “It’s a fantastic honour for them and our club and is testament to the hard work put in, particularly at youth level over the past few years.”

Alex and Jack are both products of the youth academy and it is a real shot in the arm for all of to know that they have produced players who can progress this far.

“Obviously the timing could have been better for us, but that can’t be helped and we will just have to do our best without them” added Waite. The absence of Stott and Hibdidge will give opportunities for Andover to look at other options in the front row and midfield, but they have cover with Sam Earle playing plenty of first team rugby lately and Jack and Henry Rennison both impressing at second team level. “Like much of the first and second team squad, these players are also recent academy graduates and again that is a real testament to the work going on, but the return of the experienced Marc Wilding and Rob Good is also vitally important” said Waite “They should give us the control and extra options we will need against a Fordingbridge side who we know will really come at us”. Andover have beaten the visitors at home this season, but were in turn heavily beaten in the controversial away match and Fordingbridge finished well above Andover in the final league placings, only missing promotion in the play off game with Surrey club Cranleigh.

“ They are a tough and well-drilled side who will be smarting from the play-off defeat and they don’t have any county call ups” said Waite. '”We will be the underdogs, but we will give it our best shot and with a good young side like ours, anything is possible. '

Andover will also be without lock Graham Campbell who is on holiday, but hooker Tom Waite is fit after a twisted knee and the rest of the regular squad are all available.

“This cup run has been an added bonus for us this year and has given us some great games already. We hope that we can finish strongly and really give our fans something to cheer abou2 said Waite.

The game kicks off at the Goodship Ground at 3pm on Saturday, entry is free and everyone is welcome to come and cheer the young 'All Blacks' on.