Mersea Island will make club history when they entertain Hitchin in the Tetley Bitter Vase competition on Saturday.

The fourth round tie against Middlesex and Hertfordshire division one side Hitchin will be a historic day for the club during its tenth anniversary season.

The Islanders have never progressed beyond the third round in the competition before.

Mersea are well within their capabilities of winning this cup-tie and have been in impressive form so far this season with a number of good performances.

They are currently joint leaders of Eastern Counties division two with Ilford Wanderers.

On the way to the fourth round Mersea have beaten Southwold 60-0, Old Brentwood 58-0 and Clacton 22-8. With only one try being conceded in the previous three rounds, Mersea's strong defence could well hold the key to success.

And in front of a home crowd they are hoping to put in another strong defensive performance.

An excellent coach in Steve Evans, hard work in training and a great team spirit are the main ingredients of the team's recent success.

Captain Danny Blacklock leads the team well on the field, and with a cosmopolitan look to the line-up including three Welshmen, an Irishman, a Scotsman and two Springboks, the team always plays a very expansive game, looking to counter-attack and run the ball from deep whenever possible.

They will also be looking to control play at set pieces, especially around the scrum and line-outs, clearing up any loose play.

The back row will also have to be on song tomorrow in both attack and defence.

Hitchin, however, will be no pushovers. They are no strangers to this competition having won the Vase three seasons ago at England rugby's headquarters Twickenham.

In the previous round of the cup they put in a very strong performance away from home to beat Fulham 32-0.

With home advantage and hopefully fine conditions in which to play their expansive game, Mersea Island have a chance of creating further club history by progressing into the fifth round.

The match kicks off at 1.45pm at East Mersea Youth Camp and the club is hoping for a lot of local support.

Full fourth round draw

Ilford Wanderers v Chichester

London Exiles v Bank of England

Mersea Island v Hitchin

Millfield OB v Old Tottonians

Mitcham v Stanford Le Hope

Old Wellingtonians v Ipswich YM

Sandown & Shanklin v Betteshanger

Sittingbourne v Aylesford

Teddington or Old Freemans v Lakenham Hewett

Whitstable v Dover

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