The streets of Billericay are likely to be unusually quiet this weekend as thousands of local people make their way to Twickenham to support their rugby team's bid for glory.

As many as 2,000 local supporters - nearly six per cent of the town's entire population - are expected to take their seats at the hallowed home of rugby on Saturday to watch Billericay Rugby Club take on Old Silhillians in the national final of the Tetley Bitter Vase.

By last weekend more than 1,500 tickets had already been sold to fans and there were no signs of any let-up in demand as the week went on.

The club usually expects to see crowds of between 50 and 100 for its home games at the Willowbrook ground on Stock Road, so club manager Gary Smith is thrilled with the incredible support his team are getting from the people of the town.

He said: "It's been great, it really has. The publicity we have had and the support we have received, its been amazing.

"If all this hasn't put the club on the map I don't know what will.

"There could be about 10,000 people in there in all. I am sure its going to be a great atmosphere and it's bound to be a bit overwhelming at First.

"But we are very confident. We are taking nothing for granted, but we know we are a good side.

"We have proved that by winning our last 27 games on the trot, and you can't do more than that. We really are up for it."

Tickets for the match are no longer on sale locally, but fans have been promised that an almost limitless supply will be available at the 70,000 seat stadium on the day of the game. Rugby: Billericay bidding for a Vase victory

Billericay Rugby Club are preparing for the biggest day in the club's history on Saturday, they visit the 'home of rugby', Twickenham, to take on West Midlands side Silhillians in the final of the Tetley Vase competition.

A victory for Billericay would be the icing on the cake of what has been a tremendous 1998/99 season for the Willowbrook based club.

They have already romped away with the Eastern Counties Division Two title, with a 100 per cent win record, and are also in the final of the Essex Presidents Shield competition, a final in which they take on Ravens in May.

Billericay RFC's first team manager, Gary Smith, said: "It is every rugby player's dream to play at Twickenham, and we are to fulfil our dream on Saturday."

"We are confident of beating Silhillians, but, naturally, we will not be underestimating them, as they are champions of the West Midlands League, Division One, and, like ourselves, they must be a very good side to have reached the final.

"We have had Silhillians watched, and have seen nothing to dampen our confidence of winning."

One member of the Billericay squad has played at Twickenham before, player/coach Kevin Harman having been a member of the Eastern Counties Under 21 team in the early 1990's.

Gary Smith added: "The town is buzzing at the prospect of us playing on such a big stage, and, although I cannot see Billericay being a 'ghost town' for the match, we know that we have the support of the townspeople as we attempt to win a major trophy."

Billericay have won through seven Tetley Vase matches to reach Saturday's final and the 'road to Twickenham' reads: First Round: Broadlands 15, Billericay 30; Second Round: Billericay 40, Thetford 6; Third Round: Silver Service 10, Billericay 32; Fourth Round: New Milton 8, Billericay 32; Fifth Round: Billericay 17, UCS Old Boys 5; Quarter-Final: Billericay 12, St Just 8; Semi-Final: Billericay 18, Scarborough 6.

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