Mersea will be hoping to lift the first silverware in the club's 10-year history, when they host Thurston in the Suffolk Plate Final, on Sunday (kick-off 2.30pm).

The Eastern Counties Two outfit will be looking for a repeat of the result when the two teams met two seasons ago, Mersea running out 29-19 victors.

Club press officer and scrum-half, John Williams, said: "It's the biggest game in our short history and we have a very good team out.

"We are expecting a big crowd for the game but must warn them that there is a particularly high tide over the Strood an hour either side of 3pm. So supporters please take note of this."

Steve Haycock will skipper the side from the open-side flanker's berth as Mersea take part in their first final.

One regular who misses out is back-row Martin Guest, who is recovering from cruciate ligament surgery. Our best wishes go out to Martin.

Mistley, on the back of their tremendous 62-8 Eastern Counties 4 win over Lakenheath last week, put out a mixed XV as they entertain a mixed Harwich XV (lpm ko).

"We had the best weekend of rugby seen at Furze Hill for many a year," said coach Nigel Brown. "The boys were brilliant and showed exactly what we'd coached them over the last three years - it all came together.

"James Brown was outstanding again, this time from the wing forward position, adding more pace to the back-row.

"After 10 minutes we were 15-0 up, and it all shows what a great future the club can look forward to."

Mistley will include youngsters Matt Skilling (wing) and Tom Sibley (wing-forward) in Saturday's line-up

Due to Basildon's commitment in the Essex Cup, Braintree 1st have lost their fixture and have not re-arranged as yet.

The 2nd and 3rd XV fixture remains, but a combined 4th and 5th XV will entertain Mistley 2nds

After the defeat to Romford, it's clear that the 1st XV need a fixture to get their rhythm back together to prepare for next weekend's last League game of the season, at Cambridge

Braintree1st XV squad: Bartholomew, Brand, Carter, Gibson, Haylock, Holyoak, M Lewis, S Lewis, Mann, McCann, Page, Regan, Saward, Sewell, Smith, Spelman, Tunningley and Wadforth

Clacton have not got a fixture but are still on a high after last week's auction, after the narrow defeat to Norwich Union, raised over £2,000 for club funds.

Dave Hutchinson, said: "We've had a good season and will be starting a 2nd XV next season, based on former colts from the club. "I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank all who gave and bought in last week's auction at the vice-presidents day - it's a great boost for the club."

Chelmsford Ist XV are resting this week ahead of their final league game at Wymondham, next Saturday.

But the 2nd XV travels to Colchester and will include a couple of Ist XV squad members in their side for a game that kicks-off at 12.30pm.

Colchester lst XV are also without a fixture but the 5ths will be at home to Woodbridge.

Colchester under-13s will be entertaining touring side Stratford-upon-Avon (I2.30pm) while the under-11s also play the tourists, at Sudbury.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.