They’re a great side and a fantastic club. I love going up there because they’ve got legends like Steve Smith in the bar, the ground’s great, the crowd are superb – it’s one of my favourites places to go in the league.

They had a wobble last season, but I’m sure they’ll be looking to put that right and get back up in title contention as they have previously.

We’ve had some fantastic battles with them – we managed to put them away the first time, but since then we’ve lost every time and it’s funny how some sides are a stone in the shoe. Hopefully we can beat them today.

We have started with two wins yet I don’t think we’ve fully hit our stride – a lot of new guys have come into the team and done extremely well, but teams are built and it takes a while for all the parts to start connecting properly.

The coaches have done a fantastic job and it’s so exciting to see so many good youngsters coming through – they will get better through the season.

I am delighted to thank Stillman Insurance Brokers for sponsoring today’s game.

Chris is a great guy who gets involved in so many things – he’s the classic example of ‘if you want something done, ask a busy man.’

He’s like a duck whose breezing across the water, but underneath he’s paddling frantically – you never see it though because he just appears to glide along.

He’s got his own business, he coaches the juniors, he’s come onto the Board of Directors, he’s involved with Camp Mohawk, he’s just a superstar and we’re very lucky to have him.

Speaking of the juniors, our Colts begin their National Cup campaign at Marlow tomorrow.

Knock-out rugby is special because every game is essential – you can’t slip up and it provides a certain romance.

As a club our emphasis is on providing a pathway for talented local school children – girls and boys up to juniors and then the girls go to Bracknell or Reading while the boys kick on with us.

We’re increasingly trying to offer a pathway for state school pupils which reflects what they would get in a private school, and to give them the chance to realise their potential.

We still have a lot of players from the private sector, and they’re always very welcome, but we have about 90 per cent from state.

We’ve needed to up our game as junior coaches – it’s why Tewkes (Rugby Development Officer Mike Tewkesbury) has been doing the assessment and accreditation – and suddenly we have a Colts side full of talent.

It’s typical Dave (Cox, head coach) and I’d say to any parents or coaches in the younger age groups, he is your model for how to bring an age group through.

It’s all about fun when they’re youngsters – when they started this team were not world beaters.

But gradually they’ve got better and better because there’s a focus on the key skills and having fun, so the boys stick together and improve.

They reached the semi-finals last year and hopefully they can go a couple of steps further this time – I commend Dave, Glyn (Mosses), Owen (Espley), Shaun (Sheppard), Paul (Jones) and all the other coaches and back-up team involved, because they’ve done a fantastic job.

Indeed, they are the challenge for all the other age groups coming through to match.
Finally, a message to our supporters. You are the 16th man in the same way when we go to Sale, their crowd get behind them and the chants of ‘Sale, Sale’ come from the stands.

The challenge for our fans today is to match what they do and give even more support than they get when they’re at home.

The whole Ramily need to get behind the side to help get this one done.