CORNWALL head coach Dave `Benji` Thomas will lead the Black & Gold into battle for the last time on Sunday as his team take on Lancashire in the Bill Beaumont Cup Final at Twickenham (3.15pm).
Cornwall, still buoyed by last weekend`s epic victory against reigning County champions Hertfordshire, will travel to the capital looking to end a barren spell of 14 years in the competition since they last won the trophy.
Their last success came in 1999 against Gloucestershire but since then Sunday`s opponents Lancashire have turned Twickenham into their second home.
The Red Rose County boast a total of 21 final victories in the tournament including five in the last decade. They have contested the last four finals with their winning run only halted last year by Hertfordshire and their head coach Mark Nelson knows that Cornwall will pose a formidable challenge to his team this year.
He said: "This is going to be a big challenge, certainly with the atmosphere that is going to be generated by a big travelling support. They are a very physical, forward oriented side, it's going to be a full-blooded affair."
Cornwall expect to take a big following to London for the game and there has been a huge effort by their supporters this week to secure tickets for a match being staged immediately after England play the Barbarians. Several coaches have been filled to take fans from the Duchy to the game and Benji Thomas expects an emotional day as he ends his 38 year association with the Cornwall team.
"The players realise it's not only their day, it's the supporters' day as well and they really want Cornwall to succeed for the crowd," Thomas said. "I feel very proud that I'm associated with a group of people who are very single-minded, very determined and work really hard.
Cornwall were delighted to hear in mid-week that inspirational skipper Ben Hilton had escaped censure at an RFU Disciplinary hearing and is free to play. However they did lose Launceston Number 8 Barrie-John Chapman to an lengthy ban at the same hearing and his place on Sunday will be taken by Camborne`s Ashley Lawton.
With wing Rhodri McAtee dropping out the only other change to the starting line-up sees Redruth`s Tom Notman recalled. Steve Perry and Luke Collins have been drafted onto the bench.
Lancashire will be led by Sedgley Park lock Louis McGowan as they look to recover from a surprising defeat against Cheshire in their final group fixture last weekend.
They have also made changes to their line-up recalling Fylde duo wing Ben Rath and flanker Evan Stewart following a successful England Counties Under-20 tour to Georgia. The vastly experienced Paul Arnold also returns to their second row.
Cornwall
15. Jake Murphy, 14. Richard Bright (both Cornish All Blacks), 13. Steve Johns (Coventry), 12. Neilsen Webber (Cornish All Blacks), 11. Tom Notman, 10. Paul Thirlby, 9. Greg Goodfellow; 1. Darren Jacques, 2. Richard Brown, 3. Craig Williams, 4. Damian Cook (all Redruth), 5. Ben Hilton (capt) (Cornish All Blacks), 6. Chris Fuca (Redruth), 7. Sam Hocking (Unattached), 8. Ashley Lawton (Camborne)
Replacements – 16. Neil Turner, 17. John Drew, 18. Lewis Vinnecombe, 19. Luke Collins (all Redruth), 20. Tom Rawlings (Cornish All Blacks), 21. Matt Shepherd (St.Austell), 22. Steve Perry (Unattached)
Lancashire
15 Sean Taylor (Preston Grasshoppers) 14 Nick Royle (Vale of Lune) 13 Chris Briers (Fylde) 12 Jack Ward (Preston Grasshoppers) 11 Ben Rath (Fylde) 10 Chris Johnson (Fylde) 9 Steve Collins (Sedgley Park); 1 Dan Birchall (Fylde) 2 Jon Matthews (Otley) 3 Simon Griffiths (Fylde) 4 Paul Arnold (Fylde) 5 Louis McGowan (Sedgley Park) (Captain) 6 Jon Nugent (Stade Dijon) 7 Steve McGinnis (Fylde) 8 Dominic Moon (Preston Grasshoppers)
Replacements - 16 Pete Altham (Fylde) 17 Gareth Gore (Preston Grasshoppers) 18 Phil Mills (Preston Grasshoppers) 19 Evan Stewart (Fylde) 20 Philip Baines (Preston Grasshoppers) 21 Tom Webb (Fylde) 22 Andrew Riley (Sedgley Park)
