WHISPER it quietly but Stowmarket are starting to get the whiff of Twickenham in their nostrils.

WHISPER it quietly but Stowmarket are starting to get the whiff of Twickenham in their nostrils.

The Eastern Counties One side have blazed a trail to the quarter-finals of the London & South East Junior Vase and are preparing for their biggest test so far when they come up against Saracens Amateurs tomorrow.

Having already disposed of the likes of Royston, Holt and Old Cooperians so far in the competition, coupled with their impressive league position which sees them currently sitting second in the table, Gavin Hogg's men are quietly confident of pulling off an upset.

“It's the first time we've got this far for years and it's a great chance for us. To be in with a chance of getting to Twickenham still is a real bonus to our season and some of the lads have already started talking about it.

“We're not too many games away but it will be a tough match against Saracens. We know they beat Woodbridge 22-0 earlier in the season while we won 40-6 so we're in with a chance.”

There is still a long way to go for Stowmarket in the competition and they face four more rounds after tomorrow's tie before they can start planning a trip to the final.

They could face a semi-final and final in the London & South East region before going into a pot with three other teams, who they would play off against to determine who goes to Twickenham.

Success in the competition would be due reward for the hard work that has gone into creating a club the community can be proud of.

The club has doubled in size since 2008 with the clubhouse being extended while six new changing rooms have been built alongside new coaching and referee areas.

Chairman John Phoenix has worked tirelessly over the past few years to get the funding in place for these changes and hopes the Stowmarket community can feel the benefits.

“We obviously want to be successful on the field but it is more important for us to be community based as a club. We want to see people coming through the doors and have a facility that the people of Mid Suffolk can use.

“On the playing side, we also want to see a minis and youth section where the youngsters can see a path to the senior sides.”

It could be a path that sees a club day out at the home of English rugby before the end of the season.