CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP PREVIEW: Renegades seek second final appearance (From Wiltshire Times)

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE KNOCKOUT CUP PREVIEW: Renegades seek second final appearance

12:00pm Friday 8th March 2013 in Sport

THIS weekend will see the first of this season’s Eric Hughes Memorial Knockout Cup semi-final ties when holders Bug & Spider and first division leaders Bradford Renegades go head to head at the Bradford Sports Ground, home of Bradford Town, for a place in the final of the presstoprint-sponsored cup competition.

For Renegades, it will be their second semi-final in as many weeks and having booked their spot in the WG Parr Trophy final with a crushing 11-0 win over Cavalier, Lance Davis will be hoping that his team can make it through to another final.

Top-flight Bug & Spider will provide a much harder challenge than Cavalier did and Renegades will have to be at their very best is they are to produce an upset against Marcus Lovesey’s side who, as underdogs, lifted the cup when goals from Steve Allison and Mark Dolman saw them beat FC Jager 2-1.

Bug’s route to the semis began with a 4-2 win away at second division Southwick Wanderers.

Their second-round victims were fourth division Crossblades who they beat 7-2. Their next game was a repeat of last season’s final and the outcome was the same and a 3-2 win over FC Jager set up a quarter-final tie with first division Steeple Ashton Rangers, who they beat 4-2 to set up a meeting with Renegades.

Renegades, who are romping away at the top of Division One, arrived at Trowbridge Road by beating top-fight FC Colerne 5-3 in the preliminary round, needing extra time to claim victory.

A 7-1 win at Sutton Benger ended the villagers' dream of cup glory.

The third round saw them beat second division basement side Wren 14-0 to set up a quarter-final showdown with first division stablemates Castle FC who they defeated 8-5.

If both teams are at their best, the match that kicks off at 2pm may be a classic.

Bug & Spider will start as favourites but Renegades have 73-goal Sam Jordan, Mark Robinson and Lance Davis as potential match winners and if the trio are on song an upset could be on the cards.

Bug welcome back Steve Allison from suspension.

CHIPPENHAM SUNDAY LEAGUE ROUNDUP, STATS AND PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport and @WTSport

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