ROBERT Elford accepts his Swanage and Wareham charges will be labelled underdogs when they take on Bournemouth Lions in Sunday's Dorset and Wiltshire Cup final at Dorchester.

And the Purbeckers' captain also confessed to fearing all 15 of Lions' South West One big guns ahead of Sunday's encounter (3pm).

Elford told the Echo: "I'm aware of quite a few of their players as I've played with and against them before for a few years now.

"They're all useful players and we're all familiar with Sam Hardcastle at scrum-half and Dom Davies (full-back) used to play for us so we know how good he is.

"I wouldn't single out anyone in particular, so one to 15! They're all playing at a higher level so they may be better equipped to take us on than most."

When asked if Lions could be the side to end Swans' reign of 11 cup wins in 12 years, Elford replied: "It's fair to say we'll be the underdogs.

"They've still got to win another game to technically stay in South West One, but they've had a really good season and since Christmas they've been on a fantastic run of form.

"But it's 15 against 15 on the day and anything can happen. We'll be giving it our best shot."

Swans are just about at full strength going into the clash at Coburg Road, but Maurice Elford, who missed the 16-0 semi-final win over Wootton Bassett, is out after becoming a father recently.

Lions, meanwhile, add Jason Davies, Rye Buffery and Anthony Dunkerley to their squad, with Tim Gray missing out.

Swans: (from) Sheldrake, R Elford, O Andrews, Burgess, Penney, Warren, Tomes, Harwood, Rance, Jones, Lewis, R Cottrell, Steeden, McKeown, Graves, M Cottrell, Grove, S Andrews, Parish, D Elford, Rowberry, Beaves.

Lions: (from) Bruce, Buffery, Burns, Cawley, Chislett, Crombie, D Davies, J Davies, Dunkerley, Flynn, Forrest, Frost, Hardcastle, Hughes, Kiely, Kenny, Manning, Payne, Seward, Siaki, Ulu, Wareham, Edwards.

  • Meanwhile, in the Dorset and Wilts 2nd XV Cup, Nomads take on Chippenham at North Dorset RFC on Saturday (3pm).

Nomads: (from) Awdas, Boome, Burry, Dallyn, Dubach, Elliot, Firetto, Hayles, Hilton, James, Kavanagh, Mitchell, Pampiglione, Pope, Puzas, Richards, Sanchez, Wheeldon, White.

  • Oakmeadians take on Trowbridge in the Dorset and Wiltshire Vase final at Salisbury tomorrow (3pm).