Stamford Rugby Club are heading for Twickenham in the final of the Papa John’s Community Cup
A sensational semi-final to savour ended in a memorable cup final date for Stamford Rugby Club.
The purple, black and whites will be heading to the home of English Rugby on Saturday for the final of Papa John's Community Cup.
They booked their spot in the Twickenham showpiece after an epic semi-final success over Novocastrians on Saturday.
Stamford saw off the challenge of their Newcastle visitors in extra-time as they ran out 49-44 winners in a thrilling last four tie.
It was a typical topsy-turvy tussle with the momentum swinging between both teams before Stamford settled the contest.
Director of rugby Matt Albinson said: "The game toed and froed and it was a decent performance because we got stuck in.
"We got the result but we know that we've got to get better for Saturday and that's what the journey has always been all about.
"It hasn't been about winning things but making better blokes and better rugby players.
"We've done it and got them to a place where a lot of players don't ever get the chance to play.
"We've now got to focus again and go and try to win it but we have to be more clinical."
Novocastrians had shrugged off the long journey to make a flying start as they opened the scoring with a converted try inside the opening moments of the match.
Will Andrews cut the deficit with a penalty for Stamford before Novocastrians ran in their second try for a 3-12 advantage.
Stamford again came back with a James Wilson try midway through the first half but that was cancelled out soon after with a converted score for the visitors.
The home side then hit a purple patch as they scored three converted tries through George Cox, Zach Morley and a penalty try before the break to take a 29-19 advantage into the interval.
That was extended further early in the second half when Lewis Lancaster scored a try which Andrews again converted for a 36-19 lead.
Stamford looked in a strong position but, similar to their quarter-final success over Sutton Coldfield, let their visitors back into the game.
Skipper Jack Jones and Harley Riches were both yellow carded to leave Stamford with 13 players for a spell and Novocastrians took advantage.
They scored a converted try to narrow the gap to 10 points as the game entered the final 15 minutes of normal time.
A converted try reduced Stamford's advantage further before Novocastrians levelled at 36-36 with a successful penalty kick.
Stamford rallied and Andrews kicked a late penalty for a 39-36 lead but there was a further sting in the tail for the Counties 1 Midlands East (South) champions.
They conceded a penalty and, with the final play of the game, Novocastrians were successful with their kick to send the tie to extra-time.
Stamford made a strong start to the first period of the additional 10 minutes as captain Jones forged over for a try which Andrews converted.
It was enough to give Stamford the advantage at half-time and they were awarded another penalty after the break which the outstanding Andrews again slotted home for his seventh successful kick of the game.
It gave Stamford a 10-point cushion which would prove vital as Novocastrians scored a try with the last play of the game.
Albinson added: "They came out of the blocks and we struggled to get into our running game in the first 10 or 15 minutes which has been the case for the last two or three weeks.
"There is a certain energy to these boys though that they're never done.
"It was just sheer determination and the lads know how to win which has become a habit."
The momentous win sees Stamford now heading to Twickenham looking to add more silverware to a sensational campaign having already won the league title and the NLD Men's Senior Shield.
It will cap an upturn in fortunes for the Hambleton Road club and long-serving stalwart Albinson.
He continued: "It was an amazing club day to have so many people from the town come out, embrace it and enjoy it.
"It's what the job is all about because there have been some dark years.
"We had eight or nine players at training a few years ago so all credit to the boys for putting together what they've done.
"It has ultimately come from the culture of the club and the biggest marker of that is that the guys who have come in stay.
"There is a reason why they stay and it hasn't been a case of getting lucky.
"We've built it and there were probably seven or eight lads out there on Saturday who have been through the mill with us in the past few years.
"We have to stay humble and we won't be thinking too big or ourselves.
"We've won the league and the NLD Cup and we've now got a free shot to have a go at winning something else."
