Malton and Norton coach Pat Stephenson today admitted the pressure of Twickenham was probably getting to his men - but it was a burden he was happy to have.

The excitement and desire to do well at the home of rugby union has had its effect already this week, while the extra media coverage prior to tomorrow's Tetley's Bitter Vase final has been an added strain.

However, all that is something the club has been delighted to put up with. "It could be that on Saturday I'll be asleep by 10pm because I'm not sleeping well this week and a couple of people at the club are the same," Stephenson told the Evening Press.

"I think all the time about the game, the tactics and everything else that's going to be happening. I've got a feeling some of the wives and girlfriends have had to put up with a lot this past week.

"Everybody is very excited and I don't think there will be much sleep had until after the game."

Stephenson described the coverage in the Evening Press of Malton and Norton's success as "excellent", adding: "The media attention has been great. It's great for the club, the town and the area.

"It takes a lot of getting used to. I happens so infrequently you get into a habit of trying to adapt to the media rather than the other way round.

"The rewards are obvious, though. We've got to Twickenham and if this extra pressure and media coverage are the price we have to pay, then let's pay.

"For some of the players and myself this is going to be the chance of a lifetime. I think we've just got to go for it."

Many observers believe the game will be close, but Malton will be banking on the skills of skipper Chris Creber at fly-half and the finishing of their backs, particularly Ian Mansell, the club's leading try-scorer in the competition with eight.

Creber ran the show when Malton hammered Law Society 41-0 at The Gannock in the semi-final, but he is not expected to get as much room as he did in that match tomorrow.

Hoylake scrum half Paul Kay and stand-off Andy Cotgrave are the men who make the Merseyside team tick, while No 8 Rob Kurton is a highly-rated back row forward who is dangerous in broken play.

Updated: 13:08 Friday, April 20, 2001