ALL roads lead to Dry Leas on Saturday when two Henley Hawks teams are involved in the only significant matches of the Easter weekend.

While their first team entertain Manchester in their increasingly optimistic bid to avoid relegation from National League 1, Henley's Alliance second string face Chinnor in the semi-final of the David Charles Oxfordshire Cup.

Playing both games on the same day certainly does Henley 2nd few favours, and Chinnor start firm favourites to go on and meet Banbury in the final at Iffley Road on Sunday, April 21.

Competition rules already restrict holders Henley to fielding no players with three or more National League starts this season.

Now their fringe players are likely to be on the bench for the Manchester game which, of course, must take priority. Henley were able to field just 16 qualified players in the quarter-final against the successful Southern Counties Oxford Harlequins team and ran out narrow 17-10 winners.

But since then, they have lost players who are no longer eligible for the cup

Furthermore, as the Hawks have strengthened their squad, players who are no longer required at that level are denied the opportunity of playing in the competition, which Henley feel negates the purpose of running a 2nd XV.

Henley spokesman Noel Armstead said: "This narrow-minded approach to the David Charles competition does no credit to the generosity of the sponsors or the need to stop players drifting away from the game, which is the concern of the RFU. "The situation needs to be reviewed if the competition is to be meaningful in county terms."

So it is not surprising that Henley are unable to name their side just yet, in contrast to Chinnor, who are missing a number of their South West 1 league regulars.

Skipper James Davies is out with a shoulder injury, which sees Louw Kruger move to centre.

With scrum half Ger Phillips absent, it means a new halfback pairing of Will Deeley and prolific kicker Conor Begley.

The semi-final takes place on Henley's Regatta Ground, with a 2.30pm start.

That is 30 minutes before Henley 1st XV's relegation battle with Manchester.

After two successive victories, it is not surprising that the Hawks are unlikely to make sweeping changes. The squad named is indeed the same as that which won at Moseley, with the addition of Oxford University forward Simon Miall.