COACH Paul Harding insists Weymouth & Portland must be at their best if they want to land some silverware tomorrow.

Pewsey Vale are the opponents for Harding’s men in the final of the Dorset & Wilts first XV Plate at Warminster RFC (1.30pm).

Both sides have started the season superbly in their respective leagues, with Vale unbeaten at the top of Dorset & Wilts Two North and Weymouth & Portland second in Two South.

Harding and his side would be going into the final as Two South leaders if they hadn’t lost for the first time this term last weekend.

Their defeat to Yeovil ruined a perfect run of seven straight wins, and Harding knows things have got to be better if they are to overcome Wiltshire outfit Vale.

“The better side won last Saturday,” he said. “They were far more clinical than us and we just didn’t put our chances away.

“Yeovil showed more intensity and they are really the benchmark of where we need to be as a team.

“We need to be hitting the same standard as they did and get that intensity into our game.

“I think Pewsey Vale are very similar to Yeovil from what I can gather, possibly a bit more physical.

“It’s going to be tough but we learned a lot from last weekend.

“We need to make sure we take our chances when we get them and we’ve got to be on it defensively in terms of organisation.

“We’ve got to bring our A-game, and if we do that then we’ll be in with a shout of winning.”

He added: “Pewsey Vale haven’t lost all season and so we know they are going to be a good side.

“And it’s always difficult when you’re playing a team from another league because you don’t quite know what they will be like.

“We do know that we’ve got to be at our best if we want to win.”

Joe Gibson returns to the fold for Weymouth & Portland but Craig Barter is an injury doubt.

The winners of tomorrow’s clash can then go on to take part in the RFU’s national competition, with a trip to Twickenham the prize for the side that goes all the way.

Also at Warminster, Minety face Lytchett Minster in the first XV Vase final (2pm), while Marlborough play North Dorset in the final of the first XV Cup at Salisbury (2pm).

Meanwhile, in South West One East, struggling Swanage & Wareham entertain Leighton Buzzard at Bestwall (2.15pm).

Buzzard have only won once on the road this season, however, the Swans are without a win at home or away.

They have a solitary bonus point at the foot of the table.