WITH four days to go to their EDF Energy Senior Vase quarter-final tie, Northwich have already moved ahead of Stratford-upon-Avon.
They have a spy - a whole family of them - in the opposition camp. Northwich manager Rob Heath played for Stratford between the ages of 14 and 19 and still has relatives in the town.
They have rushed him a video of Stratford in action which Northwich coach Mike Penny has studied intently. The whole team will also weigh up the opposition.
Heath said: 'It is a dream draw for me, but there's no question of split loyalties.
'Given our record we will be going into the tie as favourites,' said Heath, who went on to play at Coventry, Stirling, Crieff and Broughton Park before arriving at Northwich seven years ago.
Northwich were at Isle of Man Vagabonds at the weekend and went unwatched by Stratford. nRugby league coach Roger Pickering, meanwhile, reports that an as yet unidentified National League side are looking at a possible move to Winnington Park, though talks have not yet taken place.
The semi-pro outfit are impressed by the Burrows Hill facilities and their arrival could turn Pickering's Weaverham Wolves junior set-up into a nursery.
