THERE was double delight for two of the top teams in the town as both Lowestoft Town FC and Lowestoft and Yarmouth rugby club comprehensively made it into the prestigious semi final stage of their respective national Vase competitions.

THERE was double delight for two of the top teams in the town as both Lowestoft Town FC and Lowestoft and Yarmouth rugby club comprehensively made it into the prestigious semi final stage of their respective national Vase competitions.

Both teams cruised into the last four with stunning victories to send out a warning to the remaining teams left in the Carlsberg FA Vase and EDF Energy National Junior Vase.

And both sides are now dreaming of a capital appointment, with the massive prize of a place at Wembley and Twickenham at stake.

A Russell Stock inspired Lowestoft Town sent the majority of a fine Crown Meadow crowd of 1,725 home happy after an excellent 4-0 win over Devon-based Bideford AFC.

The talismanic Blues striker hit a brace, with further goals for Richard Woodrow and fellow forward Gary McGee.

And after Monday's draw at FA headquarters in Soho Square, Micky Chapman and Ady Gallagher's side once again have Whitley Bay in their way of a return to Wembley.

The Trawler Boys were victors over Bay in the two-legged semi-final last season after a dramatic duel in which Town won 4-0 at Crown Meadow, only to concede three goals in the first 20 minutes of the second leg in the north east.

But The Blues famously hung on to book their place at Wembley - and they now face the prospect of a Whitley Bay side desperate to gain revenge on their defeat last spring, with a two-legged semi final to be played on March 28 and April 4.

Meanwhile in the Midlands, L&Y demolished Harbury RFC 73-3 to make it a fantastic weekend all-round. L&Y now stand just one game away from their first-ever visit to Twickenham in 134 years of existence.

The draws for the semi-finals of the EDF Energy National Junior Vase were made at Twickenham on Monday and L&Y now face a long journey down to Cornwall.

They face Cornwall One league leaders Liskeard-Looe in the final four, with the game to be played on March 21.

And player-coach Scott Nelson admitted this week that the players, management and fans are already looking forward to the match.

'If we had to get an away tie I would have picked that one,' he said.