MATT Goode and Matt Mountford will be joining forces next month for Oxfordshire – but that will all be forgotten this evening.

The duo go head-to-head on the sidelines as Chinnor’s 2nd XV – the Falcons – and Banbury fight for the Oxfordshire Cup at Iffley Road.

Holders Bulls are looking to win the competition for a fourth successive year, while the Thame-based club are targeting their first triumph since 2013.

An interesting match-up on the pitch is mirrored in the technical areas, where Banbury head coach Goode will pit his wits against his Oxon backs coach and former Chinnor teammate Mountford.

The duo are close friends and there have been plenty of messages flying around this week.

“He’s not been giving away much at all,” said Goode.

“He’s been throwing me a few curve balls, but we’ve been having a chat.”

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  • Matt Mountford, pictured playing for Chinnor five years ago, now coaches the Falcons side Picture: Steve Wheeler

Mountford, who formed a strong partnership in the backs with Goode and now Banbury fly-half Sam Stoop, during his first-team days at Chinnor, added: “Of course (there’s been banter).

“He’s been asking me who would be available for Oxfordshire with a hidden meaning of who we have for the cup.

“But we have a good relationship and I’m really looking forward to it.”

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Banbury have dominated this competition in recent years and impressed on route to the final.

They had only won the county cup three times before their triumph in 2016.

But are now looking to break their own record by making it four in a row.

Goode said: “We’re so excited to be back in it against a fourth different opposition.

“It makes it a bit more pleasant for a few of our older boys who have played for Chinnor and it will be quite nice to win against our old club.”

He added: “We’re building as a club and the county cup means a hell of a lot to us.

“It’s something we’ve always been passionate about.”

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  • Banbury head coach Matt Goode pictured in action for Chinnor in 2014 Picture: Steve Wheeler

Chinnor were the last club to win the competition four years in a row when the Falcons triumphed in 2013.

And Mountford is backing his side, who put in a fine display of running rugby to beat Oxford Harlequins in the semi-finals, to deliver.

He said: “We’re excited.

“We’ve had a long and difficult time since January with there being a lot of injuries in the first team – they’ve been decimated – but everyone loves a cup final.

“It’s been a while since we last won.

“The amateur side of the club have been hungry for success for a while now and we’ll give Banbury a good run.”

Pete Boulton, Sam Carr-Archer, Nick Pratt, Jacob Mills, Dan Brady, Jack Briggs and Duncan Leese all return for Banbury.

Falcons are boosted by a number of players, who are usually away studying, being back for the Easter holidays.

They have also been able to call upon Oscar Heath, who has featured for the first team in National League 1.

TONIGHT'S TEAMS

Chinnor Falcons: McMinn, Aslett, Strathdee, Clayton, Davies, Heath, Graham, Harewood, White, Ludgate, Lavin, Wilkinson, Biss, Norman, Hope. Reps: Goodson, Jones, Williams, Coulon, Collins.

Banbury: Joe Mills, Parker, Leese, Briggs, Brady, Stoop, Phillips, Winpenny, Isham, Boulton, Carr-Archer, Pratt, Jacob Mills, Turner, Berridge. Reps: Key, Saar, Horne, Goode, Kirwin.