NUMBER eight Jack Hennings is aiming to banish the memories of Bournemouth’s promotion near miss by securing Twickenham glory.

Hennings will tomorrow line up for Dorset & Wilts as they go for back-to-back County Shield titles against Surrey at English rugby’s headquarters (11am).

The back-row forward, 28, was part of the Bournemouth side that suffered an agonising 23-22 defeat at Hertford last month when the Chapel Gate outfit missed out on a place in National Two next term.

But Ashley Cross-based Hennings, one of six Lions players named in the Twin Counties team, is determined to put that right tomorrow.

He told the Echo: “It was a shame that we didn’t get promoted after losing by a point. But if we were to win at Twickenham, it would help heal the wound a little.”

Hennings endured an eventful match in Dorset & Wilts’ semi-final win over Essex last weekend. He was red-carded in the 22nd minute as Twin Counties claimed a 61-37 win.

Dorset & Wilts head coach Simon Culley confirmed Hennings’s availability for the final after revealing Twin Counties had viewed video evidence and appealed against the dismissal. Hennings politely declined to comment on the situation and was keen to focus on his Twickenham task.

The insurance broker said: “It is a real honour for me and I cannot wait to play at Twickenham. I am really excited about it and have never played there before. I played at Lansdowne Road in Ireland, which is probably the other one that stands out.”

Hennings added: “We have got a very good team. We are not the biggest and the teams we have played have been a lot bigger.

“But we are a lot fitter and our skills have been noticed in our past three games.

“Fitness is key. After 60 minutes when the opposition have tired a little bit, we have kept going and continued scoring.

“Even though it is Twickenham and we want to win, our attitude off the pitch is quite fun and we enjoy it. As soon as the whistle goes, we will be out to win, but I don’t think there is any pressure on us.”