CHIPSTEAD are relieved to have avoided a tie against league rivals Teddington in the fifth round draw of the National Junior Vase.

Instead have have been given a home tie with East Sussex side Uckfield.

Club director of rugby Carl Powley admitted he was pleased the Chips have a new challenge and have avoided Surrey One leaders Teddington.

"It will be nice to play someone out of our area," he said. "I'm glad we are playing a side we don't face all the time in the league. Last year we drew Teddington and lost to them, and I was really hoping we weren't going to draw them again. We play them twice a year in the league already and three times is just too much."

With two weeks until the February 6 tie, Chipstead will be hoping to avoid any further injuries to the well-rested squad.

"Our last game was a 10-5 win over Crawley on January 2 [in the Vase], but we haven't even been able to train since then because of the snow," Powley said.

"This means of course, that we don't have many injuries; Tom Helliwell is back after being out for six weeks with a foot injury. However, Alex Elbrow is going to be out for the season after he fractured his fibia and tore some knee ligaments against Crawley."

The recent snow has disrupted their league fixtures, and Powley is concerned how the Chips are going to fit in the Junior Vase games alongside league and Surrey Shield ties.

They train for the first time since the snow this week, ahead of Saturday's game at Croydon.

"With a couple of league games getting postponed because of the weather, then the Vase and soon the Shield as well, I'm worried we won't have time for all the fixtures. The vase is definitely a priority, but something has got to give."

The winners of the London and South East section join three other regional winners for the semi-finals to decide who reaches Twickenham.

London and South East section quarter-final draw:

Chipstead v Uckfield

Newmarket v HAC

Saracens Amateurs v Stowmarket

Sittingbourne v Teddington