THE annual Sparstoke Cup will be contested for the third time at Down Grange tomorrow night – with organisers hoping to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

The annual match between Basingstoke Academy and Sparsholt College, which is played in memory of former ’Stoke colt Tom Aslett, will kick off at 7.30pm on Wednesday, with the proceeds going to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

Aslett, who was just 20, died in July 2007 when the tractor he was driving overturned.

Due to his love of rugby, his family and friends came up with the idea of playing an annual match in his memory.

Basingstoke, the club he joined as a six-year-old, and Sparsholt College, where he trained for a career in agriculture, were the obvious choices to field teams. Both quickly accepted the invitation and the Sparstoke Cup was born.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance was chosen to benefit because of their efforts to help Aslett after his accident and more than £10,000 was raised for the charity over the first two years of the competition.

As in previous years, the 2009 event will see the Academy and the College battle it out for the cup over two 30-minute halves.

When this is over, people who played with Aslett, both at Basingstoke and Sparsholt, will contest a 20-minute friendly. First team players Dan Rees, George Scott, Tim Richards and Jamie Fish are due to feature for ’Stoke.

The action on the field will be followed by entertainment off of it, with a show put on by ORA Productions and featuring local band Frottage taking place in the clubhouse.

Around 400 people attended the event last year, raising £6,700, and Richard Aslett, Tom’s father, is hoping to post similar figures this time around.

“Talking to people, I am hopeful that we can get the same level of support again, as long as the weather holds out,” he said. “I was delighted to raise so much last year and it would be great to match that again this time around, what with the downturn and everything.”

Basingstoke have won both matches so far, claiming a 53-10 win in 2007 and a 12-5 success last year, and Mr Aslett is hoping for another close encounter.

“If we have as good a game as we did last year, it will be a very good night,” he said. “The students from the college love it because it is a big game on a nice pitch under floodlights and I have heard that they are really up for it this year.

“I am very much looking forward to the evening. It’s a good way to remember Tom and he would love it. All of his friends will be there and it combines his two passions, farming and rugby.”