Weston RFC and Hornets get ready to face off in a “special game” when the two sides meet in a local Derby on Saturday (December 11).
Just 1.5 miles separate the two clubs, from Weston’s Recreation Ground and the Hornets’ Nest, where this weekend’s game will take place.
Both sides have made strong starts to the South West Premier this season.
The Seasiders have won eight of their 12 matches to sit in fourth place while Hornets have won all their games and currently lead the South West Premier.
And with Saturday’s game the last of the first period, where everybody has played each other once, Hornets head coach Jon Richardson expects an exciting advert for the town.
“These games are always a big occasion whether it’s in the cup or a league game but with both sides in the top four of South West Premier it does seem that this one should be a hot contest,” Richardson said.
“Local derbies will always mean a lot to clubs as it means a bit of bragging rights for a few months doesn’t it? But the main thing is to get as many people in to watch as possible to make it an occasion for the players and boost club revenue.
“I know a lot of work has gone on behind the scenes to make sure it’s a day to remember.”
Saturday’s meeting will be the first time the two sides have met in the South West Premier since the 2017/18 season.
Weston did the double in that campaign and have currently won the last three successive league matches
Hornets are yet to taste victory since winning at the Recreation Ground in December 2014 but did best Weston in the 2016 Somerset Cup final.
“It’s great, it’s obviously been a while since we have had our last one,” Weston’s Director of Rugby George Sparks said.
“I guess we have been lucky in the last decade that we have had quite a few of these games and before that for reasons that are obvious there wasn’t many first teams derbies between us and Hornets.
“Everybody is looking forward to it, the players are most importantly looking forward to it and we can start to look forward to what is ultimately a special game for the club.”
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