THERE is plenty on the line for Hawkesbury Ag College this weekend against rivals Beecroft.
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A strong showing across all four grades could see Ag College boosted up into NSW Suburban Rugby Union’s second tier competition.
The other team vying for that honour is Beecroft, who are in the same boat as Hawkebsury Ag College.
The club wants to move up according to coach Kristian Berghofer, and the proverbial carrot has encouraged a strong showing at training in recent weeks.
“We're potentially going to go up a division of rugby depending on how many wins we have this weekend,” he said.
“The whole club realises this. There has been a rallied effort at training lately, even in the lower grades.”
Berghofer said the club gave up a golden opportunity to go on the front foot in the race to move up, when it faced Beecroft last time.
Both clubs fielded five teams on June 4, and Beecroft emerged victorious in all five grades, giving it about 200 points in the club championship, the yardstick for which team will move up.
Ag College has sewn up the fourth grade minor premiership, while first grade will be minor premiers if they win, but will finish second to Beecroft if they lose.
Second grade could mathematically take the minor premiership from Beecroft, but will likely finish second, while third grade will finish fifth, falling one place short of a finals berth.
At the weekend, Ag College played Brothers and won in first and second grades, drew in third and lost in fourth.
Valley wants retribution
Hawkesbury Valley will mostly play for pride this weekend against St Ives, but the club nonetheless wants to defend its home turf.
Its second grade team has qualified for finals footy, but the rest will play their final game of the season on Saturday.
Club coach Paul Clancy said the club wanted to make up for the last time it played St Ives.
The match was originally rescheduled thanks to a washed out round, and this hurt Valley’s numbers.
Valley’s first grade team could potentially finish level with St Ives on points if it has a big win this weekend.
“It is a game we'll be very pumped up for. It won't be hit and giggle stuff. We want to end the season on a positive note. Just because we aren't making the finals, doesn't mean we'll be taking this one lightly,” said Clancy.
At the weekend against Oatley, a try to Oatley after the bell saw the first grade team go down 27-19.
Oatley also beat Valley in third and fourth grade, but second grade had a convincing 20-point win.