ONE of the Hawkesbury’s great rivalries is back on this weekend, as Hawkesbury Ag College and Hawkesbury Valley will clash in the opening round of the NSW Suburban Rugby Union season.
The long established rivalry was put on hold for a season while Ag College played up a grade in division two of the competition, but the club has moved back down to division three, and the old foes will once again do battle.
In the opening round of the season, Hawkesbury Valley will have the honour of hosting their cross-city rivals at McQuade Park.
Hawkesbury Valley co-coach John Martin said he was looking forward to the game.
“I am excited for it. I think it will be a cracker of a game,” he said.
Martin said a few untimely injuries, coupled with Dain Humphreys missing the opening rounds of the season had opened up some opportunities for younger players in the club to step up.
“The positive thing for us is that we've rallied pretty good and we have the boys in good shape,” he said.
“We're trying to play a basic style of football and I think we'll be very competitive. Hopefully they us a little bit for granted.”
Martin said he would be co-coach of the first grade side alongside longtime Penrith prop Darryl Beathe.
“We've won grand finals down there, and I think that is a big reason why we're in there [as coaches],” he said.
As for the derby itself, Martin, who has played in a number since he started with the club in 2005, said it was a healthy rivalry.
“It is a tough derby, and it is pretty tough on the sidelines generally speaking,” he said.
West for his own part said the first game would be a challenge after a less than ideal pre-season.
“I am looking forward to it and I am sure they are as well,” he said.
“It will give us a bit of a test to see where we are at. We haven't had an ideal preparation going into round one.”
West said it was a shame that the club had to move back from division two, because of roster numbers and said he thought with enough players the club easily could have thrived in the top division.
“It is quite disappointing considering we took the premiership out in division two,” he said.
“It was a bit tougher and a battle but the players got a lot out of it.”