ROCHFORD Hundred and Westcliff cannot wait to go head to head in Regional Two Anglia this weekend.
The two rugby teams, who were both relegated last season, will do battle again at Rochford’s Magnolia Road base on Saturday.
And Hundred’s head coach Danny Clear is looking forward to what he expects to be a tricky contest.
“Westcliff will be an extremely tough game,” said Cleare.
“They have managed to keep the majority of their squad from last season and have brought in a few to strengthen them so it will be tough, whereas we’re very much a team in transition with a completely new squad.
“But we’re moving in the right direction and I’m looking forward to a big derby.”
Rochford will go into the game having been beaten in their opening two games of the campaign.
However, Cleare was mystified after Saturday’s 33-27 defeat at Woodford.
“It was a much improved performance and it was a mystery how we didn’t win the game,” said Cleare.
“We were13 points up with 10 minutes to play and we lost to a try in the last play of the game.
“But although we were extremely disappointed not to win the game, there were still so many positives to take.”
Rochford, who won both games against Westcliff last season, are now ninth in the 11 team table.
In contrast, Westcliff sit second after Saturday’s 66-12 win against Chelmsford.
And head coach Jimmy Rea is keen to build on the first victory of the campaign.
“We’re very excited for Rochford,” said Rea.
“We have a very good feeling after Saturday’s win but as we all know local derbies can always be a banana skin. “There is so much more involved in local derbies, the history behind it and players knowing each other.
“Mentally we need to be superior and that comes with age and experience but we are still a young squad and still building so it will be a great test.”
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