Dinnington RUFC and Wath ready for top-of-the-table battle
FRIENDSHIPS will be put to one side for 80 minutes in a mouth-watering top-of-the-table rugby tussle this weekend.
Dinnington RUFC and Wath have been first and second in Counties Yorkshire One for months and Dinnington hold a slender three-point lead over their near neighbours heading into the fixture at their ground at Lodge Lane ground on Saturday.
Dinnington are expecting their biggest crowd in three or four years.
Chairman Craig West said: “We have a south Rotherham team (Dinnington) and a north Rotherham team (Wath), so it’s good for local rugby.
"Wath are a great club and we have lots of good friends and acquaintances there. It will be really competitive and that’s what a top-of-the-table clash is all about.
"I’m sure there will be hundreds there if the weather is OK. May the best team win and after the whistle we will shake hands and have a beer.”
The two teams are coached by two ex Rotherham Titans in Matt Challinor (Dinnington) and Ryan Burrows (Wath).
Dinnington pipped Wath 21-17 in the first league meeting back in October, although Wath did beat their rivals 13-10 in the cup a month earlier.
Wath have been in storming form of late, racking up big scores in eight straight league and cup wins. They’ve scored an average of 50 points per game along the way and didn’t even concede in last Saturday’s 45-0 defeat of Wensleydale at Moor Road.
"Wath’s form is very good,” acknowledged West. “They are putting sides away by a country mile whereas we have been getting the wins, just, sometimes.
"Wath are a good side and Buzza (Ryan Burrows) is a good friend and very well respected but Chall and our team never stop trying. You can never write them off so hopefully we will give a good account of ourselves. I’m sure we will.”
Given the lead both teams hold over their chasers, both could be promoted to North East Two this season.
"Our success is down to a combination of things,” added Craig, who is the father of Dinnington half-back Jonny West. “We have a fantastic coaching team and loads of good, young, local, enthusiastic players.
"In our last match, I think 15 out of the 18 on duty have come through from the Dinnington mini juniors section and we also have a bit of experience in there. The second team is similar. and we’re in a good place.”
KIck-off is 2.15pm and there will be activities on before the game.