MAIDENHEAD Rugby Club will be dusting off the cobwebs tomorrow (Saturday) when they take on Basingstoke in a 1st team friendly at Braywick Park.
The derby is a regular feature of Maidenhead’s pre-season build up, but coach Simon Edwards thinks this year’s encounter could be particularly memorable.
He said: “It's always a tough one. We have been playing each other in friendlies for many years.
“But at the end of last season they were relegated from National 3 and will be looking to get their season off on a winning roll.
“It should be an interesting game and I would hope to win it, but we're not at full strength yet.”
One player to look out for is new signing Gurton Mosses, who represented South Africa in the International Beach 7s, held at Richmond Park.
South Africa won the tournament against strong opposition from Australia, New Zealand, England and France, beating the hosts in the final.
Other team news is the appointment of Jody Dance as captain for the coming season.
Dance was out for the whole of last year with a broken neck.
Edwards said: “To go from a broken neck to captaining the side is fantastic.
“I’m very pleased for him and I know he will have the support of the whole side.”
Last year’s skipper Pete Nisbet is now going to concentrate on playing, but Edwards said he was very grateful for Nisbet’s two-year stint at the helm.
He said: “He’s a great player and is still very much part of our plans.”
The club's first serious encounter takes place next Saturday, when the Maids take on Brixham at home in the Teltley's Bitter Cup.
Edwards said: "It's a massive game. Brixham just missed promotion from South West 2 last season. They finished third, so they're going to be a real handful.
On Wednesday night Maidenhead took on Windsor in a squad friendly, but the Advertiser went to press before kick-off.