The Manor and Chingford packs prepare to scrumage in the derby game at the New Wilderness earlier in the season (EL5008-F08)
WHILE local rivals Chingford and Eton Manor have nothing to play for in the final game of the season, derby pride will ensure the pair will put on a very competitive match at Waltham Way this Saturday.
The hosts saw their play-off hopes ended by a disappointing 15-10 defeat at Letchworth Garden City, as they slipped to only their fifth defeat of the campaign.
One of those losses was the 10-7 defeat Manor inflicted on them back in November. At the time the New Wilderness men were enjoying a purple patch which saw them winning four of their five games leading up to Christmas. And ultimately it is these results along with the good start to the season that has kept Ged White's side in the division. Because while the New Wilderness men were battling their way through to the Essex Senior form their league form has been a disaster with just one win in the league during 2008. And a disappointing 0-29 derby defeat against Woodford last weekend has resulted in them slipping to eighth in the table.
And coach White is desperate for his troops to rediscover their early season form and complete a memorable double over Chingford.
He said: "Our league form has been a disaster since Christmas and it is unacceptable.
"If you look at it the results we got at the start of the season have kept us up and I dread to think what would have happened had we not got those points on the board.
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"The win over Chingford showed we've got the quality to compete with the best teams in this league, although injuries have cost us in the second half of the season.
"But form goes out of the window in derby games and I'm sure the boys will get themselves up for this one, because we want to end the season on a high."
Chingford counterpart Phil Howell, who was left bitterly disappointed that his side missed out on promotion, has brushed that aside and chose instead to look forward.
He said: "Everyone involved with the first team is hugely disappointed we didn't go up this year, because so mush effort was put in by everyone.
"You can, however, be sure that next year we will once again be in the hunt for honours, and looking to make that step into London One.
"With a game at home to local rivals Eton Manor this Saturday, our position of third in the league is safe so hopefully we can have an end of season open game, with lots of tries.
"We will then refocus for next seasons campaign and we are also looking forward to our tour to the USA, where we have games in both Las Vegas And L A."
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