“It’s the one game you want to win. Both teams will want to win it.”

So said Heworth boss Scott Rhodes when The Press caught up with him ahead of tomorrow’s hotly-anticipated derby with cross-city rivals York Acorn.

There is certainly a sense of excitement in the Villagers’ camp as they look to keep hold of the bragging rights they last claimed in 2021.

Liam Jackson’s drop-goal sealed a thrilling 14-13 victory in golden point extra time at Thanet Road two-and-a-half years ago, and those in attendance seem set to be treated to a Bank Holiday cracker this weekend.

“It’s the one game you want to win,” Rhodes stated. “Both teams will want to win it.

“We went to Acorn in the COVID season and won it by golden point, so I think they’ll want to get one back over on us there!”

Both sides will have written their names into the history books as soon as they step onto the field at 2.30pm - for they have never faced each other in the amateur game’s top flight, a run stretching back to 1986.

Heworth’s play-off victory last season sees them technically the division’s lowest-ranked side, a contrast to Acorn, who have achieved a mid-table finish every year since the pandemic.

And Rhodes is under no illusion of the threat his side will face from Josh Mortimer’s men.

“It’ll be a tough game,” he admitted. “Acorn have been in the Premier for a few years now, and they’ve got a really good side and a very experienced side.

“We know the job in hand, but we know it’s going to be tough. It’s about me putting a plan together and players executing that on the day. There’s no reason that we can’t go over there and pick up the two points.

“What it boils down to is those errors. We need to cut them out of our game and when the opportunities arise, we’ve got to take them.”

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The sides’ cross-city derby was originally scheduled to take place back in March, but had to be postponed due to Acorn’s record-breaking run in the Betfred Challenge Cup.

With the sunshine set to return just in time for this weekend’s clash, Rhodes expects the city’s rugby fans to turn out in their droves.

“I think it’ll be a massive turnout, and rightly so,” he enthused.

“Both teams are doing really well, and it’s Premier Division amateur rugby. I’d like to think there’ll be a good turnout.

“You have to play the crowd. It gets really loud over there and people get in your faces, so they’ll be playing the crowd as well.

“Acorn is a really difficult place to go, it really is. I’ve spoken to a lot of coaches and a lot of teams, and they all say it’s such a difficult place to go.

“They’ve got good experience, some really good players, and players that can punish you. It’s about me putting a plan together and the players executing it.

“We’re looking forward to the game, we’re really looking forward to it. May the best team win.

“We’ll shake hands after the game and all have a beer together.”

Heworth will certainly not lie down for their opponents, with the possibility of victory sending them above their fierce rivals.

“We’re going for the win. We’re not just going there to make the numbers up.

“I know it’s only Round 10 or 11, but we’ll go out there and give it 110 per cent. Whether that’s enough on the day, we’ll see after the final whistle.

“But I believe we’ve got enough to win, and that’s what we’re going to do.”