Rosslyn Park face a red hot derby at Richmond on Saturday, with an eight-try demolition of basement club Hull Ionians behind them.

Head coach Alex Codling said: "I was very pleased to get the bonus point win against a very determined Hull side. We scored some cracking tries and although it wasn't our best performance of the season, it has been an incredibly tough few weeks for the guys, with work demands at this time of year at their highest.

“To keep any side scoreless in this division is testament to how hard the guys worked for each other, even when we had the game won.

“This week should a real Christmas cracker away at our local rivals Richmond. They have been on a really good run of form recently so we are looking forward to another tough encounter.

"It would be great to see as many Park supporters getting behind the boys at the game on Saturday as they certainly deserve it."

Richmond played well enough in a 26-15 defeat at Roehampton earlier in the season for Park to know that they will face a stern test.

Richmond have been unlucky with injuries since then, and occupy a lower position in the League than their abilities deserve.

However, they have turned things round recently and go into the match off two good wins. But League form counts for nothing when these two sides lock horns in a fixture that has been played regularly since 1882.

Park, too, have suffered with injuries of late, with key players like Richard Boyle and Sam shires absent but Codling has been delighted with the way others have stepped up to the mark.