STALWART Gary Edwards is urging Clee Hill’s players to repeat last season’s heroics at Tenbury’s Palmer’s Meadow ground.

Edwards believes the Hillmen can ‘more than match’ Tenbury’s forwards in this Saturday’s derby in Midlands Four West (North).

The former Hill skipper said their last visit to Tenbury was one of the most enjoyable games he’d ever played in.

Hill, on that occasion, scored 29 unanswered points as they fought back from 22-3 down to seal a remarkable 32-22 triumph.

“We can more than match them in the forwards and give them a game and, hopefully, do what we did last season,” said Edwards.

“But Tenbury are a stronger side this year and they have got a good blend of youth and experience.

“Tenbury have done superbly and deserve to be where they are in the league.”

Promotion-chasing Tenbury are third in the table and won the first meeting between the sides this season when ex-Hill player Richard Wozencroft bagged a hat-trick in the visitors’ 27-18 success.

Edwards said: “We were a bit unlucky when we played Tenbury earlier in the season.

“There was only two points in it and we were pressing for the line when their player intercepted it and scored at the other end to take away our losing bonus point.

“We haven’t picked up enough bonus points and we were a bit wor ried at one stage but we have since had three successive wins and it has eased our relegation worries a bit.

“We want to target a minimum of four wins to keep ourselves clear of relegation.”

Tenbury skipper Pete Stevens says he is wary of Hill’s recent form and rates the strength of their pack. “I know Matt Bowen well - he’s a mate of mine,”

added Stevens.

“I am looking forward to shaking his hand before the game and at the end. But there will be no love lost in between.

“I still feel the hurt from when they beat us at the Palmer’s last season. Even now, when I think of that match, it brings a lump to my throat.”

Edwards is hoping that Tenbury don’t gain promotion.

“We don’t want Tenbury to go up or Bromyard to go down,”said Edwards.

“We want them both to stay in this division. With Cleobury likely to come down, there could be some excellent derbies in the league next season.”