THE Hastings Valley Vikings will need to overcome the nerves tomorrow if they are to continue on their winning run in the Mid North Coast Rugby competition.
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They will face Coffs Harbour but the match also doubles as the opener to the club’s 20th anniversary celebrations later that night.
Players will need to come to grips with the bumper crowd of current and former Vikings’ that will gather at Oxley Oval tomorrow with high expectations of another win.
Coach Andrew Kable said his troops will likely feel the added pressure of the occasion but he expects them to take it in their stride.
“We haven’t spoken about it but I’m sure they’re all aware of it and I expect the moment to be caught by all the boys and I don’t expect the pressure to get to them,” he said.
“It’s probably more excitement, to get out to Oxley Oval and put on a good show.”
Before they can celebrate they will have to do away with Coffs Harbour which Kable said will be buoyed by the return of Stu McVicar, who he described as “one of the best running around in the competition”.
“He’s coming back from injury for Coffs and he’s one of the best in the zone,” Kable said.
“We will be looking to shut him down.”
If the teams match a fortnight ago is anything to go by it should be another close encounter.
Coffs gave the reigning premiers a scare going down by only 15-0, the closest game the Vikings have played in so far this year.
Tomorrow’s match kicks off at 3pm.
The Vikings Ball will be held at Rydges and it will get underway from 6pm.
Special guests at the event are the Rathbone brothers Clyde and Dane.
Clyde is a former Wallaby.
Vikings president, David Barnes, said it was a massive milestone for the club.
“There will be people coming back on the night that have not been involved with the club for a long time,” he said.
“We’ve been going for 20 years so it will be good to be able to show how we continue to improve and show them how the club has transformed.”
Almost 200 past and present club members and players are expected to take part.