WOOLSTON Rovers and Rylands Sharks will belatedly kick their season off when they face off on Saturday, kick off 2.30pm.

John Fieldhouse’s side were due to get their National Conference League Division Three campaign underway at Oldham St Annes on Saturday, but the game was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

That game has now been rearranged for Saturday, April 29.

Rylands’ home game with Gateshead Storm also fell victim to the weather and will now be played on June 17, so Saturday’s clash at Monks Sports Club will be both sides’ opening game.

“We have trained really well for a number of weeks now and with the new additions that we have to the squad we will hopefully be able to get off to a positive start,” Rovers head coach Fieldhouse said.

“We know that Rylands have a lot of quality in their ranks but we are also blessed with some excellent players who will be giving their all on Saturday to get us off to a winning start.

“It was disappointing for us not to play last weekend at Oldham as we were raring to go but there was nothing we could do about that.”

Both sides made the Division Three play-offs last year and both fell to Drighlington, who beat the Sharks in the semi final and Rovers in the final.

The league has been expanded to 14 teams this year, but Fieldhouse thinks it is a good move despite the extra games.

“This season will be more of a marathon than ever with fourteen teams in the league,” he said.

“That should help the continuity of playing each week rather than having long periods without games that can be counterproductive.”

Another meeting between the clubs takes place across town at Arnold Clarke Park, where Sharks A take on their Rovers counterparts.

Rovers got their season off to a flyer on Saturday with victory at Langworthy Reds, and coach Andy Penny is looking forward to the clash of the neighbours.

“Local derbies are always eagerly anticipated and we are really looking forward to it,” he said.

“The lads are all champing at the bit to play; they really are working hard for each other.

“If we can replicate our efforts over the past two weeks then we will give ourselves a great chance of getting the right result.”