Peterborough Lions chairman Andy Moore is billing it as ‘the biggest sporting occasion to hit Peterborough for many years’.

And, in terms of rugby at least, Saturday’s showdown with bitter city rivals Peterborough Rugby Club (Borough) could be just that.

It’s the first time these two sides have met on an equal footing in the English Clubs Championship and the question on every local rugby fan’s lips for the last two or three years - Which is the best team in Peterborough? - will finally be answered.

Borough have been the undisputed kings of Peterborough rugby since their formation over 75 years ago. Now their crown is in grave danger of slipping.

The Lions have worked their way up through the ranks, securing four promotions in seven seasons, and go into the big game at Bretton Park (3pm kick-off) as favourites. They’ve started life in Midlands Division One East with a bang, picking up wins in six of the first seven games and they are second in the table. Borough are not doing so well and hover precariously above the relegation zone.

Local bragging rights alone make it a fascinating contest but what gives this battle even more spice is the fact that the Lions achieved level status by acquiring the services of several good Borough players.

Moore insists he ‘stole’ no-one and that all the players who switched stations from Fengate to Bretton Park approached him rather than the other way round.

Several Borough old boys will be in the Lions line-up on Saturday. Players like Lithuanian internationals Marius Andrijauskas, Max Guseinov and Gedis Marcisauskas, South African Jacques Vorster and skipper Saad Sait were all valuable Borough players.

And, providing even more intensity, Borough captain Pete Kolakowski and winger Rudi Van Der Merwe were wearing Lions colours last season.

Moore prefers not to go over old ground, insisting that the occasion should over-rule the politics.

“This is the biggest sporting occasion in Peterborough for a long, long time. To have two Peterborough teams competing against each other at such a high standard is great for rugby in this city,” he said.

“People should savour the moment. It’s great for me and the Lions. I always said when we formed seven years ago that my ambition was to get the Lions competing on a level playing field with Borough. So it’s a dream come true for me.

“But this is about the bigger picture. It’s about showing the rugby world that Peterborough is big enough for two top rugby clubs.

“I don’t care whether we win, lose or draw on Saturday so long as it’s a great game. People should make the effort to get down and witness a big day for rugby in Peterborough.”

Borough will enter the Lions’ den on the back of a poor showing. They slumped to a 40-16 loss at home to Old Northamptonians last Saturday and did nothing to suggest they can tame the Lions.

Borough had influential skipper Kolakowski yellow-carded in the first half and while he was in the sin-bin ONs grabbed two tries.

But after an hour they were still only 23-16 down and had a chance. Unfortunately they blew it in the closing stages when sloppy work in defence gave the visitors three tries in the last 10 minutes.

The Lions were at rock-bottom Spalding and won 40-12 without over-exerting themselves.

“Our minds were on the next game. We were no better than average,” said Moore.

Lions team: M. Van Niekirk, J. Roberts, T. Laws, M. Andrijauskas, D. Page, C. Humphrey, O. Story, S. Sait, L. Ross, J. Steenberg, M. Praijanavicius, J. Vorster, G. Marcisauskas, JC Sagoe, M. Guseinov. Subs: R. Shingles, A. O’Connor, R. Vintkna.

Peterborough Lions RFC

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