THE mild weather could result in a bumper gate for Wiveliscombe’s rugby derby at home to Wellington on Boxing Day (2.15).

Wiveliscombe’s injured skipper John Ker said yesterday: “We’ve been getting bigger crowds this season because we’ve been playing well.”

However, Ker will not be playing in the match. He has been struggling with an injured right ankle since September and faces an operation to reconstruct the ankle next month.

The No 8, who has just turned 28, expects to miss the rest of the season but hopes to be back playing again in September.

“I can run on the ankle but I’ve been told it won’t be right unless I have the operation,” added the unfortunate Ker.

“We’re expecting a close game. Both sides have made reasonably good starts to the season.”

Wiveliscombe will be skippered on Boxing Day by tight-head prop Matt Ellis who began the season as vice-captain.

Wellington will be without player-coach Matt Parsons who has damaged shoulder ligaments and will be out until the New Year.

“Although we’ve had the better of these derby matches in recent years, the form book goes out of the window,” said Parsons

“This is a big game for both sides and no-one wants to lose.”

Wellington’s captain Micky Norman hopes to be fit to lead the side despite carrying a foot injury which kept him out of the side at Stroud over the weekend.

Unlike previous years there will be neutral touch judges which will be brought along by the referee.

With no serious rugby going on elsewhere in the area, the match is likely to attract a crowd of about 800.

Of course, much of the size of the crowd will be depend on the weather but there will be no snow to contend with as at Wellington three years ago when both sets of supporters helped to clear the white stuff from the Athletic Ground.

That was a super-human effort and the game was one of the few to be played in the Westcountry.

The match is financially important because the clubhouse at the Wivvy Rec will be heaving.

The club’s 2nd XVs will be playing each other at Plain Pond in the morning (11.00).

Wivey officials will be hoping that their main pitch which was badly cut up on Saturday will have recovered to present a reasonable surface.

n Both Wellington and Wivey suffered defeats over the weekend. Wellington lost at Stroud and Wivey went down at home to Yatton (see reports inside).