HENLEY Hawks play their first match since the death of Dave Hyde this weekend.

The second row, who used to play for Witney, collapsed and died after the National 2 South opener against Old Albanian on September 4.

Hyde’s funeral takes place tomorrow at North Oxfordshire Crematorium, Tackley, at 11am, while a fundraising page set up for wife, Katherine and son, Tore, has raised almost £80,000.

Henley have postponed their last two games out of respect to the 29-year-old’s family and said they would like to place on record ‘their sincere thanks’ to Hinckley and Redruth, their opponents in those matches.

But they are back in action for Saturday’s visit of leaders Clifton, with a big crowd expected at Dry Leas.

The table-toppers have won their first three games of the season, having started with a 71-0 demolition of Barnstaple.

Clifton then beat Leicester Lions 31-24 in a hard-fought contest, before seeing off Barnes last week, 57-10.

Henley’s rearranged home game against Hinckley will take place on Saturday, November 6, while they will visit Redruth on February 5.

Elsewhere, Chinnor have their first away trip of the season in National League 1.

Richard Thorpe’s side visit Birmingham Moseley as they look to bounce back from last weekend’s narrow home defeat to Cinderford.

It will be a real challenge, though, with the Midlands side winning their first three matches of the campaign.

In South West 1 East, Oxford Harlequins will look to continue their perfect start to the season when they host Newbury Blues.

The Oxfordshire side are fresh from a 36-28 win over Grove, who travel to Sherborne.

Banbury Bulls tasted defeat for the first time this season against Bracknell last weekend and will look to respond at home to Buckingham.

Meanwhile, Witney entertain Marlborough after last Saturday’s trip to Beaconsfield was abandoned just 15 minutes in due to an injury to the referee.

More Oxfordshire clubs end their long wait for competitive rugby this weekend as the rest of the community game gets going.

Newly-promoted Gosford All Blacks host Stow-on-the-Wold in Southern Counties North, almost 18 months after their place in the division was confirmed.

Bicester are away at Marlow, while Wallingford go to Aylesbury.