Big weekend for Hull

I was idling round my usual sites and found out that this weekend is quite important to the two rugby teams in Hull; Hull FC and Hull KR. As with all cities that have two teams for the same sport, there's a lot of rivalry between Hull FC and Hull KR. It stems mostly from the fact that Hull is divided into two by the River Hull; Hull FC is in the west and Hull KR is in the east. Also, with the richer districts of Kirkella and Willerby in the west, the rivalry also takes on a conflict in class. (for once, religion doesn't come into it but that's probably because pretty much no-one in Hull is bothered about going to church). Anyways, back to the rugby.

Years ago, Rugby League in England got remodelled by Sky money in the same way English football became the Premiership. One of the major changes to rubgy was that it became a summer sport, meaning the climax of the season occurs in October (more specifically this weekend). Another change was that the top teams of each league enter a playoff competition and the winners of each playoff final, the Grand Final, are crowned champions.

Today Hull FC will be playing St Helens in the Super League Grand Final. The winner will be crowned champions of Rugby League and, if they can pull it off, it'll be the first trophy for Hull FC in a long time (probabaly since the 80s). It's almost tempting to get up at 2am and listen to the radio commentry via the web.

Yesterday was the Grand Final for League One and Hull KR beat Widnes in the National League Grand Final. As well as being champions, Hull KR will be promoted to the Super League next season, where they'll be playing against Hull FC.

Which leads to the interesting situation of Hull FC versus Hull KR, East versus West. I can hear the policemen rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of overtime uring the two city derbies. And during those derbies, where do my allegencies stand? My dad was a Hull FC fan and he took me to see matches, including the 1984 Cup Final at Wembley against Wigan (lost 28-24) when I was young. But I was born and bred in east Hull, so I should support Hull KR. Should I follow my heart or follow my postcode? Or shoudl I say "Sod it! Bunch of egg-chasers! How are City getting on with the footy?"