ONE of the better games in the rugby season takes place on Saturday when the Police Rugby Football Club take on a Bermuda Select side in the annual George Duckett Memorial match.

And the island's women players will take to the field as well when the Women's BPRFC take on the Rest in a 10-a-side game. A third match will see the Bermuda Police Second XV take on a President's XV.

The Bermuda Select team, composed of players from Teachers, Mariners and Renegades, will not be captained by Bermuda national team skipper Bobby Hurdle this time ? in his place will be his Teachers teammate Chris Naylor.

Hurdle said yesterday: "I am out this weekend because I tweaked my hamstring last weekend playing against Mariners."

But Hurdle said the Duckett match should be very competitive. "It is always a good game ? the Police players really get up for it and it will also be nice to see the women play in front of a decent crowd of spectators."

George Duckett was assassinated while serving as the head of the Police Force in 1972. The captain of the Police First XV, Ryan Sommerville, said: "He was a strong supporter of Bermuda sports, in particular the Police rugby team, and was a very popular Commissioner. As a result, the George Duckett Memorial Game has been played in his honour every year since his tragic death. This year's Duckett game will also serve as the inaugural year for the women's game as the Bermuda Women's Rugby League gradually expands and participates in the traditional Bermuda rugby events.

"This game will be a 10-a-side touch game with 15 minute halves."

Police will be looking for some revenge against the Bermuda Select as last year the Select team won the First XV game breaking a nine-year Police winning streak.

Sommerville said: "This year the BPRFC has seen some turnovers with a few key players retiring and the addition of a large rookie base. The Select first and second teams are expected to be strong sides as they will be comprised of the best players from the remaining three local sides ? Mariners, Renegades and Teachers."

Combining the best players from the three clubs in the Select side will ultimately help the national team who are preparing for a tour to the Cayman Islands this summer.

Captaining the Police Second XV against the President's XV will be Ben Beasley while the skipper for the Police women's team will be Jennifer Baird. Captain of the women's Rest team will be Kelly Inkster.

Newly appointed Police Commissioner, George Jackson, will be presenting the First and Second men's Duckett trophies while newly appointed Deputy Commissioner, Rosanda Young who is the first female Deputy Commissioner in Bermuda's history, will be presenting the first-ever women's Duckett trophy.

The match between the Police Second XV and the President's XV will kick off at 12.30 with the women's game starting at 2.00. The main game between the Police First XV and the Bermuda Select will kick off at 2.45 with the trophy presentation at 4.30.

The presentation will be followed by a party at the Police Recreation Club and all are invited.