Spalding RFC secured an impressive 23-14 triumph at Ashbourne on Saturday to extend their unbeaten run to eight games – and keep their faint Midlands Two East (N) title hopes alive.
Tom Duerden and Adam McHugh ran in tries for second-placed Town against their third-placed hosts, with James West kicking all of the other points in Derbyshire.
Skipper Harry Sharman said: “It was a great team effort to win at their place.”
The promotion hopefuls now go into Saturday’s final league fixture at home to Bakewell (3pm) some five points behind leaders Belgrave… and they need a miracle to overhaul the long-term leaders.
It’s now looking likely that Spalding will face a winner-takes-all promotion play-off against either Newbold on Avon or Wellingborough (Midlands Two East South) on April 26 as they bid to make an instant return to the promised land of Midlands One East.
Saturday’s Midlands Two East (N) results: Ashbourne 16 Spalding 23; Bakewell Mannerians 22 Oakham 20; Belgrave 43 Nottingham Casuals 8; Kesteven 31 Melbourne 21; Stamford 56 Loughborough 36.
