Blues open up play-off chase

Salisbury victory leaves promotion repechage within reach

NEWBURY BLUES boosted their bid for what looks like being a play-off chase in South West One East when beating Salisbury 23-12 at Monks Lane on Saturday.

Blues’ win, coupled with Witney’s defeat at Towcestrians leaves the Towcester club a dozen points in the clear but Blues are now only three behind Saturday’s visitors with nine games of the season to go and a play-off spot beckoning.

Thatcham suffered a Southern Counties North survival blow when losing 16-15 at relegation rivals Drifters but Tadley Tigers and Hungerford had good results in the Berks, Bucks and Oxon Premier Division.

Tigers boosted their promotion hopes with a 28-17 win at Crowthorne which means they have almost wiped out the five-point handicap with which they started the campaign, while Hungerford surged out of the bottom two with a 61-7 home win over Risborough.

Back at Monks Lane, Newbury Stags handed BB and O Two leaders Windsor II their first defeat of the season when wining 32-7, although they remain 11 points adrift of their rivals as they hold down the play-off slot.