One last dance for Thatcham as club are relegated from seventh tier after decade

Thatcham Rugby Club’s decade-long stay in the seventh tier of English rugby came to an emphatic end at the weekend.

Relegation from the Counties 1 Tribute Southern North league had already been confirmed for the self-styled village team that had punched well above their weight for more than 10 years and their final season at this level concluded with a thumping 88-0 defeat at home to Marlow.

It was a difficult and drawn-out end to Thatcham's time in the division but it shouldn't detract from a decade that's been filled with more highs than lows.

There were in fact three players who featured on Saturday that also turned out the first time Thatcham did battle at step seven in the summer of 2012 and Saturday's game was billed as one last dance.

The final few weeks of the campaign have been particularly bruising, with a beleaguered Thatcham shipping 322 points in their final four games, including a 99-7 defeat at home to Bicester, while also having to forfeit two matches as any hopes of survival slipped through their fingers.

It certainly wasn't all bad and Thatcham enjoyed back to back wins over Swindon College Old Boys and Wallingford while chairman Dave Hamilton worked hard off the pitch, hosting veterans' breakfasts and homework and games clubs for schoolchildren.

Thatcham will hope to bounce back next season and return to step seven at the first time of asking.