With security assured, S&L are now looking to crack the Vase

Last weekend’s Tom Crockett-inspired win over Northampton BBOB has lifted S&L up to eighth in Midlands Three East (South).

That’s convinced vice-chairman Milan Crooks his side are safe from the drop and that they can now concentrate on the RFU Senior Vase.

S&L are currently waiting to hear who their opponents will be in the East Midlands quarter-finals on Saturday, February 6.

Two years ago, they went all the way to the national semi-finals where they were denied a day out at Twickenham by a 21-11 defeat against Yarnbury.

Crooks was part of the side that went so close to reaching the final and he reckons the current team can go just as far in the competition.

The Occupation Road stalwart said: “We can’t win the league, but it looks like we’re safe so the plan is to go for the Senior Vase.

“That is our priority now.

“We were a game away from Twickenham a couple of years ago and though we’re a different team now, we have the players who can do it.

“We have a young team now and they are hungry.

“They want to achieve what we achieved a couple of years ago and that’s pushing everyone on in training.”

This weekend, S&L are in league action when they travel to Northampton Casuals.

Crooks describes Casuals as “a tough place to go” and added: “We got the better of it up front when we played earlier this season (a 38-12 win) and we will be looking to do the same again.”

S&L make the trip in confident mood having last weekend thumped Northampton BBOB 29-7, their second win in three games.

Crockett was the hero with a hat-trick of tries and Malcolm Crooks also crossed to secure the bonus point.

Liam Feely added three conversions and a drop goal from Stephen Davidson completed the scoring.

Milan Crooks said his side “dominated from the start” and added: “We had everyone available, we trained well and everything seemed to click on the day.

“It was a good performance – and a result we needed.”

Oundle have a great chance to push home their advantage at the top of Midlands Three East (South) over the next couple of weeks.

The Eagles continued their fine season with a 28-10 success over Rugby St Andrews last weekend.

And they were given a boost after the win when they heard second-placed Long Buckby had been felled 13-9 by Daventry.

This Saturday Oundle entertain strugglers St Ives before heading to third-from-bottom St Neots the week after.

A try from Basil Letts and two by Joe Sagoe put them in control against St Andrews before a last-minute score by Rob Shingles secured a bonus point against a side previously unbeaten at home.

Coach Peter Croot said: “Again an impressive team performance, built on the industrious and powerful pack, and the backs ruthless in their execution.

“This is the standard they have to maintain to push for promotion.”

Wellingborough were in excellent form on the road as they handed out a five-try thrashing to Newark.

Tom Bryan, Craig Marshall (2), Ryan Mackie and Chris Shipman all touched down in a dominant 31-7 success.

Coach Matt Armstrong said: “This was probably Boro’s strongest performance of the season, their attacking play was clinical and defence was rock-solid.”

Old Grammarians won 15-0 at Brackley while Kettering and Rushden & Higham had their games postponed.