Title is just a win away for Oundle

Oundle need a bonus-point win from their game against Dunstablians tomorrow to become Midlands Three East (South) champions

The Eagles need only a point to be promoted and will be crowned champions if they claim a bonus-point victory over Dunstablians at Occupation Road.

Peter Croot’s side have opened up a 16-point lead at the top of the table and are also three wins away from Twickenham in the RFU Senior Vase.

The Eagles host Southam in the Midlands semi-finals a week on Saturday while local rivals Stewarts & Lloyds also have home advantage when they meet Ledbury.

Croot admits his side are on the brink of “a very good season”, but says there is plenty of work to be done.

Earlier this season, Dunstablians gave Oundle a scare before Nick Bates snatched victory for the Eagles with a debut try in the dying moments.

Croot remembered: “We were 18 points down at one point, we got it back to 25-25 with three minutes to go and I would have settled for that.

“But we got a try with the last play of the match.

“Dunstablians are a very fit side who are aggressive around the breakdown and  we will have to be at our very best.

“We have to go out there and do what we’ve been doing all season.

“We just want to get the point that gets us promoted. We want to be playing established teams with good pedigrees next season, teams like Peterborough and Oakham.

“We set out to get promotion at the start of the season and if we can achieve that this weekend, we can relax.

“But we will still be motivated for the last few games because the last two matches are against the only sides who have taken points off us this season.”

Northampton BBOB held Oundle to a draw in December and seven days later, Northampton Casuals beat them by a point, 13-12.

Croot, who has a full-strength squad to choose from this weekend, added: “There are no bad sides in this league. They all offer different challenges, but we have managed to stay injury free and have stuck with a style that we have found wins games in this league. “

Croot also says the town is getting behind his team.

“This is probably the most exciting time there’s ever been for the club and the message seems to be getting around,” he added.

“People are stopping me in the street and asking me what the latest news is.

“It’s good that people in the town are showing an interest and hopefully there’s a big crowd there on Saturday.”