Going to the wire

PRATT EXPECTS TIGHT FINISH IN RACE FORPLAY- OFF SPOT

Andy Pratt admits he would not be the slightest bit surprised if the battle for the National 2 South playoff spot goes to the final week of the season.

Canterbury’s resounding 48-14 home win over Redruth on Saturday kept them in pole position to finish second, but only eight points separate the four teams chasing the runners-up spot.

Runaway leaders Rams ( 98 points) already look like they have one hand on the title, but there is little to choose between Canterbury ( 82), Kent rivals Tonbridge Juddians (76), Taunton Titans (76) and Henley (74).

Head of rugby Pratt doesn’t expect that situation to change over the closing weeks.

He said: “We’re pleased with where we are at the moment, it’s a good place to be, but the four teams are all matching each other.

“Rams are doing so well, they probably just need to continue what they have done so far, but the race for second is probably the most exciting aspect of the league.

“Clearly we’ve got a chance, the team which finishes second will almost certainly come from those four teams, you don’t have to be a genius to work that out.

“No one is going to lie down so I wouldn’t be surprised if it did go to the final week.”

Canterbury already have 10 points more than they managed in the whole of last season but Pratt says he has no idea what sort of tally it will take to secure second.

Last season Chinnor finished runners-up with 131.

He said: “You can drive yourself mad trying to work out how many points you might need, there is a suggestion this year that it won’t take quite so many but we can’t worry about that. We just need to focus on the (nine) games we have left and the challenge that each team will pose.”

Canterbury travel to eighthplaced Clifton on Saturday and Pratt needs no reminding that their record there is not great.

He added: “Clifton is another key game for us and one we identified in the summer.

“It’s always a difficult place to go and traditionally we’ve not done very well travelling down there but that’s good because our record will help us focus. This time last year we were finding points hard to come by but at the moment everyone is enjoying being involved.

“We’re having some difficult conversations at selection which is good because it means we’ve got competition for places.”