Even loss won’tdeny Juddian prize of promotion

TONBRIDGE Juddian secured promotion to the National Two South next season with a 46-5 win over Hertford last weekend.

The Kent outfit are five points clear of Wimbledon but crucially they have only lost one game this season to Wimbledon’s three. Tonbridge will travel to Southend next week but even a defeat coupled to a Wimbledon win in Dorking would still see them remain top as the number of defeats is the deciding factor if teams finish level.

Old Redcliffians are the other team already certain to play in the National Two South next season, leaving Dings Crusaders to battle it out with Wimbledon for the last remaining spot through a play-off.

In the Midlands, it’s a tight three-way battle with Broadstreet, Sheffield and Nuneaton all still in the race to clinch the title.

Broadstreet have the upper hand sitting top, two points clear of Sheffield, and a win at home against Sandbach will see them make the step up to National Two North.

Should they lose, however, they could be overtaken by both Sheffield and Nuneaton, who take on Bridgnorth and Longton respectively, and even miss out on the promotion play-off decider.

Longton and Sandbach will be desperate for a win, too, as these two are neck and neck to avoid relegation to Midlands One.

There is nothing to play for at the top of the North league with Huddersfield having secured their return to National Two North a few weeks back while Rossendale will contest the promotion play-off.

At the bottom, however, there will be a long distance battle between Doncaster Phoenix and Cleckheaton who will have to win on the road to retain their National League status.