And so, we arrive at the last game of the season with a lot to play for at the top of the table and all things confirmed at the foot. Bedford Athletic and Syston have been relegated and due to the demise of London Welsh in the Championship, only two teams from the league will be relegated and so Longton and Sandbach do not have the pressure of looking for a win to secure themselves. At the top end, the Nuns will be hoping that either Sheffield or Broadstreet will slip up in their home games which would allow them to move into either automatic promotion (1st) or to a play-off spot (2nd). Broadstreet 93, Sheffield 91 and Nuneaton 89 shows what a competitive league it has been this year and exciting for the neutral with all to play for up to the last minute. Whoever comes in second will have a play-off fixture away to Rossendale on the 29th of April due to them securing 2nd in 3 North.

To keep pressure on the top two the Nuns will come up against a determined Longton side who currently sit in 11th with 10 wins and 15 defeats so far. When the sides met on the opening day of the season the Nuns took a 25-8 win. Longton have threats all over the pitch and are one of the leading scorers in the league but have also conceded the second highest amount of points.

The Saxons finished their league campaign with a 15-14 loss to Luctonians but can look back and be pleased with what they have achieved. 2nd in the league to Hinckley, a semi-final spot of the league cup and retaining their title as Warwickshire 2nd team Cup winners.

There is no game for the Saracens this week but they will be in regular action next season having been entered into the league which is a huge step forward for the club and the Colts finish off a difficult season with a home game against Southam.

Team news: two players return in the pack with Todd Bullions and James Moreton coming back in after concussions against Broadstreet and Rhodri Adamson returns to the back line having missed the last two games due to his involvement with the Jamaica 7s team in Hong Kong. Matt Gibbs moves to the bench and is joined by Adam Ross for the first time this season and fit again Richard Johnston.

Squad to play Longton RFC, away 3pm:

1 Ben Holmes
2 Nick Smith
3 Adam Woodfield
4 James Moreton
5 Llyr Griffiths
6 Rudi Reid
7 Todd Bullions
8 Umraan Dixon-Jadwat
9 Tom Smitham
10 Huw Thomas
11 Kane Nixon
12 Moses Liwaliwa
13 Rob Cook
14 Jackson Hughes
15 Rhodri Adamson

Replacements: Adam Ross, Matt Gibbs, Richard Johnston

National 3 Midlands - Round up

Week 25 - 8th April

The top three, Broadstreet, Sheffield and the Nuns all won - so no change at the top. Bridgnorth made it 6 wins in a row winning at Sandbach. Old Halesonians won at home to Derby. Towcestrians had a rare away win, at Longton. Syston narrowly lost to Bedford Athletic in the basement battle.

Week 26 - 22nd April - The Final Showdown

Bedford Athletic (13th) v Towcestrians (8th) - Home win for Ath who will be missed.
Birmingham & Solihull (5) v Syston (14) - Home win against relegated Syston.
Broadstreet (1) v Sandbach (12) - Home win.
Derby (10) v Peterborough Lions (4) - Lions were mauled last week but should bounce back.
Lichfield (9) v Old Halesonians (7) - Can’t believe Old Hales are 7th – Home win.
Longton (11) v Nuneaton (3) - Nuns to win, but will it be enough?
Sheffield (2) v Bridgnorth (6) - All our hopes are with Bridgnorth - Away win.

Anchorman