WIVELISCOMBE face one of their most important games in years when they play at home to Stothert & Pitt in Somerset Premier on Saturday (3.00).
At stake is a place in the end of the season play-off. Wiveliscombe, lying third in the table, have to beat the Bath side in their last match of the season and gain possibly maximum points.
It will then depend on whether play-off rivals Oldfield Old Boys beat Nailsea and Backwell - and by how many.
Winscombe have already won the championship, leaving Oldfield and Wivey to fight it out for the runners-up spot.
Wivey, captained by Matt Ellis, go into Saturday’s match, having chalked up nine successive victories, one of these being a club record 126-0 home success over Crewkerne.
The home side, who have a much better points difference than Oldfield, have not lost a match since January 14 when they went down 25-21 to the new champions.
“We started the season well and have maintained our form,” said WWN rugby reporter Roger Bellamy. “The pack has been the strength of the side.
“We’ve also had few injuries which has allowed us to field a settled side. I think we’ve possibly used only 20 players all season.
“That’s very unusual and we expect to field an injury-free squad for Saturday’s game.”
Wiveliscombe have played Western Counties rugby before, but this was when it was not regionalised - no North or West.
Wiveliscombe beat Stothert & Pitt 25-6 away earlier in the season, while Oldfield were 13-6 home winners against Nailsea when they last met.
On paper it looks as though both Wivey and Oldfield will win their games – but by how much.
Wiveliscombe 2nd XV also complete their season – away to second-placed North Petherton 2nd XV in Somerset Two South.
BARRY KNOTT