I HOPE you all had a very enjoyable Easter and a well-earned break for those of you that didn’t still have to work.

Being a late one, it also means the rugby season is almost over and, in fact, for the majority of the local sides this coming Saturday sees them trotting out for their final league matches.

That, of course, includes my boys Reading who, I’m very disheartened to say, have to kiss good-bye to South West One East rugby for a while and prepare for life in Southern Counties North next season.

We travel down to Gloucestershire this Saturday to face fifth-placed Old Centralians, so the boys have really got to pick themselves up and work hard to drop out of the league on a high and not end up being on the wrong end of another defeat.

We’ll be back. And, I know I speak for everyone at the club when I say we’ll be going flat-out to work our way back to the level at which, I believe, suits us the best.

Unfortunately, Reading Abbey will be coming down with us as well which is a double-whammy for the area and one I can’t remember happening before.

Abbey also have a tough time on Saturday as they are away to Newbury Blues who have to win to ensure they finish in the top two.

So two Berkshire sides go up, two go down as it stands, however, it could be three Berkshire sides down unless Windsor win away to Chippenham on Saturday. They are one point behind Chippenham and must pull off a win to stay up.

Redingensians Rams have battled away earnestly this season and are currently assured seventh place in the National Two South table, but could possibly overhaul Cinderford and finish in an even more respectable sixth place. I wish them a happy end to their campaign and a hearty congratulations on a fine winter.

They’ve got two games left including this Saturday’s final home game at the Old Bath Road ground against lowly Worthing before a final trip to Taunton the following week.

Lastly, London Irish made it 19 Greene King IPA Championship wins from their 20 regular season games. They’ll face the team they beat last Saturday – Doncaster Knights – in their two-legged play-off semi final.