So let's hope we can lay that little ghost this Saturday at home to Swindon, 2pm, as, while we are well clear of the bottom three clubs in the relegation zone it would be great to see us finish up the season in the top half of the table.

It's really been a case of so near and yet so far in our previous two outings since the New Year and particularly last Saturday away at Witney where we eventually went down 19-17 but not before a huge rear-guard action from the lads.

Mind you they only had themselves to blame really as if you spend a lot of your time with players in the sin-bin, and we picked up three yellow cards in the opening half, then you are putting yourselves under huge pressure unnecessarily so.

But we could have, and in my opinion should have, won the match, ultimately, as with the last scrum of the match and camped on their line the referee accused us of wheeling the scrum and gave the put-in to Witney who promptly won the ball and kicked to touch to end the match.

But, I just can't fathom what the ref was thinking because why, in the position we were in, would we ever wheel the scrum!

Anyway you couldn't fault the lads commitment and while we are a lowly 10th in the table we are 17 points ahead of Devizes who head up the three clubs in the relegation zone.

By the way, next season will be the last under the current league system as in 2016/17 the league format will be completely revised.

At least our lower teams both won their games last Saturday with the 2nd string winning handsomely, 42-0, against local rivals Redingensians while our 3rd's won away at Grove 2nd's, 12-24.

Redingensians Rams, not surprisingly, also continued their winning run in National 3 South West against bottom club Calne easing home 64-7 and their highest winning total of the season. Surely they must go up now! Anyway well done to Mike Tewkesbury, skipper Andy Amor and the squad for what they have already achieved.

Also, of course, in the ascendancy are Reading Abbey who remain unbeaten in the BB&O Premiership having seen off Hungerford 71-0 last Saturday and to sixth placed Berkshire Shire Hall who won 12-3 at fifth placed Farnham Royal and move within two points of them in the BB&O Championship.

On a wider front I've got to congratulate my boys Bath who saw off Wasps, 39-26, at The Recreation Ground in Aviva Premiership action and, of course, London Irish were also celebrating what's turning out to be a rare win for them this season having seen off visitors Exeter, 28-26.

I must say I felt sorry for Gloucester No.8 Ben Morgan who broke his leg last Friday night in their narrow, 24-23, win over Saracens and will not now been playing for England when the 6 Nations Championship gets underway next month. Could that possibly mean that England will call up former London Irish Steffon Armitage who's currently playing with Toulon in France? I do hope so!

That's it! Don't forget to get along and support your local club and why not take along a friend or acquaintance who has never enjoyed our great game and the camaraderie that goes with it – not to mention the beer!!

See you!

Andy Clark