IT was a good weekend for London Irish as they negotiated a tricky looking Greene King IPA Championship test at Cornish Pirates masterfully, picking up a bonus-point 35-7 victory.

It was a crucial win as it keeps them eight points clear of second-placed Ealing Trailfinders – the team the welcome to Madejski Stadium for the last match of the season – and means if they win their next two, the title will be secured.

And it would be great to have them back in the top flight.

Rampant Rams, unbeaten in five and 13 points clear at the top of the National Two South table with three to play, head seventh-placed Clifton on Saturday, knowing a win will wrap up the championship.

The Old Bath Road side are are certainly chirping sweetly having won their last five consecutive games – including last Saturday's 28-10 defeat of Cornish visitors Redruth – scoring 202 points and conceding just 72.

Saturday's touchline crowd included a group of 28 people from the Reading and Reading Abbey clubs who were supporting the game while also enjoying lunch prior to kick-off.

Rams put on a good performance for them all to watch while their chairman Andy Lynch was grateful for the support on the day.

We certainly all wish them good luck in securing their promotion this week.

As for my boys Reading, we're currently eighth in the Southern Counties North standings with two to play after enjoying a week off.

I very much hope we have the clout and the nous to see off bottom-of-the-table visitors Littlemore on Saturday, as they've won just two of their 20 previous league games this season.

So the lads will be looking for not just the win, but to try and grab the maximum bonus points also on offer and help move us up the table.

Meanwhile, at Rosehill, Reading Abbey, one place and four points ahead of us in the table, can also enjoy home comforts with the arrival of third-from-bottom High Wycombe.

Abbey got the better of their opponents 36-19 when they clashed earlier in the season at Kingsmead, incredibly coming back from 19-0 down at the break, so there's some good prospects of another fine win for Abbey this weekend.

Lastly, with all their league commitments for this season done and dusted, Berkshire Shire Hall stage their Keith Walker Memorial match at their Old Bath Road ground base.