EVESHAM’S battle for Midlands Two West (South) survival will go down to Saturday’s final game of the season at home to doomed bottom side Rugby St Andrews after a dramatic penultimate weekend of action.
However, on a day when the Avonsiders emerged empty-handed from a tough encounter at promotion-hopefuls Old Laurentians, it could have been far worse for the Vale side who lost 43-11.
Fellow strugglers Rugby St Andrews went down 31-0 at home to Earlsdon which leaves them needing a five-point victory over Evesham and a points difference swing of 145 between the pair in the process this weekend to have any chance of survival.
Evesham, who did drop a place to tenth as a result of Southam’s survival-clinching 18-15 win at Leamington, know a draw or win in their final match will be enough to keep them above second-bottom Old Coventrians, who trail Evesham by four points with one match remaining.
Old Covs, however, whose points difference is 33 worse than Evesham’s, face a daunting task as they head to third-placed Kidderminster who will be chasing victory in their bid to finish runners-up behind champions Kenilworth.
The likelihood is Evesham will not require anything from this weekend’s game to remain outside the bottom two, but they will not want to take any chances and can take positives from their showing at Old Laurentians.
The visitors were still in the game at half-time thanks to two penalties from Mike Diston, but Old Laurentians broke free in the second half, although Liam Berry did manage to cross the line for a consolation try.
Evesham could still finish as high as eighth with victory at Blind Lane on Saturday, when kick-off is 3pm.