Victory is essential at Sutton Coldfield on Saturday if Whitchurch are to have any realistic chance of winning the race to land runners-up spot in Midlands One West.
The Reds – knocked out of the North Mids Cup by Malvern last weekend – are locked in a battle with Bournville, Dudley Kingswinford and this weekend’s hosts to finish directly behind champions-elect Burton.
“Sutton Coldfield are going quite well at the moment and I think we’ve dropped to fifth in the table after last week’s results,” said Whitchurch president John Gregory.
“Mathematically, we can still finish second, so that remains the target.”
Whitchurch expect to be boosted by the return of Tom Crank after he was one of several late withdrawals for the 26-16 extra time exit at home to higher division Malvern in the quarter-finals of the North Mids Cup.
“It was a disappointing result,” admitted Gregory, after Whitchurch fought back from 16-8 down to take the tie into extra time. “It was an unsettling day as the lads were ready to start at 2pm only for the referee to get lost on his way to Whitchurch which put kick-off back half an hour.”
Later, claim Whitchurch, the ref played just 10 minutes each way for extra time instead of the usual 15, during which Malvern sealed victory with a try from Chris Edwards, converted by David Reagan, with Will Farris then landing a penalty.
Having to make so many changes to the planned side was not ideal for the Reds and they trailed 13-8 at the halfway stage.
A Farris penalty and try from centre Reagan gave Malvern an early 8-0 lead but Ginger Wills’s men responded brightly.
Danny Nicholas landed a penalty before centre Mark Williams touched down, but Malvern were back in front after a solo break from Dave Madkiss.
A Farris penalty stretched Malvern’s lead but Whitchurch forced extra time with a try from Andy Barrie and a late Nicholas penalty.
By Stuart Dunn
