After the best part of an inch of rain on Friday night, Stags volunteers worked heroically to get the pitch at Hinchingbrooke playable.

For the first 15 minutes of this match it looked as though their efforts had been fully worthwhile. Stags had all the possession and territory and seemed focussed and determined. A try by Devon Brown was the reward though it could, and perhaps should, have been more. Casuals had their Number 8 in the sin bin and prospects for a win seemed good. Then suddenly from a free kick on half way, the Casuals scrum half had a try wide on the right. A temporary blip, probably, and Stags would re-assert themselves. It was not to be and the match was won and lost in two minutes either side of half time. First, a kick ahead was not dealt with and the Casuals scrum half was in for his second try. 10-5 to the visitors at the break.

Then, on the re-start, the Casuals’ flanker came round the blind side of a maul and the referee ruled that he had satisfactorily touched down. For the remainder of the game the Casuals forwards were in control. For perhaps just the third time this season (the other occasions being Stewarts and Lloyds away and Banbury at home) Stags pack were out gunned in the second half. It was something of an irony that on a day when, as has rarely been the case this season, the Stags backs looked more potent than their opponents, the pudding of a pitch and lack of good ball nullified this advantage.

Stags did score a good try at the end through Quentin Minnaar, having put together half a dozen phases with assurance and panache. It was not enough, however, and Stags must now face a testing final month. The last match is away at Men Own and though Stags will fervently hope that by then they are clear of trouble, it is just possible that April 14th will be a crucial day indeed.

Towcestrians are the visitors to Hinchingbrooke on March 10th - kick-off 3:00pm