AFTER a long, hard season, South West Division 2 East will now be decided by the final two games , with three teams all in contention for the title.
Maidenhead RFC, currently in second place, travel to leaders Oxford Harlequins tomorrow (Saturday), when nothing but a win will do.
Coach Tony Brooks said: “It's still all to play for. Our last game we have Grove at home which is a good last game to have.”
However, he also agreed it was unwise to take anything for granted in this league, adding: “One thing I never do is count chickens.”
Oxford have a very tough run-in, facing Maidenhead tomorrow, and the erratic but occasionally brilliant Chippenham in two weeks’ time.
Club captain Jon Silversides said: "We have two of our hardest games still to come.
“If we beat Maidenhead on Saturday we'll clinch the title.
“If we lose, then beat Chippenham, then in principal we can still win it. But if we lose this one there will be a LOT of pressure on us for the Chippenham game.
“We're also in the county cup final between those two games, when we play the Henley twos.
“It will be challenging but we have a strong squad."
Also challenging for one of the two promotion spots are Swanage & Wareham, who overcame Chippenham 20-19 last week to stay in touch with the leaders.
Now only a point behind Maidenhead, the Dorset side have the easier of the three run-ins, and could theoretically win the league with two more wins, as long as Oxford lose their two remaining games, and Maidenhead lose to Grove.
The Swans begin their final push at home to lowly Amersham tomorrow, however, their final game takes them to fourth-placed Abbey, who have beaten both Oxford and Maids on their own turf this season.
Team manager Eric McConkey said: "Amersham, on paper, should be a reasonable game for us but we've come unstuck against two of the lower teams this year – Grove and Salisbury – which probably cost us the league.
“And going away to Abbey for the last game of the season will be a tall order.”
Swanage also have the distraction of a cup tie between their two remaining games, playing Wimborne or Chippenham in the Wiltshire & Dorset Cup final on April 5.
McConkey added: “It's in the lap of the gods now, which makes it interesting, doesn't it.
“Maidenhead are old friends and rivals. Oxford have an arrogance about them.
"It would be nice if it was Maidenhead and Swanage & Wareham who went up, but it's a bit Roy of the Rovers that!
“Realistically, for us to have a chance, we need Oxford to beat Maidenhead.
“If that doesn't happen we'll get third spot.”