Published at 07:41, Wednesday, 20 March 2013

TYNEDALE are at home for the first time in a month tomorrow, hoping to improve their parlous league position.

Their last two games against fellow strugglers Macclesfield and Loughborough Students both ended in defeats, albeit narrow ones.

That means Tynedale’s feet are again dangling over the relegation abyss.

Tomorrow’s opponents Cambridge already seem doomed, along with Sedgley Park, but Tynedale are one of three teams hovering around the third relegation spot.

They are just one point ahead of Wharfedale, and five ahead of form team Macclesfield – who fortuitously have had five points deducted for fielding an ineligible player.

Tynedale can therefore afford no slip ups in their remaining seven games, four of which are at home.

The crunch fixture could be the visit of Wharfedale on April 20, which Tynedale are hoping will not be a relegation decider.

Tomorrow’s match against Cambridge should have taken place on January 26, but fell victim to the weather.

Tynedale will start as hot favourites, as the visitors have lost 10 of their 11 away games this season.

Basement team Cambridge lost 43-26 at Esher last week, and were crushed 58-26 at home by Blackheath a fortnight ago.

They have scored 21 away tries – only Sedgley Park (17) have scored fewer – and they have conceded 65 tries, the highest figure in the league, and an average of six per game.

The game kicks off at 3pm.

The following week sees the past players’ lunch, before the visit of Richmond.

Published by http://www.hexhamcourant.co.uk