Peterborough RUFC in pole position in the local race for a play-off place after another big home win

The formbook was followed on Saturday with Borough pasting lowly Old Coventrians 62-26, while rivals Stamford were losing 31-5 at home to leaders Market Harborough.

That gives Borough a five-point advantage over Stamford heading into the final three matches, but it's a lead that could be eroded on the next fixture date of March 21 when the city side are at second-placed Northampton Old Scouts and the Lincolnshire lads are at bottom club Wellingborough. The final two matches of the season favour Borough who have bottom half sides Oadby Wyggstonians and Olney to play while Stamford tackle top four teams Broadstreet and Bedford Athletic.

Standings (all played 19): 1 Market Harborough 88pts, 2 Northampton Old Scouts 81pts, 3 Broadstreet 74pts, 4 Bedford Athletic 69pts, 5 PRUFC 59pts, 6 Stamford 54pts, 7 Kettering 42pts, 8 Olney 37pts, 9 Oadby 36pts, 10 Old Coventrians 26pts, 11 Daventry 25pts, 12 Wellingborough 8pts.

Borough have racked up some huge wins at ‘Fortress Fengate’ this season and, despite the unavailability of eight backs, another one arrived.

The host started brightly with Alfie Lewis crossing from the back of a rolling maul in the second minute and the tries just kept on coming. Max Arnold scored following a long-range attack and Callum Cruickshank touched down after a break by Harry Anderson straight from a kick-off. Anderson was making his first start at fly-half.

Cruickshank then had his second a couple of minutes later after good work from captain Will Bell and next to score was scrum-half Tom Kemp who finished off a nice counter attack move from deep to take Borough 31-0 up after just 15 minutes.

After the visitors pulled points back with a try, Nic Langton added to Borough’s score with a try following a chip through by Kemp and prop Chris Sykes then barged his way over for another score. A second try for Old Coventrians made it 41-14 to Borough at the break.

Cruickshank completed his hat-trick at the start of the second half after excellence from Kiwi Murphy Hill and Josh Caborn, but Borough then switched off enabling the visitors to claim a bonus point by running in two more tries of their own.

Borough responded with late tries by Anderson and Arnold.

Borough director of rugby Shane Manning wasn’t completely happy. He said: “We were clearly the better team, but the coaches were from happy with the overall performance such is the standard the lads have set themselves.

“We just got a bit complacent around our inside defence and didn't work as hard as we should. But in the race to make to the play-offs it’s a step in the right direction. We have a week off now before we travel to Old Scouts and that’s going to be a real challenge as they are a quality side, while it could also be a dress rehearsal for the play-offs.

"We have things to work on and hopefully we will get a few of our injured lads back as we enter the business end of the season".

**Peterborough Lions claimed a bonus point for scoring four tries, but went down 45-29 in their Counties 2 Midlands East clash at St Neots. Matthew Worrall-Clare, Charles Pendlebury, Daniel Di Meo and Michael Kelly-Gobuiwang scored the Lions tries with Will Moore adding three conversions and a penalty.

Lions are 10th in a 12-team division and head to fourth-placed Old Laurentians next Saturday (March 14). Oundle seconds have won all 17 fixtures in this division, the latest by a whopping 83-14 at Rushden & Higham.

Title-chasing Oundle first XV are back in National League 2 East action next Saturday at home to bottom club Oxford Harlequins.

Thorney are 10th in the 11-team Counties 2 Eastern Counties Division after a 29-14 home defeat at the hands of Wymondham seconds.