With yesterday's game at Leigh postponed, yet again, to a waterlogged Hand Lane pitch, and with both Broughton Park and Liverpool St Helens recording bonus point wins against Southport and New Brighton, respectively, where does this leave us in our quest for promotion?

When new Head Coach, Andy (Skinny) McKinney, was appointed last June, his target was to achieve promotion within two seasons. A lot has happened since then; our young team has matured and has been strengthened by the influx of few talented recruits in key positions, so that we now find ourselves with a play-off slot tantalisingly within reach.

When we embarked on this season's campaign, we would have been delighted to finish 3rd in the league. This is all but assured but can we achieve more? It is, theoretically, possible but it will be a mammoth task.

Currently, Broughton Park are the runaway league leaders and I can't see them losing again, at least until they meet us at "Fortress" Malone Field where we have yet to be beaten this season. Liverpool St Helens have a 16 point advantage but have played 3 more games. So, 3 bonus point wins for the Saints would bring us to within 1 point on 21 games each.

LSH have a tough run at the end of the season; away to Glossop, 7 April; home to Broughton Park, 14 April and away to Leigh 21 April. They could easily lose 2 of these games.

Saints must not only secure all 15 points in the catch-up games but win all but one of the remaining fixtures to leap-frog LSH. A tough task, indeed. But, is it achievable? If we are brave enough to anticipate maintaining our unbeaten home record, we then also need to win 2 out of the 3 very gritty tests away at Tyldesley, Widnes and Leigh, assuming that we have no difficulty dispatching bottom-of-the-table Manchester Medics.

A realistic forecast would be that this is too much to expect. But, it is in our hands and, if we want it enough, who knows, we could be entertaining Aspatria (probably) in the play-off for promotion to North One West. What a fantastic end not only to this season but also a fitting farewell to the Clubhouse and pitch as we prepare for our new house and ground development.

We can but hope! - Ed