With Thurrock’s North East 2 clash at Enfield Ignations called off at the last minute, local interest centred upon Gardiners Close.

In a tight and tense encounter, played in almost torrential conditions at times, Canvey Island scored the only five points of the match to secure a vital win at Basildon. Although the result leaves both teams in second and third place, the gap between the Islanders and their hosts today is now a crucial seven points.

A desperate afternoon, sadly, for relegation haunted Billericay. In a match they dare not lose, they did just that, going down 10-25 to basement rivals Dagenham. Having secured just four league points all season, and now facing up to a four point gap between them and safety, it’s starting to look bleak now.

Better news in Essex League Division 2, though, where Runwell Wyverns won 20-17 at King’s Cross Steelers and Stanford-le-Hope thumped hapless Ongar 38-10 at home to go fourth and fifth respectively.

It looks like being another weekend of exciting action for our region’s rugby clubs as the business end of the season starts to pick up.

In London North East 2, title favourites Thurrock will be looking to cement their position when they travel to mid-table Enfield Ignations. Five points clear at the top, and having scored a mammouth 131 points in their past 3 league matches whilst conceding just a solitary try, they go into their trip to North East London in sparkling form.

That’s a term that could almost apply equally to Basildon in recent weeks. After a slow start, 5 league wins out of the last 6 has catapulted them right into the London North East 3 promotion battle, in third. Facing them at Gardiners Close tomorrow are local rivals Canvey Island, who also happen to be one place above them and are on a similar run of form. It looks like being an absorbing, tense, and potentially thrilling encounter.

It’s going to be an equally tense encounter for Billericay, too, but for a whole different set of reasons. Struggling desperately at second from bottom, they travel to third bottom Dagenham in a game they dare not lose. Having won only four points all season, any widening of the three point gap between them and their hosts tomorrow would leave them with a mountain to climb.

In Essex League 2, mid table Stanford-le-Hope have what looks like an easy game on paper when they entertain Ongar, who have won just a solitary point all season. They’d do well to remember, however, the old adage of games being played on grass and not paper! Runwell Wyverns are also in action, in a battle of another two mid table clubs, when they visit King’s Cross Steelers.

All games, are of course, weather permitting, so check with your club first if you’re playing or watching.