Vale win sets up close finish

Wing Aaron Hall crossed to score the first of nine home tries after just a minutes play and with centre Drew Retford adding two more in ten minutes it was clear that Vale's young guns wanted to challenge for the second promotion place as the season end draws near.

No 8 George Hobbs and fly half James Russell added their names to the try-scorer list in the first half and with Russell adding four conversions and Cricklade having claimed just a pair of tries themselves the result was already clear.

The Bathford side made several changes at the break and the replacements claimed all of the second half points, young wing Alex Pugh intercepting a Cricklade move to claim his before centre Steve Grant bagged a hat-trick and a couple of conversions.

With Calne gaining a draw at home to champions Pewsey Vale, next week's away trip to Westbury will settle Avonvale's fate as there is just a single league point separating the places. Only a bonus point win will guarantee Vale the second place finish they are aiming for as their points difference is inferior to Calne's.