WIVELISCOMBE need 11 points from their last four matches to make sure of winning Somerset Premier - and playing at their highest level ever next season, writes Barry Knott.

They took another step towards the championship after beating Oldfield Old Boys 12-11 over the weekend.

The game, however, was not as close as the score would suggest with Wivey dominating play for long spells.

“We had three ‘tries’ disallowed because the referee was unsighted,” said Wivey coach Peter Stone. “It was very frustrating.

“Referees have been good in the past couple of years but they have been so good this season.”

Wiveliscombe play at home to St Bernadette’s Old Boys this Saturday and then have a weekend break before playing Minehead Barbarians, in eighth spot, away on March 23. Their other games are away to Yatton (7th) and home to Avon who are fourth.

Burnham on Sea, the only side who can deny Wivey of the title, have five matches left. They are: 9th home v Imperial (3rd), 23 away v Weston super Mare 2nd XV (10th), 30 home v Nailsea and Backwell (5th), April 6 away v Hornets 2nd XV (12th) and 13 home v Oldfield Old Boys (6th). 

Wiveliscombe 2nd XV, who have pulled away from the bottom of Somerset Two South, are away on Saturday to Winscombe 2nd XV who are second.