FOLLOWING Saturdays 8-20 defeat at Aspull, Ashton-on-Mersey Rugby Club are now second from bottom in North West 1 League and the majority of members knowing that the team cannot reach the safe 10th position, were under the impression that relegation was automatic.

However, Ashton coach, Phil O'Brien a solicitor and statistician, thinks that if Percy Park and York are relegated from Thwaites Northern - North League 2 then there is a possibility and the the team lying 11th (currently Ashton) will not get relegated.

Ashton entertain bottom team Vagabonds on Saturday, and a win is imperative if the team are to retain North West 1 staus

If Ashton do retain their league status, they know that next season the bottom seven teams are relegated.

The game against Aspull was a keenly contested match, but following an early try by home side, Ashton failed to clear their line, the ball ran loose, and Aspull were adjudged to have scored.

With the conversion, Ashton were 0-12 in arrears, and although they fought back strongly, the deficit was just too much.

Fighting for their lives

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.