STOURBRIDGE RFC may be mathematically relegated from National One — but director of rugby Neil Mitchell believes there is still plenty to play for.

The Stourton Park side went down 32-20 at Mitchell’s boyhood club Blaydon at the weekend — a game they had to win to have any chance to climbing out of the drop zone.

But with relegation rivals Birmingham and Solihull Bees also coming unstuck on Saturday, he is anxious for the Saxons to finish the season strongly and reel in their Midlands neighbours.

He said: “We have to keep going now until the end of the season.

“We have Bees to beat and if we can do that then we will finish top of the pile and you never know what’s going to happen in this league.

“You always need a goal and to be top of the relegation pile may mean you get a second chance. Nobody knows what’s going to happen in the summer with the likes of Cambridge, who have had problems this year.

“We have three more games against Barking, Cambridge and Tynedale and they could be five point wins if we get the players back.”

The Saxons headed to Blaydon without a number of key players including back row Drew Harper and hooker Jordan Page, who was working in Wales.

That prompted a recall for veteran Jim Jenner and meant Mitchell had to name himself among the replacements.

“It didn’t help that we had Jim Jenner in the side and playing 80 minutes when he has not played for ages,” the Saxons chief added.

“We also had Shaun Ruwers in the squad as a very last minute call-up and only had four on the bench.

“That is not the ideal preparation going into a game up especially at Blaydon who have only lost twice at home all season.”

The Saxons are without a game this weekend.