Play-offs likely for London Scottish

LONDON Scottish recorded a third victory in four games at the weekend with an important 21-17 home win over second-bottom Plymouth Albion, but the exiles still look set to contest the relegation play-offs in The Championship.

After 22 games – all teams have played 17 so far – the bottom four teams play each other home and away in a mini league, with the team finishing bottom automatically relegated. Doncaster’s unexpected win over second-placed Bedford at the weekend means that there is a 15-point gap between Scottish and the safety of eighth place, with only five games remaining. However, the Richmond club remain in a strong position to survive, because the play-off teams carry one point per victory this season into their mini-league – and at present, bottom of the league Esher would only carry one point, while London Scottish, Moseley and Plymouth carry five points each.