Newmarket Rugby Club looking to win battle against Southwold and Ipswich to finish Counties 1 Eastern Counties runners-up

Newmarket head coach Martyn Wall is expecting plenty of twists and turns during the remaining four rounds of this season’s Counties 1 Eastern Counties.

While table-topping Norwich already have the title sewn up, Newmarket currently lead a three-way tussle for the runner-up position.

Wall’s men are one point ahead of third-placed Southwold, while Ipswich – the side that Newmarket defeated 43-29 last time out – are nine points adrift in fourth.

“That win over Ipswich was very pleasing. That was a big game because they’d beaten us earlier in the season, so it was one we had been targeting,” said Wall.

“We’ve made some amazing progress over the last six years. It’s the highest level the club has ever played at so wherever we end up finishing it’s a massive achievement.

“Looking at the table we could finish anywhere from second to fourth and I think there will be some movement.

“We obviously have a tough game away at Norwich, but Southwold have to play Ipswich and they’ve also got a game against Ely, who are in a good place at the moment.

“It’s us in the box seat. We’ll go into every game with the mentality of needing to win and we’ll see where that takes us.”

After last weekend’s break, Newmarket will return to action on Saturday with a trip to bottom-of-the-table Cantabrigian.

The basement side have won just five games this term, yet having only edged the reverse fixture by a single point, Wall is taking nothing for granted.

He added: “It was 22-21 when we played them at home so it’s not a game we’ll be taking lightly. We’ll set up with the same attacking mentality and treat them like every other team.”