ST ALBANS CENTURIONS head into a crucial three-match period having not played for the past 21 days, after Cambridge Eagles withdrew just two hours before their match scheduled for Saturday, June 22.

"It's very disappointing," said Centurions' founder and player Ken Edwards. "We've got three big games coming up, which are likely to get more and more intense, and we needed to put a platform down and build from that."

The Conference has since awarded St Albans a 26-0 victory, which might have flattered the Cambridge side despite the Centurions missing six first-choice players in Lee Parkin, Geraint Edwards, Brian Stokes, Tom Eisenhuth, Dwayne Pearson and Matt Saunders.

With the second team also stood up, the players took part in a touch-rugby training match.

"I'd have preferred us to have had a game," said Edwards. "We'd brought in some new faces, like prop John Warner, who was ready to step up from the seconds.

"We wanted to give them some game time but unfortunately we've been deprived of that. At least we were able to take a look at a couple of other newcomers in a training situation."

Most notable among them was Queenslander Damien Mulholland, who had been in the country only three days.

It is hoped his experience gained playing with Noosa in the Australian coastal competition will be invaluable to the Centurions in their final push, which starts on Saturday with a home game against Leicester Phoenix and their ferocious pack.

The Centurions go into the game knowing that defeat would mean they would have to win both their remaining two matches at home to Luton and away at Ipswich to lift the title.

As it is, only Luton can pip St Albans for the title, with both sides already through to the national play-offs.

Whichever side finishes top will host Luton, travel to Ipswich and meet the third-placed Midlands team home and away. The second placed side will also face Ipswich and Luton, plus home and away meetings with the runner's-up in the Midlands division.

Of the six that would have missed the Cambridge match, only Saunders is a doubt for Saturday's 2.30pm kick-off against Leicester at Old Verulamians. The second team game is scheduled for noon and entrance for both matches is free.

June 27, 2002 11:30