Chingford Rugby Club will be hoping to avoid play-off heartbreak for a second year running when they take on Medway on Saturday as they fight to gain promotion to the London and South East Premier Division.

The team are gunning for promotion to the Premier Division for the first time in their history after a successful year in the London 1 North, which saw them finish in second place, narrowly missing out on the title to Brentwood by just three points.

Matt Lockwood’s men head into this weekend’s crucial game in good form, having finished the league campaign with three straight wins, including a dominant 97-0 victory over Letchworth Garden City.

But having lost last year’s play-off to Tunbridge Wells in the dying moments of extra-time, Chingford are hoping to put things right this time around and coach Lockwood has urged his team to show their quality when they take to the field.

He said: “While we all wish we weren’t here and had qualified for promotion by winning the league, we now have the chance to showcase our quality to a much wider audience by welcoming Medway to Chingford.

“The boys have all put in a fantastic effort all season to get to this point and are determined to right the wrongs of last season’s playoff having narrowly lost to Tunbridge Wells.

“We would like to take the opportunity to congratulate Brentwood on what is a massive achievement in gaining automatic promotion. Hopefully we’ll be locking horns again next season.”

He added: “We’re calling on the whole of the Chingford community to come down and support our boys and help cheer them on to what will be a very historic victory.”

The game will take place at the Lee Valley Playing Fields with kick off at 3pm. Entry will cost £5 for those travelling to the game by car, or £2 for walk ins.