Peterborough RUFC will be confident underdogs when they tackle their play-off semi-final

The city side will go into that game after finishing the regular season with two wins, the last a spectacular 65-42 success at Olney yesterday.

Borough finished fifth, 23 points behind runners-up Harborough having won six fewer games while losing five more. Harborough led the division for virtually the entire season until losing a winner-takes-all final day decider 41-20 at Northampton Old Scouts yesterday. Harborough beat Borough 66-7 when the teams met in Leicestershire earlier this season. It was 34-5 to the visitors when the teams clashed at Fengate in February.

Clearly Borough will have to raise their game, especially in defence, while hoping Harborough have a hangover from seeing the title wrested from their grasp at the last minute.

Borough director of rugby Shane Manning said: “The game will be tough and we know we are massive underdogs and rightly so. It’s a knockout competition now so either our season will be over or we get the right to go another week. It will be a huge week at training so hopefully lads embrace the occasion.

"We scored some good tries at Olney, but our defence wasn't good enough. It is hard playing in a game that wasn't going to affect the outcome of the season, but we need to always stick to our standards.”

Borough ran in 11 tries at Olney, but also saw their hosts touch down on six occasions. The city side led 31-12 at the break after tries from Dylan Evans (2), Murphy Hill, Max Arnold and Will Bell. Harry Anderson added three conversions. Evans was playing for the first time since December.

Olney closed the gap quickly at the start of the second-half, but Borough managed to keep them at arm’s length as Bell completed a hat-trick of tries. Anderson crossed twice with Arnold also claiming a second try and Tom Kemp dotting down for his first.

Stamford finished a place and six points behind Borough in their first season at this level. Broadstreet will host Bedford Athletic in the other play-off semi-final.

Final standings (all played 22): 1 Northampton Old Scouts 96pts, 2 Market Harborough 93pts, 3 Broadstreet 89pts, 4 Bedford Athletic 81pts, 5 PRUFC 70pts, 6 Stamford 64pts, 7 Kettering 53, 8 Oadby 54pts, 9 Olney 44pts, 10 Old Coventrians 27pts, 11 Daventry 27pts, 12 Wellingborough 13pts.

Peterborough Lions were beaten 48-31 at Northampton Casuals in a Counties 2 Midlands East South contest yesterday. Connor Sloan ran in two tries with Ryan Bosworth, Aaron Cahill and Sam Giffen also touching down. Will Moore added three conversions.

Lions are 10th in a 12-team division ahead of a home game with third-placed Stockwood Park next Saturday.

Bottom club Thorney were crushed 91-5 at third-placed Mistley in Counties 2 Eastern Counties. Matthew Neal grabbed a consolation try for the villagers who host eighth placed neighbours Wisbech next Saturday.