AFTER claiming the Wilts and Dorset Vase the previous weekend it would be understandable that Swindon College Old Boys would be feeling a bit of a hangover when they faced Wheatley last weekend.

They were able to shake off the sore heads and came through to claim a 49-17 win to continue their impressive league form.

College now travel to Abingdon who sit one place below them in the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier division with the travelling side knowing that a win will keep the pressure on league leaders Reading Abbey.

“It is one of those games we have targeted as being a really important game because they are very strong at home,” said Martin Lloyd, director of rugby.

“There is a big gap now between the next team and us.

“We can afford certainly one hiccup with the teams below us but with Reading Abbey going so well we want to make sure we are in a position that when they come back to us at home we can turn them over and that will make a big difference in the league.

“It is a long hard season.”

The season is now nine games old and with winter well and truly taking hold it is the time of the year when injuries start to take their toll.

College will be resting Liam Davis, while Liam Farbrace will also miss the weekend’s tie.

The visitors will be hoping to have captain Gareth Davis, who is suffering with a back niggle, available but Lloyd is confident that the team now have enough strength in depth to cope.

“We’re training well at the moment and we have people with the physio at the moment hopefully coming back,” he added.

“The only problem we have got is the fitness of some of our front row and obviously the set piece and the scrummage is really strong for us and we are going to have a few players playing out of position.

“It is not ideal and it has not come at the best time but we think that hopefully if everything goes our way we can turn Abingdon over.

“When you start losing those players, luckily we have the players who can step up.

“Last season the second team were struggling for players but now things have completely changed around.”