ROYAL Wootton Bassett still have a chance of starting 2020 at the top of the South West One East table as they head into their final match of the year this weekend.

Bassett currently sit third in the table but are only two points behind leaders Old Centralians as they round off their 2019 fixtures with a trip to Old Patesians.

Alan Low’s side can hit the summit on Saturday should they triumph in Cheltenham and both Old Cents and second-placed Banbury slip up.

Bassett got the season off to a blistering start and won their first eight league fixtures before drawing at home to Banbury in early November.

The Ballards Ash side did not suffer defeat until losing away at county rivals Chippenham in round 12 a fortnight ago.

They got back to winning ways at the first time of asking, though, by toppling Marlborough on home turf last Saturday.

Bassett are the only local senior side with a game this weekend as both Swindon and Swindon College Old Boys have finished for the year in Southern Counties South.

That is also the case for Supermarine in Dorset & Wilts Two North.

For Swindon, they have responded well after being relegated from South West One East last season and sit fourth in the Southern Counties South table heading into the Christmas break.

The Greenbridge Road side have won seven of 11 league games this season, although skipper Mike Thompson says a promotion push is not at the forefront of the club’s agenda.

Thompson said: “We have won a lot of games this season, so we are really pleased with how things are going.

“We are happy with where we are right now. We are in the top half of the table and we have won more games than we have lost.

“This season was about rebuilding a competitive squad and making sure everyone is enjoying their rugby again. I think we are achieving that on both counts.

“We are really content with how things are going. We will enjoy the break over Christmas and then get back to it and try to win a lot more games next year.”

Rugby fixtures resume in the new year on Saturday, January 4.