Cautious Wise expects two wins will secure Pulborough’s safety

After promotion last year, the aim was always just to survive this season and Saturday’s 13-12 home win over Folkestone has seen them take another big step towards that goal.

The Freelands side are 19 points clear of the relegation zone with six games remaining, but Wise is urging on the side of caution. He said: “I think we are getting to that stage of the season when we can potentially cement our place in the league with a couple more wins.

“With six games left, I think a couple more wins would give us the luxury of enjoying the last few games without looking over our shoulders too much.

“It’s hard to think, Hastings and Lewes will make up the gap, but then again, before Saturday we had lost five games in a row.

“We still have to play Dartfordians, Gillingham away in our next fixture which will be tough and Uckfield, which isn’t an easy place to go.”

Si Burfiend kicked the hosts ahead with two early penalties, although missed another three attempts to extend their 6-0 lead. Harry Perry then extended the lead with a score which was converted by Burfiend. Folkestone, however, pulled a try back on the stroke of half-time as Burfiend was sin binned for an offside offence.

Pulborough started the second half with 14 men and also had Matt Blunden yellow carded later on in the second half as Folkestone went over with a converted try of their own, but missed two late penalty kicks to snatch victory.

Wise added: “ We were very pleased a) to get the monkey off our back and win as we hadn’t done since Hastings on December 5 and b) to beat Folkestone, who were one of the only teams to beat us convincingly in the reserve fixture. It was not the prettiest of games, but one of those in early February when it is cold, bleak and physical, but we dug in and dug it out.”