Bottom three finish now a certainty for Pulborough

Gaining no points from the 27-7 loss at Freelands leaves the side 14 points off Folkestone, who currently occupy fourth from bottom in the London 3 SE table, the last guaranteed position of safety.

Boro are second from bottom, a point behind Park House with a game in hand, and Nicholls still holds hope that his side won’t make an instant return back to Sussex 1.

Ahead of this Saturday’s potentially crucial visit to rock bottom Vigo Nicholls said: “All things being equal we should be on for a win this weekend, although to be honest we were really targeting both the Vigo and Gillingham games for wins so Saturday was massively disappointing.

“The gap between us and fourth from bottom is too big to bridge now so our target is not finishing in the bottom two. Three are meant to go down, but last season only two were relegated. If we finish third from bottom and three go down then so be it, but I’m determined we enjoy it whatever happens.”

Nicholls said ill discipline cost his side on Saturday, as four yellow cards hurt the hosts and a series of infringements allowed Gillingham to kick for the corners and play to their strengths with a series of driving mauls from from lineout.

Pulborough have eight games left to save their season, starting with this Saturday’s trip to lowly Vigo, who Horsham thrashed 70-0 at the weekend.