Guisborough will use their past play-off pain as extra motivation to end the season as Durham and North One champions.
That’s according to coach Trevor Edwards, who has picked the Priorymen up from the canvas after April’s heartbreaking play-off defeat at Dinnington.
Edwards’ side were within seconds of clinching promotion to North One East, but conceded a late try in the eighth minute of added time at the end of the 80 minutes. The team were beaten 34-20 after extra time and saw their promotion dream dashed.
It was a setback that took plenty of time to recover from, starting this season with shaky defeats at Hartlepool Rovers, Morpeth and Durham City.
But 14 wins from their last 15 matches means Guisborough now sit top of the pile with six games remaining - and are in control of their own destiny.
Victory over third-placed Durham City at Belmangate tomorrow afternoon would be the perfect start to a gruelling run-in, and Edwards has urged his side to avoid the jittery play-off route by ending the season as champions.
“We’re playing every game like a play-off final - we don’t want to go down that route”, he said.
“It was my ambition when I started coaching to take this team into a league they’ve never played in before.
“I saw the club had plenty of quality but it needed the belief that they could get to the next level. That’s my ambition, and we’ve never been closer.
“We have to win the league this year. Everyone is aware of the heartbreak we’ve suffered in the play-offs for the past two seasons.
“It’s taken a big effort to get to where we are, and barring any major catastrophe, we’ll be there or thereabouts.”
But it won’t be easy, with Guisborough’s run-in beginning with a tough test against a resurgent Durham City tomorrow afternoon.
The Priorymen were easily beaten 36-17 in November’s reverse fixture, but have not tasted defeat since that clash.
Durham have won 11 of their last 13 league matches, tasting defeat only once at second-placed Morpeth, who are one point behind Guisborough.
“We’ve got a full strength squad so are confident,” Edwards added.
“Earlier this season we went up to Durham with a weakened team and played poorly - nothing went in our favour.
“They’ll come here and fancy their chances - and we need to stand up to that challenge.”
Guisborough will also have one eye on the fortunes of Stockton tomorrow, as their Teesside rivals head to second-placed Morpeth.
The Northumbrian challengers were beaten 16-10 at Station Road in November and will be eyeing revenge on home soil.
Stockton will be without winger Joel Simpson, but Dan Phinn has recovered from a thumb injury and replaces him. Brian Morris holds on to his shirt on the other flank.
In the forwards, experienced duo Dan Muirhead and Andy Bailes will both play, while Martin Dixon should replace Phil Douglas at No 8.
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