Shawn Renwick remains focussed on the job in the hand at Sutton & Epsom this Saturday despite the carrot of promotion dangling in front of him and his team-mates’ noses.
Sutton go into their final match of the London Two South West season at Effingham & Leatherhead in second place, three points behind leaders Chobham.
They know a bonus point win will guarantee them a play-off spot and could even result in automatic promotion if Chobham slip up at Guildford – who themselves are only a point behind Sutton and have designs on top spot.
But number eight Renwick is ignoring all the excitement and sticking to the game plan – get a bonus point four-try win and then see what happens.
“It is an exciting time and a challenge for us,” he said after Sutton won their sixth game in a row last weekend when they beat Old Reigatian 50-10, the third game in succession they have scored 50 points or more.
Moving forward: Austin Sheppard in full flow in last weekend's 50-10 win over Old Reigatian
“But I think everybody has kept their feet on the ground in terms of excitement and getting carried away.
“There is another game to be played that we need to win with a bonus point to put ourselves in a great position.
“Then, once the final whistle is blown we can look to the side and see what the other score is.
“We need to show the same desire to get the win and bonus point which has been the emphasis since the Chobham loss in February.
“Then, hopefully, come Saturday we can win the league. If not, then we have to take a couple of weeks before the play-off game.”
The potential to win promotion is a far cry from 12 months ago, when Sutton had the unwanted record of losing all 26 of their London One South clashes.
“You can definitely see a change since then,” said Renwick. who joined in the summer from Esher.
“After last Saturday’s game we were at the club for a few drinks with members and all the players stayed for a while and it was a great feeling.
“I don’t think any of the boys would have stayed last year.”
Battling: Will Lloyd battles through the Old Reigatian defences
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