NEW BRIGHTON were disappointed to miss out on a place in the final of the Cheshire Vase and will now concentrate their efforts on achieving promotion from South Lancashire/Cheshire One League.

The Blues lie second in the table just a point clear of Tyldesley who in turn have three points to spare over Bowdon.

Runaway leaders Sale are unlikely to be caught, so effectively just the one promotion place is now in the offing.

It promises to be a ding-dong tussle at Hartsfield this Saturday when Bowdon provide the opposition. Brighton are still in buoyant mood despite losing in the Vase semi-final to local opposition last Friday but it is going to need a big performance if they are to beat their Cheshire rivals, who had the benefit of a free weekend.

A windswept clash with Anselmians ended in an 8-0 reverse but it was a defence dominated tie which could have gone either way until a clinching try by the Malone Field side in the dying moments.