The All Golds CLS side face a crunch game this weekend as they take on Coventry Bears A at Gordon League (KO 2.30pm).

A win for the Golden Fern would lift them off the bottom of the table and they face a side they beat 34-28 in Coventry in Round 2 of the competition.

Since then, however, the All Golds have won just two more games though they were against Torfaen Tigers (who they face next week) and defending champions Nottingham Outlaws. The Bears have recorded just four wins themselves though they include a 34-18 win over second-placed London Chargers.

However, interspersed between them are a number of heavy defeats which mean that the All Golds’ points difference is superior and that the Bears sit just one place and a single point above the All Golds in the table.

The game marks the first half of a double header between the clubs with the All Golds’ first team travelling to Coventry on Sunday for their Kingstone Press League 1 Shield encounter. The Bears reserves have not played this month so they will be rested, though with the first team game this weekend, their resources may be stretched.

Coach Alex Davidson has been juggling his thin resources over the last few weeks and will almost certainly be without George Bidwell-Ford who injured a shoulder in the 48-0 loss at Valley Cougars last week and may also have to do without halfback Archie Gibbs who was the victim of a late tackle and forced from the field suffering from whiplash.

He may field a number of triallists four of whom played last week against the Cougars and did well enough to warrant another go in this battle against the Bears.

Image (courtesy Lewis Mitchell) shows action from the CLS game with the Bears earlier in the season