Thurrock will be missing key scrum-half Paul Dale as they travel to Harlow for their most vital final game of the season.

Dale broke his leg in last weekend's 24-20 friendly defeat of Romford and Gidea Park and will miss the crunch clash at sixth-placed Harlow.

"His loss is a massive blow," confirmed Thurrock spokesman Kevin Hymas. "The scrum-half is one of the most vital players on the team and we don't know who will replace him yet. But we've got to get through."

Dale's injury could not have come at a worse time for Thurrock. The club, in eighth place in London One, believe they must win to have any chance of surviving the League restructuring.

It is likely that some unlucky teams will be dropped into a re-aligned division two next season and Hymas says a loss could be disastrous. He said: "We don't really know how many teams will drop out but we are convinced we have to win this one."

Basildon face a vital game as they travel to take on struggling Eton Manor in London Three.

The new towners, who won the Essex Cup against Billericay last weekend, are hoping to round off a tremendous season by making it a south Essex one-two in London Three by snatching second place behind Rochford.

But Basildon, unbeaten since Christmas, must beat Manor and hope other results go their way.

Three veteran players will hang up their boots after Canvey Island host physical Suffolk side Bury St Edmonds tomorrow.

Forward Tony Matthews and backs Mark Colvill and Jason Carter replace regulars Matt Norris, Dave Isbell and James Saunders, and retire after the game.

Champions Rochford conclude their season against long-time London Three front-runners Shelford at Magnolia Road.

With second row Ryan Jones out through injury Ryan Stephenson fills in and captain Andy Lipscombe returns to the back row. Andy Hawes is nursing an injured hand, so Ben Green moves to centre and Jamie Banks returns on the wing.

Westcliff's Eastern Counties One game on Saturday is shrouded in mystery. The Aviation Way club had originally been due to play Felixstowe away in a friendly but don't yet know whether the Suffolk club, who have pulled out of the League, can fulfil the fixture.

Billericay look to bounce back from last weekend's Essex Cup defeat to Basildon with a game at home to Upminster.

Eastern Counties Four side Rayleigh Wyverns host a touring side from Bristol at Battles Bridge.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.