Newport RFC are hoping to win the respect of the division tomorrow - by becoming the only team to do the double over league leaders Ampthill.
The Forton Road men turned heads back in November when they shrugged off five consecutive defeats to beat Ampthill at home.
Only two other teams have managed to beat the strong Bedford-based club this season - and no one has managed to do it twice.
It’s a daunting challenge away from home for Newport tomorrow - but Head Coach Ian Bletcher believes his team are more than capable of causing another shock.
He said: “When we played Bedfordshire they were jibbing us about being down the bottom.
“We have the respect of some sides but some are less respectful.
“But one thing is for sure: if we can beat Ampthill again we will turn some heads.
“We are more than capable of losing to the bottom team in the league, but also more than capable of beating the top.”
Ampthill have been at the top of National League Three Midlands for virtually the whole season.
They go into the match two points clear of second place Bromsgrove.
But they would have had the title all but sewn up had it not been for a 10 point deduction at the start of the year for improper conduct.
Bletcher added: “That will have hurt their pride.
“If I was their coach then I’d be playing on that and using it as motivation.”
Newport, meanwhile, are still dangerously close to the bottom of the table with just four games remaining.
With up to four teams facing relegation due to teams in higher divisions entering administration, Newport cannot afford any more slip ups.
The Fishes battled bravely but were beaten 30-22 by Luton last weekend.
That represented a better effort than their embarrassing 79-13 reverse against the southerners earlier in the season - but it still didn’t yield any points.
Luton took an early lead through ex-England sevens man Matt Allen, but home tries from Omar Suleiman and James Curgenven meant Newport were in contention at the interval.
But yellow cards for Curgenven and Sam Egerton allowed the visitors to build a 30-15 lead before Ben Warrilow reduced the deficit.
And there was almost late drama as Neil Weston dived over in the dying seconds, only to have been adjudged to knocking the ball on before going over.
By Sean Wozencroft
