BOLTON RUFC captain Chris Cockton is still optimistic his side can clinch a play-off spot despite losing at home to St Benedicts on Saturday.

The 33-13 defeat was the Cherry and Whites' first home defeat of the season, after previously winning every game at Avenue Street.

It also meant any hopes of promotion were significantly diminished.

However, North Lancs/Cumbria second-placed Aspatria have since been deducted three points, meaning the gap is just seven points between them and Bolton, with Cockton’s side having a game in hand.

As a result, if Aspatria lose their last game against St Benedicts, and Bolton win their remaining two games against Whitehaven and Ashton, Bolton will claim a play-off berth.

The skipper said: “We’re not mathematically done for, it comes down to this weekend really.

"If Aspatria lose to St Benedicts, we’ve still got a chance.

“Aspatria have been deducted three points, so that gives us real hope.

“We’ve got to go out this weekend and do our job. At the end of the day we’ve still got two games to play, and regardless of what happens, we’ll be aiming to finish well.

“But it all comes down to this weekend, if St Benedicts can do us a favour then I guess second place is ours for the taking, so we’ve got to really focus on our game and do what we can, but if it doesn’t happen then that’s just the way it’s meant to be.”

The season looked like it was over on Saturday afternoon as the league leaders flexed their muscles to win at Avenue Street, despite home tries from Jack Robinson and Rhys Pritchard.

St Benedicts will run away with the league this year and have reached a Twickenham final, and as a result Cockton insists they do not mind losing to a better team.

He said: “We just got beaten up a little bit physically in the opening exchanges, we missed far too many tackles and we gave them the upper hand and they took it.

“They’re a team on a high at the minute, and you can’t afford to give teams like that a head start, but we did and unfortunately we lost out because of that.

“Without a doubt they’re the best team we’ve played this season, and they certainly deserve the crown for the top of the league, and we wish them all the best.

“But it’s the biggest defeat we’ve had put on us, since we came into this league three years ago, so for us, it was a very disappointing performance and it’s something that we talked about after the game but you never mind getting beaten by a much better team.”