LEDBURY head coach Paul Rudland insists the Midlands Three West (South) title is up for grabs as the season reaches its halfway point.
Five points separate the Herefordshire outfit in fourth and leaders Pinley, with Old Wheatleyans and Old Yardleians lying in second and third respectively.
And Rudland told the Observer any one of the four sides could clinch the league, which would also secure a place in Midlands Two next season, and the Ledbury boss said he was delighted to be in the mix.
“I would like to think we have got a really good chance of going up this season. The boys are very keen to push for it,” Rudland said.
“Obviously we have got some really tough games to come, with Cheltenham North at home, Old Yards away, while Wheatleyans will have to come to us.
“Then we’ve got Pinley away on the last game of the season, which could be very interesting as it could go down to the wire.
“But I think there are four team in that league who can win it, so it is up for grabs and think we are in a good position.”
A superb start to the season saw Ledbury move to the top of the league before suffering an agonising 8-7 defeat to Manor Park last month.
But Rudland said he has been proud of the way his team has responded as they held Old Wheatleyans to a 25-25 before seeing off Old Yardleians and Pershore to keep them in touch at the top.
“The boys were gutted to lose at Manor Park as we had been on a crest of a wave, but since then the numbers in training have been fantastic and the last few games has been nothing but heroic.
“Our defence has been immense when they have had their backs against the wall, for instance at Wheatleyans they were on our line for the past five minutes and we held on for the draw and it similar away to Pershore.”
However, the head coach said they there were still plenty of things to work on when the league action returns with a clash against Shipston at Ross Road on Saturday, January 4.
“We have already won a lot more games than we did last year but what we are missing is the killer touch as we are not getting the bonus points when other clubs around us are. Teams like Pinley are beating teams quite well, while we are often involved in tight games and we know that extra point could make all the difference.”