GROVE may not be gunning for promotion or fighting relegation, but there is still everything to play for in the closing weeks of the season.

This is because the club's fantasy rugby title hangs in the balance with three rounds of league matches to go.

The game was devised by second team back Kev Sanders, who runs it on the club's website www.groverfc.co.uk.

Sanders said: "I used to play cricket at Harwell and one of the guys did a very similar thing there.

"I just thought it would be a good idea to do it at the rugby club and get a bit more interest in the playing side."

The game sees managers pick players from the club's three senior teams for a total budget of £250.

These players score five points for being in a losing team, ten for drawing and 15 for winning, plus five for attending training and any scores they get in a match.

Sanders said: "You pick a team of 16, 15 positions and one utility player. If you play, you must pick yourself, but you get yourself for free."

"I am leading, but that's probably because I take more of an interest in the game . I've had cries of 'cheat', but it's not true."

He added: "To get the player values, I took the last the last three years' scoring records and calculated an average.

"When the list came out with the values, everyone was saying was 'how much am I worth?, I'm worth more than that'."

There are prizes of beer behind the club bar for managers of the month and the first three places overall.

Sanders's efforts have been well received by players like first team centre Ben Nicholl.

He said: "There has been a lot of interest, even from the younger players. It's certainly been a talking point.

"Nick Sevier (pictured above) is the most expensive player. I think he is the only one who has picked him because only he can afford him.

"Kev is leading at the moment and some of the players are quite suspicious!

"Most of the teams have got a lot of first team players in them, but it is good to have a balance to ensure you get the winning points."

Scrum half Paul Maryon said: "I always train and have not missed a first team game, but I haven't got a try all season so I may not be too good a player to pick.

"When Ben scores a try, I always say thank you for the five points because he is in my team."