LAST weekend’s hockey schedule fell victim to the snow, so Taunton Vale Hockey Club’s men’s sides still have three games remaining this season.

For the men’s 1st XI it could well have been a stay of execution, as they needed to win at mid-table Firebrands in order to avoid having relegation confirmed.

As it is, they remain bottom of the GoCrea8 Premiership table, eight points adrift of safety.

Only three wins from their final three games will give them a chance of staying up, and as well as the rearranged Firebrands fixture, their remaining matches are at home to Plymouth Marjon – who are second in the standings – this Sunday (11am start), and away to sixth-placed Wotton-u-Edge on March 17.

Taunton Vale A, having lost their first 11 games in Conference South this season, are still in with a chance of beating the drop.

They remain bottom, but are just three points away from third-bottom Tavistock with three games left.

Last weekend’s fixture with Shepton Mallet will have to be rearranged, and they face a daunting trip to league leaders Plymouth Marjon A this coming Saturday (1pm).

Following that, they have a potentially pivotal home game with Tavistock on March 17.

In Central 1, Taunton Vale B are all but safe in mid-table, as they’re nine points ahead of second-bottom Team Bath Buccs D with three games remaining.

They are in eighth spot and were due to host 10th-placed City of Bath A last Saturday before the weather intervened.

The other matches they have left to play are at home to fifth-placed Old Bristolians this Saturday (3pm) and then away to Bridgwater, who sit fourth, the following Saturday.

Taunton Vale C are also in a comfortable eighth place in South East 1 ahead of their final three games.

Eighteen points clear of the bottom two, they are just three points off seventh-placed East Devon B with three games remaining.

Their match at Tiverton, in fifth, needs to be rescheduled, while this Saturday sees them go to fourth-placed East Devon A (2.30pm), and on March 17 they entertain ECV Hornets A.

And in South East 2, Taunton Vale D are at the head of a pack of four teams battling to avoid relegation.

The Vikings, in ninth spot, have 15 points, as do Yeovil & Sherborne B, with Minehead B on 12 points and Sidmouth & Ottery C on eight.

Vale’s potentially decisive match with basement side Sidmouth was off last weekend, so that is one of their three fixtures left, alongside an away trip to sixth-placed Chard B on Saturday (12.30pm) and a home tie with Bridgwater C, in fourth, the Saturday after.

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TAUNTON Vale ladies 1sts still have five matches remaining this season, with games at home to Firebrands and away to Yate to be rearranged.

They are seventh out of 12 teams in the West Clubs Women’s League Premier 1 table and very much in the hunt for a top-half finish.

This Saturday they are due to host Plymouth Marjon, who are one place and one point behind them (11.30am).

That fixture is followed by a trip to Isca 2nds on March 17, and a home match with Clifton Robinsons 2nds the following Saturday.

Vale 3rds are second from bottom in the Central Division, four points off safety after their game at Winscombe was called off.

On Saturday they host sixth-placed Bridgwater (10am), before games against Taw Valley, Weston-super-Mare and Old Bristolians over the next three weekends.

The 2nd XI are just three points clear off the drop zone, with their match at Tavistock to be rearranged.

This Saturday they go to Plymouth Marjon 2nds (11.30am), ahead of vital games with fellow strugglers Okehampton and Exe 3rds.

A couple of wins from those matches should ensure survival.

The ladies 4ths are also in a relegation scrap in Sedgemoor Division 1 after being unable to host Weston-super-Mare 2nds last weekend.

This Saturday brings a crucial game away to second-bottom Sidmouth & Ottery 2nds (noon) before they face the league’s top two, Minehead and Taunton CS.

And Vale 5ths are ninth in Sedgemoor Division 2 after their game with Minehead 2nds was off.

They go to Bridgwater 2nds on Saturday (10.30am), then host Chard and travel to Taw Valley 2nds.