SHOTTON STEEL’S chairman insists that an Intermediate Cup victory against Denbigh would be the ‘icing on the cake’.

A superb Division Two North campaign has seen the Steelmen earn promotion with an impressive 15 wins from 18 games this term.

That record was bettered only by their cup final opponents, who have lost just once this season.

And, after seeing Shotton secure Division One rugby for the first time in their history, chairman Alan Leamon hopes his players can clinch silverware in his fourth decade with the club.

Ahead of Saturday's final in Bangor, he said: “I’m such a proud chairman after the club gained promotion into Division One for the first time in its history and at the end of my 40th season with the club.

“The cup final against Denbigh will be the icing on the cake for me. With all the difficulties that we have had the past two years; the players have all worked so hard and most of all kept together, played for each other. A special thanks to my coaching staff and our committee too.”

Shotton head coach Mike Roberts has made full use of the club’s first and second team squads this season, drawing on an extensive crop of talent.

He said:“It’s been great to see that through this season we have used over 40 players to ensure the side we get out is Shotton 100 per cent.

“I think Saturday is going to be a close, hard-fought game with both teams heading into the game on the back of a long hard season.

“Denbigh have a strong pack and the backs are dangerous from anywhere on the field. Our game will be to maintain possession and not try to force play. I’m sure it’ll be a great game to watch for people who love seeing a good open game with big hits.”

A strong Shotton squad will be boosted by the return of hooker Andrew Hearns this weekend.

After narrowly falling short of the promotion places, Wrexham coach Alan Jenkins is determined that his side finish the campaign on a high.

The Bryn Estyn Lane men play their final Division Two North fixture of the season when they head to Newtown.

Targeting a third-place finish for his side, Jenkins is keen to see a repeat performance of the 48-17 success his side enjoyed in the reverse fixture three weeks ago.

Ed Evans ran in two of Wrexham’s eight tries in a dominant victory, to complement individual scores from Matt Griffiths, Mike Moore, Jack Radcliffe, Troy Roberts, Dan Williams and James Price.

Despite the comprehensive winning margin in their last encounter, Jenkins expects a sterner test in their away fixture tomorrow.

He said: “That was a harder game than the scoreline suggests. They were quite tough with a good few powerful forwards and have a very good scrum so we need to compete there.

“We took our chances against them last time and ran in quite a few tries that were worked from deep in our own half.

“Their pitch is fairly narrow so I don’t think we’ll be running them in from deep but hopefully we can use any possession we get.

“If we can win some ball and hold them at scrum time we should be in with a shout.”

Division Two rivals Cobra visit Rhyl, while struggling Abergele end their campaign at home to Llanidloes.

Mold seconds will look to improve their poor home record in Division Three when they host Machynlleth.