RUNCORN Rugby Union Club say they won't lie down and die as they come back from a three-month suspension.
The team was banned by the Cheshire RFU as a result of incidents of indiscipline in matches towards the end of last season.
The suspension, which began on August 28, ended last weekend.
But the Murdishaw outfit are now due to finally return to action this Saturday with a league game at Capenhurst.
Having been deducted two points for each match missed the club start on minus-14 points - 17 points behind the second-from-bottom club.
But in the knowledge they cannot be relegated, Runcorn are looking to bounce back by rebuilding their reputation in South-Lancs Cheshire Four.
Secretary Jeff Gore believes there was a lot of politics behind the ban but said the club had served its sentence and hopes the slate has been wiped clean.
'Runcorn are a good club and are playing at a level much beneath us,' he said.
'We won the Cheshire Plate three times in succession in 1999, 2000 and 2001.
'As the club, we can't go any lower - we can't be relegated but it looks like we are going to reach some landmark with the lowest points total there has ever been in the league.
'My main priority is just to make sure we field a team on Saturday against Capenhurst.'
The players have kept themselves fit with the secretary adding he had ensured the club met its commitments.
'I have made sure we have paid our subs to Cheshire RFU and also to Halton Borough Council to keep and maintain our pitch and changing rooms at Halton Sports ground,' he said.
'From my own point of view, this is personal - I won't lie down and die.
'We still have a stalwart nucleus of seven or eight players, including our captain Alex Williams.
'We also have some former players' sons, who are exuniversity.'
Despite its lowly position, the club is now looking to salvage something from this season before working its way up the league ladder.
