LAUNCESTON Castles coach Mike Haines admits them securing promotion from Counties Three Cornwall on Saturday will be a ‘huge help for the club’.

They achieved the feat by seeing off Roseland 45-22 at Polson Bridge, meaning that they sit 21 points ahead of St Agnes who have just four games left.

Launceston have 44 points from a possible 45, only dropping a bonus point in their 21-17 success at Illogan Park on February 8, but can now look forward to mixing it with first teams on a regular basis.

Reflecting on the season so far, Haines said: “It’s been something we’ve been working towards for the last couple of years and to secure promotion is the icing on the cake.

“It’ll be a huge help for the club and guarantee good, competitive rugby every week at a higher standard.”

Counties Three has seen a number of walkovers throughout the season, including two in recent weeks for the Castles, and Haines hopes they can now thrive in the division above.

He said: “This league has been very stop-start and tough on the boys.

“It’d have been very easy for the lads to drop off the training levels due to the lack of games, but they’ve stuck to the task and got their rewards.

“The last couple of games, at Illogan Park and now against Roseland, have been very competitive and that’s exactly what we need.

“The boys are improving all the time and starting to learn how to see games out.”

Launceston have this Saturday off before trips to St Agnes and Camborne School of Mines either side of their promotion party against visiting Saltash Seconds on March 8.

Haines concluded: “We’re now looking forward to the last three league games and trying to go through them unbeaten, starting with St Agnes next weekend.”