PLYMOUTH Albion Ladies took a massive step towards promotion as they edged past title rivals Henley by just one point.

Their 28-27 win in Berkshire put Albion three points ahead of Henley, with two games in hand.

They now start a four-game home sequence, beginning with another tough opponent, Bristol Ladies II, at Brickfields on March 4 (2pm).

Winning two of those games may be enough to land Albion the Championship South West II title, depending on how other results go.

But team spokeswoman Vee Thompson said the team, relegated from Championship South I nearly two seasons ago, were concentrating on each of their last four games.

She said: "Against Henley, we just didn't get started in the first half and we found ourselves 22-7 down.

"We were given a right talking to at half-time and then we started playing. Whatever we'd been doing in the first half, it wasn't playing rugby.

"I don't think we were used to actually being behind in the game, because it hasn't happened a lot this season and it threw us."

She added: "Winning promotion isn't something we're even thinking about now.

"I know it sounds like a cliche, but we're just taking it a game at a time."

Thompson herself got Argyle moving just before half-time, scoring from close range after being set up by Beth Ayling.

Kate Hancock scored the second Albion try in the second half, with skipper Jo Holden making it three.

Hancock went over again to bring Albion to within a point of their rivals, Leonie Swansbury kicking the vital conversion to win the game.

Thompson said: "Leonie didn't actually realise that her kick would win the game. She said later that if she'd realised that, she would have missed."

Captain Jo Holden said she was delighted with Albion's win.

She said: "After a shocking first-half performance, I was proud of the way the team kept fighting."