NEWLY-PROMOTED Southampton AC could be on the up again in the UK Women’s League.

Despite losing several athletes to injury, they kept themselves in the promotion picture with third spot in the second of the three-match Division One series at Bedford.

Halfway through the day the team were lying fifth, trailing the leading clubs by more than 25 points.

But unlike in the previous fixture, they couldn’t pull a victory out of the bag.

Even so, third spot on the day leaves them second overall, level on points with leaders Trafford.

Sprinters Izzy Bryant, Sophie-Anne Haigh and Mair Edwards gained valuable points.

Edwards (23.9 seconds) and Haigh (24.7) took double second in the A/B 200 metres and the sprint relay team of Ellie Hodgson, Bryant, Amy Teal and Haigh achieved 4x100m glory (48.7).

Emily Jenkinson, Ellie Monks, Jen Elkins, Sarah Kingston, Miriam Jones-Walters and Anna Reavey gleaned a healthy middle distance points return - Elkins and Kingston posting 3000m personal bests.

Sophie Merritt won the A shot, B discus and came third in the javelin, while Phoebe Dowson took A discus second.

Debutant Bethan Burley attained second in the B shot and B javelin, and Laura Edwards was A pole vault runner-up.

“The whole team pulled together to achieve this third place, which keeps us in the hunt for promotion to the Premier League,” said team manager Tim Hall.

“It all comes down to the final fixture, with four clubs still in contention.”

The team must now make the long trek north to Trafford for the final league fixture on July 16.

Match result: Trafford 218, Cardiff 202, Southampton 185, Notts 181.5, Enfield & Haringey 161, Harrow 153, Bedford & .County 152.5, Bristol & West 133.

Overall league standings: Trafford 14, Southampton 14, Cardiff 12, Notts 12, Harrow 7, Enfield & Haringey 6, Bedford & County 5, Bristol & West AC 2