Amateur Focus - Part 4

Amateur Focus - Part 4

We’re just weeks away from the end of season play-offs in the professional leagues and the same can be said for the National Conference League as well.  There are just three or four rounds to go in the top three divisions and places for the last few spots is really hotting up with two teams already guaranteed to change leagues next season.

PREMIER DIVISION

Siddal remain top of the Premier Division with three rounds to go.  A run of six consecutive victories following a minor slump of just one point from two games during Rounds 13 and 14 sees them lead the table with 33 points from 19 matches and are assured of their play-off spot.

Joining them in the top six will be Thatto Heath Crusaders, Rochdale Mayfield and Wath Brow Hornets.  Second placed Thatto have had an excellent season following promotion last year and are still in with a shout of the minor premiership sitting just three points behind Siddal.

Mayfield are the final team who have a very slim chance of claiming top spot, being just five points behind Siddal, but their next game is away to the table toppers and that could seal their fate in a game brought forward from Round 22.

Wath Brow continued their good season and secured their play-off place following a narrow victory at Skirlaugh over the weekend.

Just behind them are four teams who mathematically have a chance of making the top six.  West Hull are in pole position with 22 points – four points ahead of Kells and Myton Warriors with Kells sitting sixth on points difference.  Kells also have a game in hand which could aid their chances of a debut in the play-offs.  Egremont Rangers can also still make the play-offs if they can win all their final three matches.

No team is relegated yet but defeat for Leigh Miners Rangers at home to Egremont at the start of September could spell the end for the 2015 trebble winners.

DIVISION ONE

The first club who will change leagues at the end of this season is Underbank Rangers who moved two points clear at the top of Division One at the weekend.  This was due to Hunslet Club Parkside’s match against bottom of the league Blackbrook being postponed but their victory sealed one of the two automatic promotion spots to next season’s Premier Division.

Parkside remain second, seven points ahead of Milford Marlins, and with five games still to play it’s surely only a matter of time before they secure promotion.

The Marlins are the only other side to have secured at least a play-off spot at the end of the season and, barring an incredible run of results going their way, could still claim second place.  However, they can no longer claim the title what with being nine points behind Underbank with just eight left to claim.

Incredibly, every team sitting fourth to 11^th can still claim the remaining play-off spots as they are split by just ten points.  York Acorn are fourth on 20 points, three points ahead of Lock Lane and Normanton Knights, the other two sides currently occupying the play-off places.

Ince Rose Bride are one point behind in seventh but Shaw Cross Sharks, Hull Dockers and even Hunslet Warriors and Featherstone Lions, who occupy two of the three relegation spots, can also mathematically qualify.

Sitting bottom of the league are Blackbrook who were unable to raise a team for their game at Parkside so time will tell as to what that means to the final league table.

DIVISION TWO

Moving down a division this league is still wide open at the top of the table.  No less than five teams can still claim the title and/or automatic promotion.

As it stands Oulton Raiders are top with 29 points from 19 matches.  A point behind them is Thornhill Trojans, who have also played 19 matches, and Wigan St Judes are third – a further point (and game) behind.

Those three are guaranteed at least a play-off place and the next two clubs are also in with a shout if each one can claim a grandstand finish.  Bradford Dudley Hill are six points behind the Raiders with as many points to claim and Cumbrian side Askam sit fifth on 22 points with five games left!

The next three clubs are all still fighting for a place in the top six.  East Leeds sit four points clear of Saddleworth Rangers and Crossfields having played a game more.

Moving into the bottom four, one relegation spot has already been taken by Salford City Roosters who have done well to keep going have won just one game in 19.  Further up the table Leigh East are ninth with 12 points.  Millom sit tenth, a point and two games ahead of Drighlington.

DIVISION THREE

After the resignation of Rylands Sharks last week their expunged results have caused major changes to the league table.  And after Elland resigned a few weeks ago each side have played anything between 16 and 18 matches and six teams can still finish as champions!

League leaders West Bowling have 30 points to their name (from 17 games) and are the only side guaranteed at least a play-off spot. Second placed Woolston Rovers are six points behind, 24 from 18, and have benefitted the most following Rylands departure by soaring up the table.  But they can still mathematically be caught by ninth placed Oldham St Annes who have 14 points from 16 games!  Eastmoor Dragons are third, level on points with Rovers but have two games in hand.

Dewsbury Moor Maroons and Stanningly are fourth and fifth respectively with 22 points.  Stanningly have played a game less with 16.  Then there’s another drop of two points to Gateshead Storm in sixth after 17 games.

The league gets further complicated from seventh down, where we see Barrow Island.  With 15 points from 18 matches, and a better points difference to Clock Face Miners (who also have 15 points, but from 17 games) they can’t actually claim automatic promotion anymore, unlike the two sides below them!  The Miners are eighth and St Anne’s have 14 points from just 16 games.

Dewsbury Celtic, Stanley Rangers and Waterhead Warriors will battle it out to avoid the wooden spoon with four points separating those three sides – The Warriors a game ahead of both with 17.

If you like what you read you can follow all my blogs on Twitter.  Just follow me on @TheRLBlogger.