Focus On ... The Play-offs

Focus On ... The Play-offs

With just two or three games remaining from the Super 8’s down to the National Conference Leagues the Play-off positions are starting to really take shape.  I’ll take a look here across the leagues at what teams we will continue to watch once the regular season has been completed.

SUPER 8’S

Castleford Tigers wrapped up the Super League League-Leaders Shield in mid-August following their Thursday night home win over Wakefield Trinity, and they cemented that place at the weekend with another fine victory over Huddersfield Giants.  With a home Semi Final tie guaranteed against the team finishing in fourth they should be favourites to reach Old Trafford.

Ten points behind the Tigers are Leeds Rhinos who sit in second place as it stands.  Guaranteed a Play-off spot after beating third placed Hull FC last weekend, they still need two points to finish second and have a home advantage in the Semi Finals.  A win over Castleford this weekend would do just that.

Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity still sit third and fourth in the Super 8’s group but with three games still to go, all four of the remaining teams have a chance of stealing those off them.

THE QUALIFIERS

The middle eight’s are a little bit more complicated although two teams are guaranteed to be in the Million Pound Game at least.

Those two sides are Warrington Wolves and Hull Kingston Rovers who sit first and second respectively with 100% records after four rounds.  They can still be knocked down a couple of places with Widnes Vikings breathing down their necks in third with six points, and Leigh Centurions and Catalans Dragons both desperate to find some end of season form as we enter the business end of the year.  However, neither Warrington or Hull KR can be caught by the bottom three.

Leigh and Catalans currently occupy the MPG places, with Leigh Sports Village hosting the tie if it stays as it is, but the three teams below them can still mathematically qualify if they can start winning some matches.  London Broncos and Featherstone Rovers have one point each and Halifax will need a miracle if they want to get there with no points so far.

CHAMPIONSHIP SHIELD

Now after four rounds of matches, the Play-off spots were all sealed following the Bank Holiday Round 3 results.  However, Toulouse Olympique cemented first place with a narrow victory over Oldham and they will host whoever finishes fourth from Sheffield Eagles and Dewsbury Rams.

Batley Bulldogs nilled the Rams at the weekend, a result that sealed their second place finish with two games to spare.  Seven points behind Toulouse and seven ahead of Sheffield they can no longer move up or down the ladder.

The Eagles currently sit third with a slight two point advantage over Dewsbury but the remaining fixtures could play a vital part in who finishes where.  Sheffield host Rochdale Hornets this weekend before a visit to Batley, whereas Dewsbury take on already relegated Bradford Bulls and Oldham in the final week, the other side currently occupying a relegation place.

Two big wins for the Rams could see them take third away from Sheffield and give them a shot at revenge against Batley for the 38-0 mauling they received on Sunday.

LEAGUE 1 SUPER 8’S

This section is slightly more intriguing what with all eight teams still having a mathematical chance of finishing in the Play-offs.

Starting at the top end, Toronto Wolfpack are just one win away from claiming the League 1 title and automatic promotion to next season’s Championship but if second placed Barrow Raiders can pull off a shock on the west coast of Canada this weekend they would be level on points with the Wolfpack going into the final round.

Both sides are obviously guaranteed a Play-off place at the end of the campaign, alongside third placed Whitehaven and fourth placed York City Knights, but with the Raiders four points clear they only need a point to secure second place from their final two fixtures.

Haven can’t finish any lower than third, which they will be pleased about even if York can take home a victory from their tie this weekend.  Victory for York will all but secure fourth placed for them, and another trip to West Cumbria, as Doncaster still have to travel to Toronto.

Doncaster will claim the final Play-off spot with a game to spare if they beat Newcastle Thunder this weekend.  Thunder claimed their first win in the Super 8’s with victory over Keighley Cougars at the weekend so will be confident of claiming another heartland scalp.  If they do they might just sneak into the Play-offs on the final weekend against York.

Keighley entertain Workington Town in the other game this weekend and defeat for either side will seal their fate of not making the Play-offs.

LEAGUE 1 SHIELD

With just two places up for grabs in the Shield Final from this group only three teams are still in contention of taking them.

As it stands London Skolars, who are unbeaten in this section, sit top of the table, a point ahead of Hunslet.  If both sides can win their respective games this weekend they will face a pre-Final rehearsal in Round 7 before the big game a week later.

North Wales Crusaders are the other side still in contention of making it to the Final however, even if they beat South Wales Ironmen on Saturday it may not be enough if London and Hunslet both win their matches against Gloucester and Hemel respectively.

NATIONAL CONFERENCE LEAGUE

Siddal’s impressive season continued last Saturday as their narrow victory over Rochdale Mayfield meant they will finish the Premier Division round-robin stage as Minor Premiers.  Despite second placed Thatto Heath Crusaders having a game in hand they remain five points behind with only two games remaining.

Mayfield and Wath Brow Hornets are guaranteed Play-off places whilst fifth placed West Hull will also feature in the end of season knock-outs but can still be caught by sixth placed Kells.  Myton Warriors are the only other team still in with a shout of taking a Play-off spot.

Meanwhile Underbank Rangers and Hunslet Club Parkside are both promoted to the Premier Division for next season whilst Milford Marlins are the only side guaranteed a Play-off place in Division One.

Oulton Raiders, Thornhill Trojans and Wigan St Judes will take part in the Division Two Play-offs at least, whilst West Bowling and Stanningley are the only sides guaranteed a top six finish in Division Three so far.