DON'T ASK – but, I had a hard weekend; my Carer has a bad cold and was even less use than his Grandfather, so everything took twice as long to do. However, better late than never, here is my review of the Club games over the weekend. Mind you, maybe I should wait until Monday every week, to give Buddy and his Elves in the SRU Media department time to get their fat erses into gear with results collection.
As usual, we kick-off in The Premiership. Hawick maintained their five-point lead at the top with a thorough beating of bottom team Jed-forest. The chase is still led by Marr, who won what was a bit of an arm wrestle over Edinburgh Academical in the glaur of Fullarton Park.
Best performance of the day was arguably Currie Chieftain's narrow win over Glasgow Hawks, at Balgray. The top three can all now look forward to the end of season play-offs, but, which club will take fourth place is becoming something of a lottery.
Heriot's Blues' two-point win over Musselburgh at Goldenacre saw them cut the gap betwixt fourth and fifth to one point, while Accies and Kelso, who had a comfortable win at Selkirk, are still in the fight for fourth.
THE RESULTS in National 1 were significant. Ayr are now on the cusp of clinching promotion to the Premiership, following their own 35-21 home win over Gala. However, the significant result was that at The Greenyards, where the clash between third and second saw Melrose beat Highland 34-21 to close to just one point behind HIghland.
The Invernessians remain in second place, however, this defeat means, the best points total they can accrue – assuming they win all their remaining games with a bonus point, will be 65. Ayr are already on 63 points, so, a home win in Saturday's re-scheduled clash with basement boys GHK will see Ayr promoted.
IN NATIONAL 2, Peebles scored what may prove to be a crucial win, besting Falkirk 32-13 in the battle of the top two at The Gytes. This puts the Borders side four points clear at the top.
Third-placed Newton Stewart lost ground after going down 16-25 at Aberdeen Grammar, while Lasswade' fixture at Berwick was called off. On paper, if they win their games-in-hand, Lasswade will be right in the promotion mix, but, points in the bag are, at this stage of a campaign, usually worth more than potential points.
NATIONAL 3 continues to effectively be a two-horse race after the top two carried on their winning way. Preston Lodge travelled to Cupar, to win a tight game against Howe of Fife 29-22, meanwhile, Orkney had a comfortable 29-7 home win over Boroughmuir, to remain three points behind the Tranent team, with a game in hand.
GARNOCK retained top spot in NATIONAL 4, in spite of a frustratingly late call-off of their scheduled home game against Greenock Wanderers. The teams were on the park, warming-up and happy to play, when the referee decided the pitch was unplayable.
North Berwick, however, did the idle league leaders a favour, by beating second-placed Strathmore 31-0 at Recreation Park. This keeps Garnock eight points clear and with a game in hand.
CALEDONIA MIDLANDS CONFERENCE continues to be a two-horse race, with Panmure beating Howe Crusaders 34-17 to maintain their three points advantage at the top of the table, from Dundee 2, who beat Falkirk 2 30-26 to keep themselves 16 points ahead of third-placed Grangemouth Stags, whose home game against Kinross fell foul of a waterlogged pitch.
In CALEDONIA NORTH CONFERENCE the top two both lost. Leaders Aberdeenshire travelled to Caithness, where they lost 14-26. This blow, however, was softened by the news that the chasing Moray had also lost, 21-40, at Ellon.
On paper, the top two seem well clear, 'Shire on 50 points, Moray on 46, with Ellon in third place, on 26. However, Ellon have three games on hand over Moray and four over 'Shire, so, they cannot as yet be ruled-out of the mix.
MIDLANDS 2 went into their mid-season break with Blairgowrie still setting the pace at the top. Their 38-10 win at Dunfermline leaves them six points clear of Alloa, whose scheduled fixture, at home to Dundee University Medics wasn't played for “other” reasons.
NORTH 2 saw a mere two fixtures as the weather bit with a vengeance. Banff beat Shetland 43-26, while Caithness lost 10-36 at home to Stornoway.
This means, as the league breaks until next year, North Police Scotland are 15 points clear of Shetland in the Grampian Conference , while, in the Highlands and Islands Conference, Ross Sutherland are five points clear of Kinloss Eagles.
MIDLANDS 3 leaders Crieff and Strathearn were on the road on Saturday, but it didn't stop them sticking 52 points on Perthshire 2 to maintain their six-point advantage over Bannockburn, who were busy, beating Waid Academy FP 111-12 to maintain their own 11 point lead over third-placed Strathmore 2.
THERE were no games in NORTH 3.
LINLITHGOW are one win away from clinching the EAST REGION 1 title following their 44-10 win at second-placed Haddington on Saturday. Arithmetically, Haddington can still overtake them, but, should this happen, I sense a definite steward's enquiry would be called.
In the only other game, Langholm's somewhat up and down season continued, as they lost at home to Leith, 24-27.
THE lead in EAST 2 changed hands on Saturdfay, as Penicuik failed to make home advantage count in their local derby wit4h Dalkeith, going down 3-16. That reverse, plus their own 35-22 win at Hawick Linden, saw Dunbar take top spot on points difference. However, if Dalkeith can win their games-in-hand, it's a three-horse sprint down the home straight.
LEADERS Trinity Academicals were idle on Saturday, but the chasing Earlston missed their chance to go top of EAST 3, when they went down 0-16 at home to Edinburgh Northern. The top two are separated only by points difference, although, Trinity have a games-in-hand, while Saturday's win lifted Northern into third place, just one point behind.
UNBEATEN Ardrossan Academicals made it 11 wins from 11 games at the top of WEST REGION 1, with a 19-3 win at Dalziel. Lenzie won 37-14 at Strathaven to stand in pole position in the race for second place, behind the runaway league leaders. Oban Lorne moved into third spot following a comfortable 54-11 home win over East Kilbride.
CAMBUSLANG'S healthy lead at the top of WET 2 suffered a setback on Saturday, when they went down 15-39 at Carrick. This win put the Minnieboolers (yes non-Ayrshire folk, that's what you call residents of Maybole) into second spot.
Bishopton's home game against Uddingston fell foul of a flooded Holm Park pitch, but, should they win their now three outstanding games, then Bishopton will be right in the midst of the promotion race.
ONLY two games were on in WEST 3, with Irvine beating Glasgow University Medics 38-12 to leap frog the idle Birkmyre into top spot. In the other game, an Argyll Derby, Mid Argyll beat Lochaber 22-10.
ONE of the blog's regular readers, who keeps a close eye on what's happening in Clubland contacted me on Sunday, to highlight that aside from the several games which were lost to flooded or frozen pitches, 13 scheduled fixtures fell to a lack of players for the away team. Some of these were virtual local derbies, so, we appear to have a slight problem getting players to commit on a Saturday.
Once again for the record! It’s the home clubs responsibility to submit the match score within at most a couple of hours post final whistle.
ReplyDeleteTo add some colour to the North and Midlands 1 leagues. The top three sides in each conference will go into a play off with each other. Having played their regional conference home and away it will be followed by home and away between the north and midlands sides.
Points from the matches between the final three teams in each conference will be carried forward.
The big issue is the leagues are supposed to finish on 16 Dec. Cup matches then kick in January with play off matches scheduled as well.
There are three sets of fixtures to be scheduled. The weather has played havoc with games and it could be stretched out until Feb or March before the final placings are confirmed.