Some interesting fixtures this Sat.
Heath v Harrogate. This game an indication perhaps as to who will win promotion. Heath at home should win. Big battle up front, very close I would think.
Ilkley v Cleckheaton. In spite of Ilkley loss last week, they are favourites here to win easily.
Kendal v Penrith. Away win I think.
Sandal v Middlesbrough. Home win, surely Sandal are better than some of their results show.
York v Blaydon. Seen neither side, but am surprised at the way York have started their season. Time for them to get going. Home win.
Driffield v Alnwick. Although Driff have a good record at home v Alnwick, I am worried that the light and young pack will cope with visitor's pack. It will be a very good result if a home win happens.
Heath Vs Harrogate
Harrogate looked very good last week, a well organised side who controlled the game well. A do believe the winners of this game will be firm favourites for the title, even if it is very early still. Heath at home gives a big advantage.
Heath Win
Ilkley vs Cleckheaton
Cleckheaton struggling to find a win, and Ilkley looking to bounce back to continue the strong start to the season. After this week Cleckheaton have all the teams around them in the league left to play so I am sure they will find some wins from somewhere. But not this week.
Ilkley Win
Kendal vs Penrith
Nice short journey for Penrith I am sure they will be looking forward to. Penrith with the better start to the season, and Penrith with the better of this fixture of the last couple of years.
Penrith Win
Sandal Vs Middlesbrough
Opportunity for Middlesbrough to pull away from the bottom 3 and put themselves in a much better position, Sandal with the opportunity to keep in touch with Middlesbrough and Kendal and create a gap to York and Cleckheaton.
Sandal Win
York Vs Blaydon
Always love a York rumour, and rumour has it a few players will become available in the coming games which could help the season. I think confidence will be the issue.
Blaydon Win
Driffield Vs Alnwick
2nd game of a tough run of 4 fixtures for Driffield. Last weekend's result against Harrogate showed they have a lot of work to do to compete with the best in the league, but the signs were positive even if the result wasn't. I think home advantage and knowing a result will be a massive boost give Driffield the Edge. Not sure many will agree though.
Driffield Win
Driffield v Alnwick - the Northumbrians are showing some great form thus far, but Driff at home are always a problem, youngsters or no. Hmm. Driff to win by a whisker.
Heath v Harrogate - one for the aspirate lovers. Should be a titanic battle and I suspect 'eath will prevail in a close run thing.
Ilkley v Cleckheaton - the Dalesmen were not at the races last week I'm told and Cleck are showing some spirit. However, with the return of Magee and at Stacks Field I think a solid home win.
Kendal v Penrith - tricky, but I have a feeling that Kendal might just scrape home here.
Sandal v Middlesbrough - having seen both and with Sandal at home, a win for the Wakey lads.
York v Blaydon - despite lacking plastic under their feet, Blaydon to carry on where they left off.
Driffield v Alnwick - Driffield win
Heath v Harrogate - Harrogate win
Ilkley v Cleckheaton - Cleckheaton win
Kendal v Penrith - Penrith win
Sandal v Middlesbrough - Middlesbrough win
York v Blaydon - Blaydon win
Driffield v Alnwick
A close contest here, but I think Alnwick will take the victory. Expecting a lot of driving maul trys from Alnwick.
Alnwick
Heath v Harrogate
Heath will have the better of Harrogate in the forwards, which will set the tone for the game.
Heath
Ilkley v Cleckheaton
Ilkley suffered their first defeat last week but I think they'll bounce back here, especially at home.
Ilkley
Kendal v Penrith
Think Penrith seem to be doing well and scoring points. So I'll go for them.
Penrith
Sandal v Middlesbrough
Sandal at home are a different beast, but if Middlesbrough do win this they'll be mid table comfortably. Going to go for the home advantage here.
Sandal
York v Blaydon
Not sure what is going on at York. But if there team is similar to what they have been putting out recently I expect them to still be looking for their first victory.
Blaydon
York 32-24 Blaydon I am hearing.
Quote from: Yorkie Boy on Oct 25, 2025, 04:41 PMYork 32-24 Blaydon I am hearing.
Driffield 27 - 24 Alnwick
Heath 13 - 5 Harrogate
Ilkley 45 - 26 Cleckheaton
Kendal 31 - 24 Penrith
Sandal 59 - 26 Middlesbrough
York 32 - 24 Blaydon
Great Driffield win with 4 try bonus with last move of the game. Alnwick strong team but Driff backs showed speed from distance to score some excellent tries. Driff lineout poor at times but young pack stuck to their task and took on heavier opposition. I am sure Alnwick will be disappointed but Driff did miss a number of chances in the first half and deserved the result.
Five out of six ain't so bad. Don't think anyone saw that York result coming.
Fairly predictable game at Stack's Field, with Cleck's pack largely in control. They scored first too. Then Ilkley's backs took over, punishing any mistakes and being far more creative in attack than their counterparts. Two converted tries and a penalty made it 17-5 at half-time.
Another converted try for Ilkley on the left wing made it 24-5 before Cleck got their second. Ilkley's BP try followed and then a third from Cleck, who went on to get their own BP. Ilkley though scored another two to make the final score 45-26.
Star man was centre Louis Anderson, who scored a hat-trick and kicked six conversions and a penalty for a personal tally of 30 points. Harrogate and Driffield next.
Driffield seem to be in a habit of giving sides a 40 minute head start so far this season.
Things never quite gelled together for the first half, playing with the wind they didn't convert opportunities into enough points, giving Alnwick a 14-3 lead.
The Woldsmen came out for the 2nd half much improved, scoring a brilliant interlinking team try. Alnwick answered back straight away to pull out a 21-8 advantage.
Following a yellow card for Alnwicks 10 (which should have been a red, tip tackle onto a players head, was clearly the wrong decision by the referee) Driffield maintained pressure scoring 2 more tries.
For the final 5 minutes Alnwick must have given away 7 consecutive penalties, Driffield kept missing touch into the wind and repeatedly found themselves back in their 22 having to play out. But the penalties continued to come for Alnwick, another yellow card and Driffield were able to make the pressure and man advantage show with the final play of the game.
It was a resilient performance and they never stopped throwing everything at the away team. Bonus point win is massive given the other results.
Some inconsistencies from the match official left both sides frustrated, the breakdown particularly appeared to be a complete gamble.
Elsewhere
Heath vs Harrogate - massive result for Heath, Harrogate leaving without a single point could be factor later in the season.
Ilkley vs Cleckheaton - second in the table for Ilkley is a brilliant start for them, Cleckheaton 13 points a drift of the safety zone (relegation and relegation play off places)
Kendal vs Penrith - Local Derby so Kendal will obviously be chuffed, after a strong September for Penrith the last 4 games don't appear to be fantastic for them, could they start to slip down the table before Christmas?
Sandal vs Middlesbrough - That's a big scoreline for Sandal, scoring plenty of tries always gives a team a boost, could this be Sandals kick start to the season?
York vs Blaydon - Well Shackleton back, and York final got the win and Yorks Instagram finally woke up with updates. They are too strong of a team to stay down for long, with Cleckheaton up next for York they could be back to back victories.