A tad early, but some cracking games this weekend..
Goole vs Ponte - Goolies surely have to get a win before the end of the season? But I don't think it will be on Saturday.. BP away win.
Moortown vs Old Brods - This really depends what Moortown team turns up. My gut says Brods but I think town might spring a shock. Home win, just.
Crocs vs $alem - When I watched crocs, they were awful. But they've been running a few close, if Salem have their money men playing it could be a cricket score. Away BP win.
Dale vs Donny - Dale will be looking to bounce back after last week. Donny have some big boys if they keep it with them it could be a tight game. Home win, but I don't think it will be easy.
Scarbs vs Wetherby - Game of the day. Biggest game of the year for Wetherby and Scarborough will be looking to regather their form. On current form, away win.
Morley vs Malton - Routine win for Morley. Home BP win.
Goole vs Ponte - Goole are too good a team to finish the season with only 1 win. They are probable only playing for pride now, but the team will be wanting to end the season on a positive, and probable looking to get 2 or 3 wins from their last 4 games to end the season with some positivity. Expecting a close one but with Goole finally getting their second W.
Moortown vs Old Brods - Moortown nothing to play for and Brods still with a very slim outside chance of top spot. Think it will matter more to brods so going for an OB win.
Crocs vs Salem - Salem have had a bit of a slump of late, maybe saving it all to throw at the national cup in the hope of a day out at twickers ?. Crocs need 3 wins from their last 4 games to stand a reasonable chance of avoiding the bottom 2 spots. I cant see them beating Morely away on the last saturday of the season so this becomes a must win game for them. Old Crocs win.
Rochdale vs Donny - Rochdale will be hurting from the loss at Wetherby and would expect them to get right back on the championship saddle with a win at home.
Scarborough vs Wetherby - Should be a cracker and looking forward to the day. As always backing our boys Wetherby win.
Morley vs Malton - M&N have probable done enough this season to be safe. A win away at Morley would pretty much guantee it for them but think Morley will be too strong. Morley win.
Goole v Ponte – Ponte's results have been less than perfect since Christmas but think they will still have enough to win just. Ponte win but not by many.
Moortown v Old Brods – Taking Old Brods to win just.
Old Crocs v Brad Salem – Old Crocs to upset league form and win.
Rochdale v Donny P – Bonus point win for Rochdale.
Scarborough v Wetherby – MOTD for me, Scarborough to win but only because they are at home.
Morley v M&N – Morley bonus point win.
Goole vs Ponte - Not mathematical relegated yet but Goole will know they are going down (if two go down). It remains a mystery to most why they have won so few but it's probably just down to bad luck, the bounce of the ball or the refs decision going against them at the wrong time. I think Ponte will be too strong for them and will come away with a victory.
Moortown vs Old Brods - Moortown like playing at home and with the forecast due to be good I think they will enjoy the freedom of no pressure rugby. Old Brods loved it in the mud on their mountainside against Scarborough but it will be different away at Town. Moortown victory.
Crocs vs Salem - Crocs are fighting to stay up like a hungry mad dog. They should have shown this earlier in the season. Salem (presumably without their league players) have done more than enough to stay up but don't seem like they are pushing for top spot. I'm going for a Crocs win.
Rochdale vs Donny - Donny have the pack to trouble Rochdale but a sunny day and a need to bounce back will give Rochdale all they need to run in a few tries on their way to victory. Donny trying to avoid relegation so they will be gallant losers.
Scarborough vs Wetherby - All depends how disrupted the home team will be. Over the past week several players playing out of position has made consistency difficult. Wetherby are the form team in the league and I think this is their first trip to Silver Royd. Should be a great game if the weather is correct. Too close to call.
Morley vs Malton - Morley completely safe from the drop but not really in the running for the top. Malton almost certainly safe but if the team's below them pull off a run of shock victories then it will be squeaky bum time at the Gannock. Morley should win this one.
Good to be back!!
Goole v Ponte – Head says Ponte but heart says Goole. Hoping for home win.
Moortown v Old Brods – Hard one to call. Depends on which Morton team turns up on the day. Home win just.
Old Crocs v Brad Salem – Morley totally outplayed Salem last week.Yes they were gifted a try from a drop out under the posts but at that point Salem were trying anything. Morley bossed the scrum and for the first time this season dominated the line out. Morley also stood up to the physical battle and tackled Salem into the ground. On paper Sale should win this one but you never know. Maybe Crocs will surprise everyone.
Rochdale v Donny P – I think Dale will have too much for Donny but it remains a potential banana skin. Home win.
Scarborough v Wetherby – Should be a good game. Going for an away win.
Morley v M&N – If Morley play to the same level they achieved in the Salem game then a bonus point win is on the cards. Expecting a good scrum battle.
Goole 5-20 Pontefract
Moortown 36-32 Old Brodleians
Morley 50-29 Malton and Norton
Old Crossleyans 24-10 Bradford Salem
Rochdale 36-20 Doncaster Phoenix
Scarborough 19-26 Wetherby
Scarborough well beaten yesterday by a committed and well drilled Wetherby. No complaints for the home supporters. The away team had plenty of good strong players and used them effectively most of the afternoon.
Scarborough only really managed to get our fast ball game going for the first 5 minutes and possibly the last ten. We had a minute or so at the end of the match to snatch a draw but I'm not sure anyone really thought it would have been a fair result had we done so (although what's fair in sport - as the Scots!).
Very well refereed in front of a very large crowd in the sun.
Truth be told Scarborough's chances of promotion went a few weeks ago.
Watched Morley v M&N yesterday and today on VEO, it was good game between two reasonably matched teams which was well reffed.
M&N looked good in the scrum, though I thought the tight head got the benefit of the doubt too often, they also had a good pick and go.
What I thought was their biggest asset was their ability to free their arms and release the ball in the tackle, it kept them moving forward and made them dangerous in the loose.
I thought Morley stuck to the task well, they began to exert move influence in the set play as the game wore on and were a little 'smarter' when in possession looking capable of scoring any time they managed to stretch the M&N defence.
Morley managed the game better and ironically considering M&N's two late tries, looked far fitter in the later stages of the game. Once they got themselves a couple of scores in front they looked comfortable.
Both teams MoM were fully deserved; particularly Morley's. I thought awarding M&N's DoD to their no. 6 was a little harsh though awarded for a good reason, he could have easily been awarded MoM as he was a thorn in Morley's side all day,
I agree with BRB that it is Rochdale's title to lose. Morley will be looking for a strong run to the end of the season and will look back on the season with some pride, but will also kick themselves over the number of games that they have lost by one score.
M&N completely controlled the scrum from start to finish, with the tighthead prop proving dominant without resorting to any underhand tactics. The referee managed the contest well, penalizing him a couple of times. However, the lineout was a different story, with Morley asserting their dominance in that area.
Morley posed a constant attacking threat with ball in hand, though their play became somewhat predictable. The fullback frequently entered the line between the outside center and wing but failed to straighten up, missing opportunities to release the winger into space.
Continuing their strong defensive performance from the Salem match, Morley tackled well across both the forwards and backs, and they appeared to have the upper hand at the breakdown. Their fly-half was instrumental in two tries—one from a clever diagonal kick through and another from an accurate cross-field kick to the wing.
It was an entertaining match, with a physically demanding first half that gave way to a more open game in the second. In the end, Morley fully deserved their victory.
Quote from: backrowbandit on Mar 02, 2025, 04:30 PMScarborough well beaten yesterday by a committed and well drilled Wetherby. No complaints for the home supporters. The away team had plenty of good strong players and used them effectively most of the afternoon.
Scarborough only really managed to get our fast ball game going for the first 5 minutes and possibly the last ten. We had a minute or so at the end of the match to snatch a draw but I'm not sure anyone really thought it would have been a fair result had we done so (although what's fair in sport - as the Scots!).
Very well refereed in front of a very large crowd in the sun.
Truth be told Scarborough's chances of promotion went a few weeks ago.
Great game and good advert for the league. I was hesitant to travel but glad I did, wonderful day and a big crowd to watch rugby the way it should be played.
I agree that Wetherby deserved the win, dominant for large periods of the game. I will add, I've watched some bad refereeing this year but yesterday was for sure one of the better ones. Let the game flow, no yellow cards (first time this season??).
Cheers BRB
Great day out in Scarborough very good hosts and great atmosphere before, during and after the game. Pretty much the reverse of the game at wetherby earlier in the season. Both close games with the better sides on the day winning each one, honours even for the season.
Agree re the ref nice to see the game flowing and both teams staying at 15 for the full game. The supporters from both teams were a credit to their clubs, all the best for the rest of the season.