After yesterday's blank day, I give next Sat's predictions, hoping to get fixtures right this time!
Alnwick v Harrogate. Important for both sides. I will go for home win narrowly.
Blaydon v Heath. I think Heath will roll on to the title.
Middlesbrough v York. Tough one this. Have York turned the corner. Maybe just.
Penrith v Ilkley. Ilkley should win this with their backs on the plastic. I am not a fan of plastic, but in this weather I suppose it gets games played.
Sandal v Kendal. This should be close, give it to home side.
Cleckheaton v Driffield. Driff don't win here very often, in fact a bogey venue. Let's hope they buck the trend. Important fixture for Cleck considering their league position.
Some big fixtures this week!
Alnwick v Harrogate. Big game at the top end of the table. A lot dependant on how much teams will have been able to train over the last month or so. I can see Harrogate hitting their straps and starting the year strong. Harrogate win.
Blaydon v Heath. Another top of the table clash! If there's anywhere Heath wont like playing, it's at Blaydon on a fast 4G pitch. I'm going to stick my neck out and go with a close Blaydon win.
Middlesbrough v York. Huge game for York, but I can't see them getting off the bus. Boro win.
Penrith v Ilkley. Ilkley's backs to put on a show on the 4G. Big Ilkley win.
Sandal v Kendal. A big home game for Sandal who seemed to be improving before Christmas. Kendal are a tough team to beat with their 10 directing them well. Sandal win in a close game.
Cleckheaton v Driffield. A good bus journey to start the year for Driffield. Cleck aren't what they once were. Driffield win.
Looking forward to a good weekend of rugby!
Alnwick vs Harrogate
This a big game, for 2 teams I think are going to be fighting for 2nd place and a key playoff spot. Home advantage to play a big part in this game, Alnwick don't lose many at home.
Alnwick Win
Blaydon vs Heath
If Heath can pick up where they left off then I don't think the 4g will bother them, a backline that's firing to match the power of the forwards
Heath Win
Middlesbrough vs York
This has to be one of the games of the weekend. York must win to keep the teams around them in touching distance. Middlesborough are a well settled side, who are difficult to beat. York to run them close, but losing becomes a habit.
Middlesbrough Win
Penrith vs Ilkley
Penrith forwards have some serious fire power around the breakdown, and will certainly cause some issues for Ilkley. Clearly the Ilkley backline will enjoy the playing conditions. Think this will be a tight game that could go either way.
Going for home advantage
Penrith Win
Sandal vs Kendal
Another game that home advantage will play its part. Sandal could give themselves some breathing room with and jump above Kendal in the league.
Sandal Win
Cleckheaton vs Driffield
Historically one of the toughest away games of the season for most sides. And think Cleck will be all out for a win. If the Woldsmen can weather the storm that will come they will have enough to pull away.
Driffield Win
Alnwick v Harrogate - I like the look of Alnwick and they're at home too. Close win for them.
Blaydon v Heath - I think Heath will lose at least once this year and this could be it. But no. Heath.
Cleckheaton v Driffield - the Woldsmen to come away with a hard-fought win.
Middlesbrough v York - agree entirely with Differ Lid. Home win, though not by many.
Penrith v Ilkley - an easy win for Ilkey at home, but they don't like plastic. Close-ish away win.
Sandal v Kendal - Sandal now look solid and should have too much for Kendal.
Alnwick v Harrogate - Alnwick win
Blaydon v Heath - Blaydon win
Middlesbrough v York - Middlesbrough win
Penrith v Ilkley - Ilkley win
Sandal v Kendal- Sandal win
Cleckheaton v Driffield - Driffield win
Middlesbrough 17 - 33 York bonus point win
Driffield hadn't won away at Cleckheaton since 2019 so it was nice to see a win after all those years.
Both sides were trading blows for the first 20 minutes, Driffield would score and Cleck would come straight back with a score of their own 14-14 after 20 played.
The Woldsmen then settled into the game and seemed to sort out the defence taking a narrow half time lead 17-21.
Driffield looked the more composed in the second half, although both sides kept exchanging scores. Cleckheatons 6 received 2 yellow cards for high tackles and they finished the game with 14 men and not able to get a point out of the fixture.
A big 5 points for Driffield on the road.
The split between the top 6 and bottom
6 probably doesn't represent the competitiveness of the games I've witnessed between sides but certainly looks about right at the moment.
Middlesbrough and Penrith could easily be dragged into the automatic relegation places on recent form, Sandal continue to drive up the table, and York are finding some results. The bottom will certainly be very interesting come the end of the season
As I'm in SA at the moment, I listened to Andrew Dobson's excellent commentary on Drystone radio.
What a match it was, Ilkley winning very late on with a Louis Anderson penalty to make the score 36.37.
Until then, it had been a ding-dong affair, Penrith's forwards seemingly ruling the roost, but Ilkley's backs compensating, including a hat-trick from Ben Magee.
Great results too for Heath, Alnwick, Driffield and York, with newcomers to the league really feeling the heat now.