Rearranged week could throw up some strange results if players had prior plans
Harrogate vs Cleckheaton
Imagine a routine win at home. Cleck still not an easy team to play against, and had plenty of new faces from previous years. They will come good at some point I'm sure, but not this weekend.
Harrogate Win
Heath vs Penrith
Again routine win. Penrith results are getting tighter, and last minute entertainment in the last 2 loses. But they won't have enough to compete in this one
Heath Win
Ilkley vs Middlesbrough
Routine home win again. Middlesbrough in danger of being in the automatic relegation places.
Ilkley Win
Kendal vs Alnwick
Alnwick will be taking great pride in 2nd place position at the moment, quality side that will be looking to continue the run of form. Kendal are a good team, but not good enough for this one.
Alnwick win
York vs Sandal
Game of the day. York victory and Cleck look cut adrift with 7th to 11th in a tight battle for places. A Sandak win and they could pull away from up with some breathing room
To keep the bottom of the league interesting.
York Win
Driffield Vs Blaydon
One point splits these 2 teams with the same wins, draws and loses to this point. I would imagine after a tough season last year for both they will be happy with the standings so far, but will want to keep in touch with the top 4. Home advantage with no plastic pitch for Blaydon to enjoy.
Driffield Win
Harrogate vs Cleckheaton - Harrogate to get back to winning ways with a dominant win
Heath vs Penrith - Heath to continue their dominance with another big win.
Ilkley vs Middlesbrough- Ilkley to win, but not as confident as they were at the beginning of the year. Fair weather players did someone say?
Kendal vs Alnwick - Alnwick are a top top side this year. Can Evan Moir dictate a big Kendal win against his former team? Unlikley. Alnwick win.
York vs Sandal - Huge game down at the bottom. Both teams improving. York in a close game.
Driffield Vs Blaydon - Driffield are a stubborn team, and Blaydon are sometimes a little inconsistent. Close game, but a Blaydon win.
Availability will be important in some games, but not in some.
Harrogate v Cleckheaton, home win for sure.
Heath v Penrith, another sure home win.
Ilkley v Middlesbrough, unless weather is terrible, home backs will win game.
Kendal v Alnwick, away win should be ok.
York v Sandal, York appear to have turned the corner, home win.
Driffield v Blaydon, I am not aware what kind of a team Driff will have out, as rearranged game, but hope for another win for them.
Driffield v Blaydon - have to fancy Driff at home and a bit of an indicator for next week, when Blaydon visit Ilkley. No plastic to rely on, so I'm definitely fancying Driff, but it won't be pretty. Or convincing.
Harrogate v Cleckheaton - 'gate's superior air was called into question last week at an increasingly impressive Alnwick, but I don't see them slipping up at home this week. Tough for Cleck, who always seem to play well, but lose.
Heath v Penrith - home banker, as Heath set to maintain their massive winning streak. The Cumbrians' big pack will meet their match here and home advantage will do the rest.
Ilkley v Middlesbrough - a heavy pitch won't help the Ilkley backs, but they should prevail. Not the strongest side the Dalesmen have put out, but perhaps 'boro are in the same boat.
Kendal v Alnwick - away win. Kendal are a bit like Cleck - put on a good show, but lose and as noted above, Alnwick are impressing people.
York v Sandal - two improving sides, so this should be a great game. Going with the crowd, so York win.
Ilkley 73.36 Boro. Crazy !
Some incredible scorelines, very rarely you will see a team win 82-0 and that not be the biggest scoreline of the day and Ilkleys 73 point haul overshadowed by 2 different sides.
I suppose the Alnwick result is one I thought would be a bigger points difference but Kendal isn't an easy play to go.
Sandal pulling themselves away slightly from the bottom 5 sides.
Driffield vs Blaydon was a very frustrating game to watch as a spectator, the first 40 scattered with unforced errors by both sides half time 7-7 a fair reflection although felt Driffield had the upper hand.
The second half was even more difficult to watch, either both sides decided to make every ruck a mess or the match officials interpretation was different to what they were used to. Neither side seemed to get to grips with how it was being officiated and the penalty count was through the roof.
2 soft yellow cards for each side which prevented the game ever really becoming a spectacle. A good 5 points for the Woldsmen and upto 5th place.
Phew! Some of those results incredible.
I know Heath are an excellent side and are now running away with the league, but at level 5 to put 115 points on the board must be a first. There must be other reasons than just Heath being excellent.
The same applies to Harrogate, but to a lesser degree. They must have crushed Cleck up front.
Obviously Ilkley have the backs to score 73, and that is less of a surprise.
The Driff v Blaydon game was penalty overkill! Breakdown problems for both sides. I felt the final score was a bit flattering to Driff, as the Blaydon halfbacks looked good and set their backs off well at times. However another five points very acceptable as some tough games ahead.
Quote from: Kellythorpe on Jan 25, 2026, 09:56 AMPhew! Some of those results incredible.
I know Heath are an excellent side and are now running away with the league, but at level 5 to put 115 points on the board must be a first. There must be other reasons than just Heath being excellent.
The same applies to Harrogate, but to a lesser degree. They must have crushed Cleck up front.
Obviously Ilkley have the backs to score 73, and that is less of a surprise.
The Driff v Blaydon game was penalty overkill! Breakdown problems for both sides. I felt the final score was a bit flattering to Driff, as the Blaydon halfbacks looked good and set their backs off well at times. However another five points very acceptable as some tough games ahead.
Cleck signed two of our second teamers this week and both were selected.
Quote from: Kellythorpe on Jan 25, 2026, 09:56 AMPhew! Some of those results incredible.
I know Heath are an excellent side and are now running away with the league, but at level 5 to put 115 points on the board must be a first. There must be other reasons than just Heath being excellent.
The same applies to Harrogate, but to a lesser degree. They must have crushed Cleck up front.
Obviously Ilkley have the backs to score 73, and that is less of a surprise.
The Driff v Blaydon game was penalty overkill! Breakdown problems for both sides. I felt the final score was a bit flattering to Driff, as the Blaydon halfbacks looked good and set their backs off well at times. However another five points very acceptable as some tough games ahead.
Heath in the first half were nigh on untouchable. Bonus point win secured in just over 7mins. 5 tries from first 6 possesions and 73-0 at half time. Crazy stuff.