Nearly a full round of fixtures from cancelled games just after new year
Hornsea and Hemsworth have a week off but the rest of the fixtures are :
Barnsley vs WPL - not the easiest place to go and it was a tight contest in the reverse fixture back at the start of the season but I think WPL will have to much for the host and keep the pressure on the 2 league leaders. WPL +7
Burley vs Corinthians - it was a demolition job back in September for Corinthians, I don't think the scoreline will repeat itself but Corinthians should still win comfortably and keep the promotion plans on track. Corinthians +7
Phoenix vs Hills - GOTW, South Yorkshire derby with everything to play for, the hosts need a win to keep their promotion aims alive and the visitors know anything other then a win and Corinthians will be challenging them for the top spot, going for a narrow away win. Hills -7
Thorne vs Castleford - two teams that are at the wrong end of the table. If Thorne lose this then they're all but down IMO, if Cas lose then they're right in the relegation fight. Going to be a hostile game on and off the pitch, plenty of cards shown and not many points on the board. Going off recent form I think the visitors will just edge it even though they aren't the best travellers this season. Cas -7
Skipton vs DV - long way for the South Yorkshire boys to go, even though the hosts are mid table it's still one of the toughest places to go in the league, DV will throw everything at it but the hosts will be too strong and cement their mid season positioning which they'll be happy with after a rocky start to the season, The visitors need a win this week to keep their relegation battle alive but I can't see that happening and it's one week closer to Y4 unfortunately IMO. Skipton +7
Nearly all the teams this week have something to fight for either at the top or the bottom so some good rugby should be on show. Good luck all and roll on Saturday 🏉🏉
Barnsley v West park Leeds is off, flooded pitch. Some teams have a few games to catch up on now
Barnsley p - p WPL
Burley 17 - 36 Corinthians
Phoenix 12 - 22 Hills
Skipton 79 - 0 Dearne Valley
Thorne 25 - 25 Castleford
Good win for Corinthians away at burley never an easy place to go when the hosts are at full strength, they remain joint top but Hills have a game in hand.
The game down at Rotherham went the way I thought, fairly tight but the league leaders just edging it, I think that's the top 2 home and dry now unless something remarkable happens.
Big win up North for Skipton, was that result the final nail in the coffin for Dearne ? sending not much more then a bare 15 surely means the bulk of the squad have gone across to the Other Code. They still have some big games where they can pick up much needed points but they'll need to be at full strength for that.
A draw down at Thorne probably feels about right considering how the season has gone for both teams. I don't know which team will be happier with a draw. I think everyone can now say Dearne valley are all but down but if 2 teams are to go down I would say Thorne, Cas, Hornsea and even burley are in a the fight to avoid the drop with 8-10 games to play. Roll on the 14th with some big games to play 🏉🏉