Better late than never...where are the Driff lads ?
Alnwick v Blaydon - has to be a convincing home win. Alnwick are an excellent side.
Heath v Kendal - ditto
Middlesbrough v Harrogate - Boro will want it more and I think they'll get a point or two, but lose.
Penrith v Cleckheaton - pass the hankies. Try-fest and home win.
Sandal v Driffield - not much to play for really. Home advantage for a Sandal win.
York v Ilkley - similar situation to the Boro game, with a similar result. Ilkley win.
Don't worry things are going to wake up next year.
🧨
Quote from: backrowbandit on Apr 11, 2026, 07:44 PMDon't worry things are going to wake up next year.
Are you recruiting heavily?
We don't need to recruit to post on a forum!
Quote from: backrowbandit on Apr 12, 2026, 12:48 AMWe don't need to recruit to post on a forum!
not entirely true that BRB.
You will go very quiet if The Rock Munchers are struggling.
My absence from this forum is deference to me not watching a single game this season.
I did say right at the very beginning of the season it was going to be a long tough one for the Minster men.
I hope they can survive the play off process and rebuild for next season, but I am not sure they will, nor deserve to, (although that is harsh on those who remain committed to the cause) if the talk about stag weekends already booked and paid for in the middle of any playoff battles is correct.
I won't be holding my breath.
Quote from: Dark Arts Advocate on Apr 12, 2026, 09:37 AMQuote from: backrowbandit on Apr 12, 2026, 12:48 AMWe don't need to recruit to post on a forum!
not entirely true that BRB.
You will go very quiet if The Rock Munchers are struggling.
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 The irony!
Glad I can still drag you into the debate!
Sorry for the delayed post, very uncharacteristic.
Sandal to good for the Young Woldsmen who appeared to not get off the bus for the 1st 40 minutes.
Sandal started with intent, keeping the ball incredibly well, going through multiple phases and scoring 3 quick scores.
The 2nd 40 was much better for Driffield but the damage was already done in the 1st half. What turned out to be a vital win for Sandal with Middlesbrough picking up the win against Harrogate.
Just seen that Gate had x2 front row injuries in the first 20 mins on Sat.
Uncontested scrums and 60 mins with 14 men will have had it's effect in the outcome....
Quote from: BishBashBosh on Apr 14, 2026, 11:05 PMJust seen that Gate had x2 front row injuries in the first 20 mins on Sat.
Uncontested scrums and 60 mins with 14 men will have had it's effect in the outcome....
Throw in the yellow card early in the second half and it really had them chasing the game.
There's another theory I've heard.
They wanted York in the playoffs as Harrogate want them to go down. This will help with the 2 York players they are trying to recruit.
Send a 2nd XV, rest your key players for the Alnwick game would have been much easier then milking 2 front row injuries after 15 minutes and risking the remaining players on the pitch.
Not sure that theory has much traction
Two's were otherwise busy, away a Wetherby unfortunately
Can you imagine the outrage if they did really send through a two's there
Quote from: backrowbandit on Apr 16, 2026, 10:19 AMThere's another theory I've heard.
They wanted York in the playoffs as Harrogate want them to go down. This will help with the 2 York players they are trying to recruit.
That's a funny one
Get 2 front rowers off for 60 mins to play with 14 to try and get York relegated and steal their players - more chance of Flaggy voting for second teams in the league structure.....
Not sure who they'd be after though - at least four already previously played at Gate
Scholey doubt he'd move away from York again
Would love to see Willem back as he's such a great character - would have thought he'd be retiring soon though
Did see a York player in Heath twos recently though for the cup game
And now Heath can't raise a 2nd team for the playoffs.
Having seen a statement from the club, Heath have fallen foul of the 5 1stxv appearances rule with a large portion of their 2s.
Not sure that rule will help the likes of Watch either but plays perfectly in to clubs that run seperate sides like Harrogate and Hudds.
Suspect Wath will be fielding their strongest 1st XV this week, they need 2 good 5 point wins to ensure promotion.
Understand the rule, however 2XV fixtures in Merit leagues I believed were not suppose to happen on non league weekends.
Why have playoffs?
Quote from: BenFoden's grey beard on Apr 16, 2026, 04:54 PMHaving seen a statement from the club, Heath have fallen foul of the 5 1stxv appearances rule with a large portion of their 2s.
Not sure that rule will help the likes of Watch either but plays perfectly in to clubs that run seperate sides like Harrogate and Hudds.
Gate don't run separate sides
It's a simple selection process, if you're not selected for the first team, you're playing second team.
Think it should stay this way for the whole season. Can sort of understand the u20's rule of 5 games, but will stop a whole batch of really good players from representing their county.
Thinking back
The 5 appearance rule is sh1te
You could not have featured in 16 of 22 first team games, but now not eligible to play twos. Must rule a boat load of players out of contention.
Feel sorry for Heath
Don't feel sorry for Heath they appointed a second team coach who was coaching Rishies academy in the hope he would steal all that age group to bolster their 2nd team.
Depends which side of the fence you sit on.
He was turned down for a role in the Rish senior set up so took the opportunity elsewhere...
Quote from: cynic on Apr 17, 2026, 06:29 AMDon't feel sorry for Heath they appointed a second team coach who was coaching Rishies academy in the hope he would steal all that age group to bolster their 2nd team.
Nah, they won the league by only losing once and now can't play in the playoffs due to players playing county rugby and being not eligible
Rubbish system
That doesn't disprove my point. A club as big and successful as them could get a side out tomorrow even if it got hammered
Quote from: BishBashBosh on Apr 17, 2026, 06:15 PMQuote from: cynic on Apr 17, 2026, 06:29 AMDon't feel sorry for Heath they appointed a second team coach who was coaching Rishies academy in the hope he would steal all that age group to bolster their 2nd team.
Nah, they won the league by only losing once and now can't play in the playoffs due to players playing county rugby and being not eligible
Rubbish system
Quote from: cynic on Apr 17, 2026, 08:09 PMThat doesn't disprove my point. A club as big and successful as them could get a side out tomorrow even if it got hammered
Quote from: BishBashBosh on Apr 17, 2026, 06:15 PMWhat is your point though?
Junior coach at Rish is overlooked for a senior role, so leaves to be second team coach at a club two leagues above (now three)?
The point should be that any player can play for the twos during the season, but because of the playoffs you can now only have players with less than 5 first team appearances.
A player could have played 15 times for the twos and benched 6 times for the ones - do you class him as a first team or second team player? This player would not be allowed to play in the merit league playoff - farsicle
So personal ego goes before what's best for the lads that he's nurtured?
Quote from: BenFoden's grey beard on Apr 17, 2026, 02:33 PMDepends which side of the fence you sit on.
He was turned down for a role in the Rish senior set up so took the opportunity elsewhere...
You'll have to make your point more clearly. I was pointing out that he wasn't appointed to steal players but took up an opportunity elsewhere as there wasn't one at Rish.
How many lads followed him out of interest? The picture of Heath's 2s on their Facebook didn't look like a group of colts.
Is staying at Rish vs going to Heath better for the lads he's nurtured?
Genuine questions.
RFU says Heath used 29 players in the 1st team this season. 20 of which played 10 or more games, 3 played less then 10 but more than 5, the remaining 6 played 5 or less games.
Thats the stats on it.
Quote from: BishBashBosh on Apr 14, 2026, 11:05 PMJust seen that Gate had x2 front row injuries in the first 20 mins on Sat.
Uncontested scrums and 60 mins with 14 men will have had it's effect in the outcome....
And the match report from Gate was a perfect example in arrogance. Not a mention of THE VICTORS.
Boro are a different team now Gaudie is playing again, getting fit and settling in. Best 9 in Yorkshire for some years
Quote from: Teessider on Apr 18, 2026, 10:10 PMQuote from: BishBashBosh on Apr 14, 2026, 11:05 PMJust seen that Gate had x2 front row injuries in the first 20 mins on Sat.
Uncontested scrums and 60 mins with 14 men will have had it's effect in the outcome....
And the match report from Gate was a perfect example in arrogance. Not a mention of THE VICTORS.
Boro are a different team now Gaudie is playing again, getting fit and settling in. Best 9 in Yorkshire for some years
No mention of playing with 14 men in the boro report - glass houses and all that jazz...
Gaudie is a great player, best in Yorkshire not a chance, as you need to be able to pass off both hands at 9