Right, let's move on from the gossip and nonsense.
It's time to give some thought to who will be realistically vying for the top 3.
Also who will be the contenders for the bottom 3.
I'll study the league tomorrow and post my thoughts...👍
Top 3
1. Alnwick – boring but clear favourites for me.
2. Ilkley – always competitive at this level and I expect them to be right up there.
3. Blaydon
Bottom 3
10. North Ribblesdale – big step up and I think they will find it tough.
11. York – struggled last season and I'm not sure enough will change, they're on the edge of a cliff
12. Scunthorpe – think they'll find the standard difficult week to week.
Tricky ! But here goes...
Alnwick, Hull and Scunthorpe to battle it out at the top.
Ilkley, Driffield, Sandal, Middlesboro' and Blaydon mid-table.
Northern, Ribb and Scarborough will find it a tough step up, but York only survived by the skin of their teeth. Three from those four perhaps.
Can't say Northern away is the easiest of starts for Ilkley. A poor result there will certainly set the cat amongst the pigeons.
Top 3
1. Hull have to be favourites if they get a regular squad out. Even with a lack of depth, the addition of some overseas players as well as keeping the majority of the squad together they surely start as favourites.
2. Alnwick will push Hull all the way I think, maintaining the squad plus a few additions which will certainly strengthen them. They have been building well for a few seasons.
3. Hard one to call, I think it will be a tough mid table battle. Ilkley, Sandal and Blaydon have lost some really influential players. Scunthorpe with solid experience in Nat 2 but a couple of players lost / retired. Think Scarborough and Driffield in the mix.
Which leaves 4 teams I think will be in the mix for relegation and relegation playoffs
In no particular order -
1. York they need to go some to improve from last year, the 2nd Team struggled again so not got the depth they had a few years ago.
2. Middlesbrough did brilliantly to stay in the league last year, but imagine they will be in the mix again. An aging Ollie Hodgson will be key.
3. North Ribb much of the unknown, I imagine they are going to be difficult to beat at home but will struggle away.
4. Northern again unknown team, they have been on the verge of promotion for years, so if they had added the strength they might be able to do a Middlesbrough
Really difficult to call this year, I think the mid table battle will probably end up creating a lot of talking points, which teams can take a scalp at home will be the big difference, which is where I think Scarborough pull themselves away from any bottom battle
I'll be very interested to see how North Ribb get on. 3 consecutive promotions is a big step in 3 years but I said when they flew through Y1 that they were a couple of levels below where they should be. If the players they had have improved and they've recruited/retained well then I think they'll be very competitive this year and would have them pushing top 4 personally. There's no weaknesses in the team and a very strong 2's side to back up injuries/unavailability.
Quote from: gateprop on Aug 10, 2026, 04:30 PMI'll be very interested to see how North Ribb get on. 3 consecutive promotions is a big step in 3 years but I said when they flew through Y1 that they were a couple of levels below where they should be. If the players they had have improved and they've recruited/retained well then I think they'll be very competitive this year and would have them pushing top 4 personally. There's no weaknesses in the team and a very strong 2's side to back up injuries/unavailability.
Suppose the difference when sides come up to this level is all of a sudden you are facing sides like Hull who have considerable experience, well drilled and together sides like Alnwick who have been competing at this level for years and then teams like Ilkley who can play some of the best attacking rugby in the league and score tries from all over the pitch.
Not saying that North Ribb won't be successful, but lots of decent sides have come up and struggled.
Ponte who dominated R2 with the forwards, Selby who played some brilliant rugby in R2, Percy Park were are really well drilled and together side. If it hadn't been for the 12 month collapse of York the Middlesbrough would have gone down and they have one of the best players in this league.
It does make for a really exciting season and what feels like a new look to the league.