Predictions & Chat (Season & 6.9.25)

[gateprop]

Been a quiet off season on here but the season is fast approaching now. Anyone got any claims or predictions to make about the upcoming season? 3 new teams coming into the league with some likely usual suspects at either end of the table.

Opening Round Fixtures:
Beverley v Yarnbury
Dinnington v West Leeds
Goole v Wensleydale
Harrogate Pythons v Leodiensians
Hullensians v Keighley
Wath upon Dearne v Old Rishworthian

[gateprop]

Top 4 will be an interesting race this year with Hullensians wanting to replicate their 2nd half of last season and push for top 2. Keighley will be there or thereabouts as usual but fell away badly in the last few rounds of last season. Their home form is always great but away losses have cost them dearly. Goole only won 2 games last year but were a lot more competitive than the table suggests, if they have retained their squad then I'd expect them to be looking to bounce straight back up. 8 years since I last faced Goole back in Y3 so expect them to be a very different side! You'd also think that Dinnington will be a force to be reckoned with coming off a perfect 110/110 season in Y2. We've seen Wetherby & North Ribb move from Y2 to NE2 very quickly so no reason to think Dinnington can't do the same. Other dark horse for a promotion run would be Wath. Signing Ryan Burrows as a player coach will have a significant impact, especially if they can make a few other signings, particularly if they improve their 11-15.

The rest of the table is up for grabs. Leos survived by the skin of their teeth last year so will need significant improvement to avoid a relegation battle. West Leeds had a better 2nd half of the season to pull away from the bottom two. If they maintain that consistency they should be mid table. Old Rish are an unknown quantity as they look to have new coaches and new signings, depends how they gel. Wensleydale started last season horrendously but clawed it back well to finish comfortably mid table. I believe Larder & Stanwix have stepped down as coaches and I haven't seen them announce a new one, does that mean they aren't still going to be involved? Because those two are often the difference for Dale. Yarnbury are difficult to call, having only played them in one season in Y2 they had good backs and a very average pack. If they have improved their pack then they'll be difficult to beat. Beverley I have no clue about, they seem capable of beating or losing to anyone in equal measure. How that lands for them could be the difference between bottom 4 and top 4.

At Pythons we've got a few new faces down, particularly in the backline. Some very exciting but raw prospects so a lot could depend on how they gel. We started like a house on fire last season and that came in clutch when injuries & unavailability ravaged us in the 2nd half of the season. If we can get our best 18 players out on a Saturday more often that not then I'd back us for a top half finish but then I'm sure most teams would say the same!

Not in any particular order:
Top 4: Hullensians, Dinnington, Wath, Keighley
Middle 4: Beverley, Pythons, Goole, West Leeds
Bottom 4: Yarnbury, Old Rish, Wensleydale, Leos


Opening Round Fixtures:

Beverley v Yarnbury - difficult start to Y1 life for Yarnbury. Beverley isn't a place that a lot of teams come away with a result so would expect similar. Beverley +7

Dinnington v West Leeds - a chance for Dinnington to lay down a marker for the upcoming season and think they will do so. Haven't seen anything from West Leeds regarding players so going to base this on the squad they had last season. Dinnington +7

Goole v Wensleydale - I have heard Goole have a good set of backs and that is often Dale's kryptonite. Dale are also notoriously slow starters so this will be a good chance for Goole to get a W on the board early on. Goole +7

Harrogate Pythons v Leodiensians - I went into last season thinking we were going to struggle and we won the first 4 games so I'm not entirely sure what to expect. Always back yourselves. Pythons +7

Hullensians v Keighley - Ensians finished the season really strongly and will be looking to push on even further this year. Top 2 up for grabs and both these teams will want to be contenders. Going for Hullensians -7

Wath upon Dearne v Old Rishworthian - not knowing much about Rish going into this season I'm going to back my dark horses Wath at home. Wath +7

[Rugby]

Beverley v Yarnbury - Beverley +7

Dinnington v West Leeds - Dinnington +7

Goole v Wensleydale - Goole +7

Harrogate Pythons v Leodiensians - Harrogate +7

Hullensians v Keighley - Keighley -7

Wath upon Dearne v Old Rishworthian - Wath +7

[FlankSinatra]

Yarnbury -7: I think they start fast as Beverley might underestimate them.

Dinnington +7: Here to prove a point

Goole +7: Strong outfit

Pythons -7: Will sneak a few at home

Keighley -7: Hullensians overyhyped

Wath +7: If Wath play some of their potential firepower then they'll run away with this one

[Proper Prop]

My first post, so lets see how this weekend goes.

Beverley v Yarnbury - Beverley +7

Dinnington v West Leeds - Dinnington +7

Goole v Wensleydale - Goole +7

Harrogate Pythons v Leodiensians - Harrogate +7

Hullensians v Keighley - Hullensians -7

Wath upon Dearne v Old Rishworthian - Wath +7

[Too fat to be a back]

Last year was a struggle but a strong finish for Leos leading into this season. Team remains mainly unchanged with a few faces returning.

This weekends opening round will show who's in and out of form.

Bev +7  always a strong team especially at home

West Leeds -7 Dinnington look strong coming up but west Leeds tend to start well but could be missing a few of the League boys to be really strong.

Goole +7 Dale opposite to WL will miss a few faces first couple of games

Leos +7 starting where we finished off last season.

Hull -7 game of the week for me. Will be a great contest, edge it for home advantage, If Keighley turn up it'll be close, if not Hull easy win.

Wath +7 home advantage, bumper crowd! Will want to set the stage for a top half finish.

[The Lurker]

Bev -7 Yawno could be a potential banana skin here, both had decent pre-season results and I bet it's been a good few years since they crossed swords but expect home advantage to see the beavers start with a W in a high scoring game.

Dinno +7 Think Dinno will go well this season, they've dominated Y2 and had a decent cup run. Depth might be an issue if they pick up a few injuries with their 2's dropping out of the league but they'll have too much for WL.

Goole +7 expect the goolies, another team with a decent cup run to end last season, to have a straight forward win vs the big cheese who probably won't be at full strength until the weather turns and farming slows down for winter and they get some squaddies in.

Pythons -7 I think Leo's will give them a game but the Harrogate rejects depth will tell in the end. Could be another long season for Leo's rolling out Dad's Army unless they recruit well from the Uni, maybe offer a happy ending along with the taxis, stash and free beer?

Keighley -7 Going for an away win here, reckon the dry pitch and some early season enthusiasm will be enough for a Keef upset. Hellensians probably missing a few to rugba leeeg at the moment.

Wath +7 The experience bought in by the Wath massive will boost an already hefty forward unit. From a cursory look on instagram looks like Rish have gone for a more sustainable rugby model and are investing in facilities rather than journeymen, can Gabs keep them competitive on the field with the funds diverted?

[Twindad]

Beverley v Yarnbury - Beverley +7

Dinnington v West Leeds - West Leeds -7

Goole v Wensleydale - Goole +7

Harrogate Pythons v Leodiensians - Harrogate -7

Hullensians v Keighley - Hullensiens +7

Wath upon Dearne v Old Rishworthian - Wath -7 (Think this will be closer than some might think)

[SwingDoor]

Beverley v Yarnbury - Beverley, a strong side especially at home will be too much for yarnbury

Dinnington v West Leeds - West leeds, just. Dinnington will give them a good challenge but won't be receiving an easy welcome to Y1

Goole v Wensleydale - Wesleydale were a pretty middle of the road team last year can't seen them giving goole too much of a challenge.

Harrogate Pythons v Leodiensians - comfortable win for pythons, a team who I think have made good progress each season they've been in Y1. Leo's on the other hand, will be clinging on until the students return.

Hullensians v Keighley - game of the week for me. Both teams strong all last season. Backing keighley under the leadership of a new coach.

Wath upon Dearne v Old Rish - Should be a pretty easy win for Wath, looked strong against cleck the other week. Rish still cashing cheques for flight, expect to see panic imports as they struggle to get of the bottom of the table