Sat 08/03/25

[Rugby Badger]

Getting to the business end of the season now & it's exciting at the top and the bottom!

Alnwick v Selby
Alnwick were the form team but having lost 2 previous away trips to Cleckheaton & Driffield they will be pleased to be back on home soil. Selby fighting for their lives and boy it's showing. Dead & Buried at Christmas but now they have given themselves a big chance of survival especially with last weeks victory at league leaders Scunthorpe! Alnwick to win in a close one but Selby to pick a bonus point or 2 up.

Blaydon v Sandal
Blaydon another team fighting to avoid the drop and will be buoyed by their victory last week against relegation rivals Percy Park. Sandal just look like a team that know the can't go up or down this season and have just given up. Blaydon to win quite comfortably.

Cleckheaton v Percy Park
A bit of a shock result for Cleckheaton last week losing heavily to Ilkley although looking at the reports it was close until the last 25 minutes when Ilkley ran away with it. Percy Park really need a win here to give them a chance of survival imo especially after defeat to Blaydon last week. I just can't see Cleckheaton losing this at home unless they have 1 eye on the Yorkshire Cup Semi Final next week. Close Cleckheaton win.

Driffield v Heath
Driffield with a good win at home to Alnwick last week and will be hoping for another big performance here. Heath will be looking to bounce back after a close defeat last week to Huddersfield last week and I think they will just have enough to edge this one. Heath win in a close one.

Huddersfield v Ilkley
Huddersfield after looking like they had blown promotion a few weeks ago are now within a good chance. Will also be confident after a good win at Heath last week. Ilkley had a fantastic week last week against Cleckheaton and will be looking to build on it but feel an away trip to promotion chasing Hudds might be a bridge too far. Huddersfield BP win.

York v Scunthorpe
Since Christmas York haven't been the team they was in the 1st half of the year but saying that they got back on track last week with a good win at Sandal. Scunthorpe will be shellshocked after last weeks surprise defeat at home to Selby and will not want another slip up and leave promotion in their own hands. Scunthorpe to win in a close one.

[Dark Arts Advocate]

Alnwick v Selby
I do think that Selby's survival may hinge on getting something at Alnwick. Try and losing BP might be enough.
After last week they will be feeling confident, but Alnwick on their own patch is a tough ask.
If Selby can get off the bus, then a close, high scoring game maybe on the cards.
I do think Alnwick will win, but not by many.
 
Blaydon v Sandal
Blaydon are a team who have surprised me all season. I thought that they would have attained the safety of mid table long ago.
This is simply a must win game and it needs to be a 5 point win.
Sandal are similar to York in the loss of personnel, predominantly since Christmas. They were poor at home last week but so were York.
They are just about safe, mathematically, just so long that 2 of the 3 teams below don't get a maximum of 15 points from their last 3 games and they fail to register another point.
So I have Blaydon to win this game (5) its just whether Sandal can scrape a BP?


Cleckheaton v Percy Park
Not an easy ask for any side to go away to Cleck and win. I think Cleck will decide who may win this league and who will be going through the trap door.
The Yorkshire cup will be a factor, but they will want to build some momentum for that game.
PP missed a great opportunity last week to put Blaydon to bed. I cant see them having enough to beat a competitive Cleck, again it maybe BP's that might decide who survives. Have they got 4 tries in them?
Can they stay in touch with Cleck, to earn a losing BP? It maybe be crucial.
But home win for me.

Driffield v Heath
With nothing really riding on this result even though mathematically Heath could still be promoted. I see Driff building on the back of last weeks win and turning Heath over.
Heath will give it go and they as always do and will be difficult to beat, especially if the honey monsters are at it?
I think if I was coaching either of these sides, I would be looking to see what we have in the colts, 2's if you are fortunate enough to have them, in prep for next season...
In any case I think it will be an entertaining game that could be high scoring. Narrow home win for me.

Huddersfield v Ilkley
Ilkley do have the ability to shock, but not this week.
Huddersfield are kicking into gear when it really matters and I cant see anything other than a 5 point bonus win for them this week.
Ilkley will be happy after securing their league status last week after a comfortable win against Cleck, who are often indifferent on the road.
So a competitive first 40 and then Huddersfield to run away with it. Hoping that York can do them some sort of favour.

York v Scunthorpe
Once over, this would have been most peoples choice of match of the day. But York are limping towards the end of the season after a number of key absentees, which is usually the case for most teams at this stage of the season.
Shame really as I would love to see York inflict a damaging loss on Scunthorpe, to help scupper their promotion push.
York have scraped past lesser sides since Christmas, but in reality I don't think they will have enough to complete the double over Scunthorpe. I just hope that the foul mouthed drunken Scunthorpe scum from the away fixture aren't present at Clifton Park tomorrow.

[Differ Lid]

We have some big fixtures again this weekend, and as with every week some will prove incredibly difficult to call the results.

Alnwick Vs Selby
With Alnwicks home form being the big changing point for them in the season you would normally think a comfortable home win. However, Selby boosted by last weekends victory away at Scunthorpe then anything is possible. Think Alnwick will be looking to right the wrongs from last week, and not taking Selby for granted seeing the win against Scunthorpe. Alnwick Win but bonus point or 2 for Selby

Blaydon Vs Sandal
Blaydon can in theory finish above Sandal (and Driffield ) in the league, which was probably unthinkable before Christmas. The new signings are certainly doing the job they have been paid to do with 2 wins on the bounce. I think they will make it 3 this weekend. Blaydon Win

Cleckheaton Vs Percy Park
Looking at the Cleck side with no Hainsworth or Breakwell I think Percy Park will smell blood. With everything to play for I think Park could get a massive result here, making things very interesting at the bottom of the table. Percy Park Win

Huddersfield Vs Ilkley
Great result for Ilkley at home last Saturday, which will give them plenty of confidence taking on Huddersfield. Although Huddersfield haven't been blowing teams away, they are continuing to win. Think business as usual this weekend. Huddersfield Win

York Vs Scunthorpe
Are Scunthorpe showing signs of a side that doesn't really want to go up? I think this weekend will be the deciding factor for the title race. Another slip up from Scunny and they will be very nervously welcoming Blaydon next weekend. Going with York to make the top 4 very interesting going into the final 2 games. York Win

Driffield Vs Heath
Driffield will be full of confidence following last weekend's victory, knowing that Heath are on a great run of form, a narrow loss to Huddersfield is nothing to be sniffed at will mean Driffield will have to be at their best. Driffield have had the better of this fixture over recent seasons, so going with home advantage. Driffield Win.

Based on my predictions Huddersfield will finish the weekend top of the table and promotion in their hands. With Bonus points potential for the 3 bottom sides to be level on points by the close of play tomorrow.

[Pristine Shorts]

Alnwick v Selby - a foregone conclusion before last week, but I still think Alnwick will nick it, which will give Selby the sweats.

Blaydon v Sandal - a five point home win for me.

Cleckheaton v Percy Park - PP can't afford to drop even a point, but I don't see them getting five somehow. Narrow home win, in fact.

Driffield v Heath - a home win would do wonders for Driff, but it will be very hard achieve. Narrow away win.

Huddersfield v Ilkley - home win, I'm afraid, though I think Ilkley will get the one point necessary for guaranteed safety.

York v Scunthorpe - Scunny daren't lose this and I don't think they will. Only 4 points though.

[Rugby Badger]

Results from today:

Alnwick 30-27 Selby
Blaydon 100-19 Sandal
Cleckheaton 19-27 Percy Park
Driffield 21-35 Heath
Huddersfield 41-29 Ilkley
York 10-20 Scunthorpe

2 points separate the top 2, all bottom 3 teams on 36 pts with 2 games left to play - I know we keep saying but what a league!

[Pristine Shorts]

Another excellent day, Ilkley did so well against Huddersfield and a deserved try BP and Percy Park not getting all five means we are good for next season. Great ! Bring on Driff ! ( They're great guests ! )

Sandal ? WTF ?

Happy weekend, fellers.

[Differ Lid]

Seen the good and the bad of Driffield in the last couple of weeks, and just about sums up the up and down season.

Heath ran in 2 almost identical tries inside the first 5 minutes

Giving Chris Johnson and Heath a 14 point lead is always going to be a problem, and Driffield just didn't get firing.
Heath manage the game and the referee very well throughout, they never really looked pressured and deserved winners.

Bottom 3 all picking up points.
Blaydon score line is almost unbelievable in a league that has been so competitive throughout. Sandal could be in some serious trouble if things keep going how they are going. Could a team put a 100 points by someone in the league and still get relegated?
Percy Park with a massive win at Cleck.
And Selby with some great points on the road to Alnwick.

Congrats to Ilkley securing safety!

[Kellythorpe]

The two converted tries in first 5 mins gets

some getting back against a good side like Heath. Heath
Always seemed in control with their backs in good form. Although Driff scored 3 converted tries (one an interception) it never looked they would catch up Heath. Now a difficult trip to Ilkley to make things safe as Percy Park will be looking for a win at Driff in last league match.

[Dark Arts Advocate]

York dominated many aspects of the game against Scunthorpe. But although they had majority of possession and field position they were unable to break down a well drilled Scunthorpe defence.
Scunthorpe however were excellent on the counter attack from the many York turnovers in their half and always looked a threat when they had ball in hand.
Scunthorpe were the better side on the day and fully deserved their win.
If Scunthorpe had enjoyed the same possession dominance and field position as York they would have scored many more.

Another great season for York fizzling out, unfortunately as they have no strength in depth.
Two tough games left then a 6 week potential layoff before the Yorkshire Cup final.
It wont be long enough to get some back to fitness.

Blaydon/Mowden Park presents a whole new set of challenges for Selby and Scunthorpe after the massacre of Sandal.
So it looks like it will be going down to the wire.
Great win for PP, gives them an outside chance of beating the drop but I do think they need to get something out of their home game v Huddersfield.

Sandals fall from grace has been spectacular. But with two of the bottom three, playing the top two teams in the league next time out, that could save their status, even if they cant!

[Differ Lid]

York dominated many aspects of the game against Scunthorpe. But although they had majority of possession and field position they were unable to break down a well drilled Scunthorpe defence.
Scunthorpe however were excellent on the counter attack from the many York turnovers in their half and always looked a threat when they had ball in hand.
Scunthorpe were the better side on the day and fully deserved their win.
If Scunthorpe had enjoyed the same possession dominance and field position as York they would have scored many more.

Another great season for York fizzling out, unfortunately as they have no strength in depth.
Two tough games left then a 6 week potential layoff before the Yorkshire Cup final.
It wont be long enough to get some back to fitness.

Blaydon/Mowden Park presents a whole new set of challenges for Selby and Scunthorpe after the massacre of Sandal.
So it looks like it will be going down to the wire.
Great win for PP, gives them an outside chance of beating the drop but I do think they need to get something out of their home game v Huddersfield.

Sandals fall from grace has been spectacular. But with two of the bottom three, playing the top two teams in the league next time out, that could save their status, even if they cant!

Sandal in the top tier of the Papa Johns, and in theory could be relegated.