What with the Shield and Bowl competitions, and the start of the 6 Nations, there haven't been many West Regional league games to report on in the past few weeks, so we’ll do a quick catch up before this weekends fixtures.
West 1: Only two games in the last couple of weeks.
Carrick got their expected win away at Helensburgh (12 - 45), keeping up the pressure on Newton Stewart. The win puts them top of West 1 by two points, but Carrick have now completed their league campaign whilst Newton Stewart have two left to play - away at Oban on Saturday (1:30 kick-off), followed next week with a home game against East Kilbride. A win in either of these two games, and Newton Stewart are West League champions.
The relative league positions suggests it should be an away win, but with a near five hour journey, and an early kick-off, an upset might be on the cards.
Oban themselves are in that second bottom slot, that may or may not lead to relegation to West 2. They find themselves six points behind Kilmarnock, but have three games in hand.
Kilmarnock picked up a crucial lose bonus point against Allan Glens in their most recent game (6 - 12), and this could prove invaluable if they avoid that 2nd bottom place.
Obans remaining games are Newton Stewart this Saturday, Garnock at home on the 18th, Irvine away on 4th March, and then for the final game of the season, Kilmarnock visit Oban on 25th March, in what could be a “loser goes down play-off”.
If Oban lose to Kilmarnock on the 25th, even a couple of wins between now and then might not be enough to save them from a drop to West 2.
That second relegation spot however, depends on what happens in National 3.
Currently, Greenock are the only West team in the relegation places in National 3, with Dalziel 12 points clear of the battle. However, looking at this weekends games, we’re thinking the gap might be down to 7 points, with Perthshire also having a game in hand on Dalziel.
National 3 is currently scheduled to run till 22nd April, so there may be a fair bit of nailbiting to take place in Kilmarnock or Oban after the West 1 fixtures are concluded.
This weekends other fixture in West 1 sees Annan host Helensburgh.
The West 2 campaign was as good as decided on 21st January, when Stewartry won at Cambuslang, but it was confirmed the following week when Cambuslang lost 32 - 5 away at Millbrae. This makes Stewartrys final game against Cumbernauld next weekend academic, as Cambuslang have completed all their games, but still trail by a point.
Paisley moved up to fourth with a comfortable 45 - 5 win at home against Waysiders.
This weekends games sees Cumbernauld hosting Waysiders for their derby game, whilst Clydebank travel to Cumnock. This is Clydebanks last league game of the season, and a win will guarantee them 3rd place.
In West 3, Strathendrick continued their almost relentless march to the league title with a 30-0 victory in their league & Bowl double header away at Birkmyre, keeping them six points ahead of Uddingston, as well as having a game in hand.
Police Scotland lost 26-15 at home to Strathaven, which means that things remain tight down the foot of the table.
PSG are 2nd bottom, five points ahead of Arran, but they only have one game left of their league campaign (Strathendrick unfortunately for them), whilst Arran have six (yes, that’s right, 6) games left to play. They catch up one of these games this weekend, when they host Strathaven - any points gained could be crucial.
To be honest though, we’re not clear how relegation will play out in West 3 this season, as it's looking unlikely any team will drop from West 2 with McLaren having withdrawn earlier in the season. Could this mean no relegation from West 3? (The caveat of National 3 is still in place of course.)
It is however not just a two team battle, as Moffat and Wigtownshire are only two points ahead of PSG.
Through-out the whole of January, we had four games played in West 4, the most recent being Shawlands 21-10 victory over Hyndland.
This weekend, Clydesdale are scheduled to travel to Mull, whilst Cowal host Argyll & Bute.
A victory for Mull, will put them back ahead of Lanark at the top of the table, but Lanark will have three games in hand.
It’s a curious league really, with unfulfilled fixtures all over the place. The last game is currently scheduled for 22nd April, and who can say that we won't have further games yet to fit in.
We’re not entirely sure if this league is sustainable in it’s current form, and wonder if the West Championship Committee have been looking to East and Calie regions to see the different ways they have of trying keeping some form of competition relevant and going at this level.
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