West Fixtures - 25 March 2017

It's semi-finals weekend in the National Shield & Bowl competitions, so there's not too many games in the West Leagues, but the ones we do have are crucial to the promotion and relegation battles in each of the leagues.

In the Shield, Gordonains take on Murrayfield Wanderers and Carrick play Hawick Harlequins.  In the Bowl, Strathendrick visit Blairgowrie and Moray welcome Portobello.


West 1:
We have two games in West 1, with one them being an absolute stonker as it's a possible relegation decider.

It now looks like it's two up and two down between West 1 and 2, so the Oban v Kilmarnock game could be the decider in the battle to avoid the 2nd relegation spot.

Kilmarnock currently sit in 8th place with Oban one point behind, but with another game to play.  A win for Oban means they're guaranteed at least 8th spot, whereas a win for Killie, and it's down to bonus points and Obans game away at Irvine next weekend.

A curve ball is the slight possibility that Dalziel could still be relegated from National 3, and should this come to pass, then it will be three down from West 1 to West 2.

In the weekends other West 1 game, Irvine make the journey to Annan looking for at least a point to ensure Oban can't catch them for that possible third relegation place.

West 2:
The final game in West 2 may have been played out three weeks ago, but with the SRU website having been updated, it looks like Cambuslang can now celebrate being promoted to West 1, having initially thought they'd lost out in that battle by finishing second behind Stewartry.  Cumbernauld, on the other hand, will now realise they'll be playing in West 3 next season.

West 3:
We only have one game in West 3, but it's a great one.  Amongst the top 3, each have three games remaining and only 11 points separating them, so with two teams being promoted, there's plenty to play for.

This weekend, 3rd plays 2nd with Uddingston visiting Loch Lomond.  A bonus point win for Loch Lomond gives them the chance to move into 2nd place, whilst a bonus point win for Uddie puts them 2 points behind Endrick.

Whatever the result, promotion could come down to the number of bonus points that can be picked up in the next few weeks.

West 4:
West 1 to 3 maybe finished or just putting the finishing touches to the season, but we still have a month worth of games to play in West 4, so a full fixture list this weekend.

Current leaders Lanark are away at Cowal, with 2nd place Glasgow Uni Medics due to welcome Argyll & Bute, but with A&B now showing a points total of minus 7 points in the league table, we'll be keeping our fingers crossed this one is fulfilled.

We're guessing the Championship Committee are not happy with A&B prior attempts at playing some games.  Strange really, there's been plenty of non-fulfilled games across West Region this season but the vast majority appear to have gone unpunished, and penalties are only being applied now that the season is drawing to a close.  A&B have been penalised 16 points, whilst the only other Club to suffer a points deduction are Helensburgh (minus 6 points).

Glasgow Uni Medics, who are A&B hosts this weekend, have only played 7 games so far this season, and their last league game appears to have taken place on 29th October.  To fulfil their season, the Medics are scheduled to play on Easter weekend and to visit Mull midweek on 22nd April (a game which the SRU website initially showed the Medics failed to fulfil on 3rd December).

Third place Mull welcome Hyndland this weekend, and it will be Mulls first competitive game since January 7th.

The Uni boys are currently 9 points behind Lanark, but have three games in hand - though this includes fixtures against both Lanark and Mull.  Mull are in third but are four points behind the Medics, so to finish second, they need the Medics to lose their remaining games and gain no bonus points.