West 1:
The two big games in West 1 were both off, not that Garnock winning away at Greenock 39-26, or Carrick winning away at Irvine 26-7 weren't big games, it's just that these results were more predictable than the clashes between East Kilbride and league leaders Allan Glens, and the relegation clash between Cambuslang and Helensburgh.
With the Glens game being off, both Carrick and Garnock took full advantage with bonus point wins, which puts Garnock into top spot and Carrick just four behind Glens. Whilst Garnock are clear of Glens, they have played a couple of games more, so Glens are probably slight favourites for the sole promotion slot to the National Leagues, but there's loads of rugby still to be played in this one.
At the foot of the table, Helensburgh are adrift by 6 points, but they too have a couple of games in hand, whilst there's only four points separating Cambuslang, Oban and Irvine in 9th, 10th & 11th.
Annans 26-15 win away at Oban keeps them clear of the relegation battle, and with their games in hand, they should be safe. The remaining game in the league saw Stewartry winning comfortably at home against Kilmarnock 36-7.
The weather (along with a few Clubs struggling to field teams) is playing havoc with this seasons 12 team format, and looking ahead to this weekends forecast there could be a few more games to add to the backlog. If the games are on, the top 3 will be looking at their games thinking wins for each - two of the promotion contenders are taking on two of the relegation battlers. Our other two relegation battlers are playing each other, with Oban visiting Irvine. With the battle at top and bottom being so tight, bonus points could have a big impact come the end of the season, so lots to play for.
West 2:
There was a shuffling of the pack in the West 2 promotion battle. The Uddingston v Cumnock game was off, so the bonus point wins for both Strathendrick and Paisley means they share top spot on 40 points a piece, three ahead of Lenzie and Cumnock. Lenzie made shorter work of Waysiders Drumpellier than Uddingston did last week, winning 45-0, but Lenzie have played one game more than their main competitiors.
At the foot of the table, Clydebanks win against Cumbernauld sees them move onto the same points as WD and with the benefit of a game in hand, but perhaps more importantly it moves them 11 clear of Millbrae who are currently in the second relegation spot. Birkmyre are at the foot and, as they failed to field a team on Saturday, it's looking increasingly likely that they will be playing in West 3 next season.
The battle for that second relegation place is currently between Millbrae and Loch Lomond with two points between them, though both WD and Clydebank need to exercise caution as they're only a couple of defeats from joining the battle, so with this weekends fixtures pitting Loch Lomond against Clydebank and Millbrae against Birkmyre, things could end up a lot closer this time next week.
As is becoming the norm in West 2, a number of the weekends scheduled games brings our promotion contenders into direct conflict; the three big games being Strathendrick & Paisley, Uddingston & Cumbernauld and Cumnock & Lenzie. The remaining West 2 game sees WD hosting Strathaven.
West 3:
At the top of West 3, bonus point wins for Glasgow Uni Medics, Bishopton and Wigtownshire should have kept the status quo, but a points deduction for the Medics means Bishopton sit atop the table. There's fifteen points between Bishopton and 3rd place Wigtownshire, but Shire have four games in hand, so plenty to play for.
Each of the West 3 league contenders will be looking for bonus point wins again this weekend, Bishopton away at Mull, the Medics hosting Moffat and Wigtownshire hosting Cowal. In the fourth place battle, Lochaber will be looking for a home win against Lanark, whilst Shawlands make the short journey to through Pollock Park to Police Scotland Glasgow, but this will be tough as PSG had a good win against Lochaber at the weekend.
