Monday 9 April 2018

West League Update - West 2 - 09 April 2018

The most competitive league in world rugby shows no signs of dying down any time soon.  We’ve got six Saturdays of the season left, and the title and relegation battles in West 2 just got a little more intense - who thought that was even feasible.


The massive result of the weekend saw Strathendrick win 23-17 in what sounds like an intense battle against Paisley - it was four league points for Endrick and one for Paisley.  Cumnock moved up to second place with a bonus point win at home against Loch Lomond, which leaves them three points behind Paisley, but they have two games in hand.


Lenzie had no game at the weekend, so are now four behind Paisley having played the same number of games.  Strathendrick are fourth, eight points behind Paisley, but they have four games in hand.

With seven games remaining, Strathendrick look favourites for the title, but as we said, there’s only six Saturdays of the season left.  Cumnock are probably favourites for the second promotion spot, but things are by no means certain.  First off, Cumnock visit Strathendrick on Saturday, whilst Paisley have still also to make the trip to Fintry.

It’s too tight to call in this weekends game at Fintry, but we’re going for wins for Paisley, who host Clydebank, and Lenzie who travel to Loch Lomond.

There’s still plenty of action to come in the battle at the top of the table, so if you get the chance, go and watch it unfold.

At the foot of the table, the contest also got a little tighter, this time  for the second relegation place. A win for Millbrae at Uddingston, with none of their contenders picking up any points, closes the gap  between 8th and 11th.  Whilst a 7 point deduction for Waysiders Drumpellier for non-fulfillment of fixtures drops them right in it.


WD are now only 7 points ahead of Millbrae, but they have played five games more.  Clydebank are 8 ahead of Millbrae and Loch Lomond are 14 ahead of Millbrae.

Millbrae have WD, Clydebank, Loch Lomond and Birkmyre still to play, so with the availability of their dual registered players, they’ll be favourites to pick up wins in each of these games, however the Championship rules do state
4.17 - A dual-registered player may not play for the first XV of his lower-placed club in any of its last three league Matches or in the quarter-final (or later round) of the Cup, unless at least 50% of his previous first XV Matches that season have been for the lower-placed side

Millbraes last three league matches are currently Cumbernauld, Clydebank and Strathendrick, though they do still have WD and Loch Lomond to fit in somewhere.

With Dalziel sitting bottom of National 3, there’s a risk of the second relegation spot becoming active.  At the moment, WD look to be at the biggest risk of dropping to West 3 if Dalziel drop to the Regional Leagues, but could Championship rule 4.17 affect the battle. 

West 3 Update - to follow 

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