Last season each of the West leagues were highly competitive with promotion and relegation battles going down to the final few weeks of the campaign. We'll give it a couple of weeks, and then we'll stick our necks on the line to make this seasons predictions for the title challengers. But to kick things off, here's this weeks results predictions - let us know if you disagree.
West 1:
As we said last week, Glens and Garnock are probably favourites, but we'll need to keep an eye on Endrick who comfortably got over their first league hurdle by putting 59 points past Stewartry. They're away at Glens on Saturday for what will probably be a try fest. We're going for a Glens win in this one, but if Endrick can keep it close, then we'll add them to the list of possible title challengers.
Garnock travel to Annan, who had a hard-fought win away at Dalziel last week, so it's no gimme for the visitors. We've pencilled in a Garnock win, but it will be tight and a try bonus isn't guaranteed.
If Dalziel didn't know they were going to be in a battle in the Regional leagues, they do now. Unfortunately, there's not going to be any easy games for them to catch their breath, so it's straight back on the horse. This week they travel to Kilmarnock, who lost away at Irvine on Saturday. Crucial for both teams to get the win, else their title race might already be run. It'll be another close one, but we're going with home advantage this time.
Greenock have brought Brendan McGroaty back on board after his spell at Hawks, and this should see them competing towards the top. They demonstrated their firepower by putting 63 points past Cumnock last week, but on the other hand, Cumnock scored 24 of their own, so a wee chink there perhaps. Greenock travel to Cambuslang this weekend, who are more than happy to score tries against teams when given the opportunity, so this could be high scoring. We'll go away win.
East Kilbride scraped a win against Cambuslang last week, so are looking to build their title challenge on the road to Castle Douglas. Stewartry are recovering from their 59-7 thrashing at Fintry, but they should not be overawed as Endrick put 35 points past EK in the Shield. We'll go for an away win, but won't be surprised if we're proved wrong on this one.
In this weeks final game of the West 1 campaign, Cumnock host Irvine in one of the many derby games we've got this year. Irvine's win against Kilmarnock last week probably make them slight favourites for this game, but we're expecting Cumnock to score loads of points this season, so this one is also in the balance. Away win.
West 2:
West 2 went right down to the wire last season, and this years version should be just as competitive. Lenzie and Paisley are the obvious title contenders, but Oban will be there or thereabouts, whilst we're expecting Wigtownshire to also be involved. However, as was proven last year, most of the teams are capable of taking points off one another, so if any Club can find a bit of consistency and put a decent run together then they'll be in the mix.
Lenzie host Clydebank this week, which should see a home win, whilst Paisley host Oban - this ones a bit more difficult and we expect it to be close, but we're going with home advantage.
Clydebank won last week against Strathaven, who this week welcome Wigtownshire. This will be another close contest, and there could be a few points - we're going for the away win.
Uddy put 85 points past Millbrae last week, and this week they host Loch Lomond. This game should give us a better indication of Uddys title credentials. We'll go home win, but it could be an awkward first 60 minutes.
Bishopton welcome Millbrae, which we see as a comfortable bonus-point home win, whilst in the final game, Cumbernauld host Helensburgh. Helensburgh are in a rebuilding phase, so it's important they take something from this game, else it's going to be a long hard season. Cumbernaulds forward-power might mean they don't see much ball. We'll go home win in a tight contest.
West 3:
With Shire and Bishopton being promoted last season, the Uni Medics probably had this year pencilled as theirs, but a big win for WD away at Hyndland last week and Birkmyres good away win in the Bowl suggests they'll also be contenders.
Birkmyre host Moffat, and we're going for a home win, whilst The Medics host Cowal, in a repeat of their Bowl game from a couple of weeks ago. Cowal haven't had a competitive game since then, as last weeks game at Clydesdale was off due to an "issue with the pitch". Plenty of tries expected, and a home win.
So Clydesdales first league game in many years is therefore on the road to Shawlands who suffered a heavy defeat on Mull last week. We've no data on Clydesdale, so will go with a home win.
Lochaber had a good win on the road at Moffat last week, so it makes the visit of Mull interesting (their nearest thing to a league local derby). We'll go with home advantage, but reckon it will be close.
In the final game PSG host Hyndland. They both lost last week, so a chance to open their accounts. We expect this to be close, we'll go with an away win.
WD are the spare team this week, so no game for them.
Looks like West 1 will be between Endrick, Glens and Greenock who have been rampant in preseason
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