Wednesday 20 March 2019

West 1 Update - 20th March 2019


Due to the weather we only had two West 1 games at the weekend, a win for Glens at Cumnock, and a win for Irvine in their derby game at Kilmarnock.

As we get down to the nitty gritty part of the season, Glens win saw them move into top spot, four points ahead of East Kilbride, with both having played 19 games (three remaining).

Greenock and Garnock are both on 71 points, but with only three games remaining, Garnock look to have run out of games - a bonus point win for Glens this weekend, means Garnock can't catch them.

Greenock however have a couple of games in hand on both Glens and EK, so are very much in the race.

Garnock have no game this weekend, so must sit and watch what the other three contenders do.  The top three each a home game - Glens host Cumnock, EK welcome Kilmarnock and Greenock welcome Irvine to Fort Matilda.

We're pencilling in wins for each, but at this point in the season, not picking up an accompanying try bonus point could be costly.  Glens and EK should be ok for the extra point, but it will be more of a challenge for Greenock.  The pair met at the start of the month, and Greenock came away with the win, but at only 17-7, there was no try bonus.

Looking at the various scenerios for the title run-in, it's going to be a tight finish.


Three wins for EK and they finish on 90 points (plus bonus points) however they still have Garnock to play, so wins aren't a certainty.  Three wins for Glens, and they finish on 94 points (plus bonus points), but they have Greenock still to play.  Whilst Greenock have five games remaining, with 91 points on offer for wins in each (plus bonus points), but obviously, they still have Glens to play.

It's too close to call, and bonus points look like being crucial.

At the foot of the table, the Club vote to return to 10 team leagues means we know that it's at least two Clubs down.  Cambuslang have completed their season, finishing on 31 points, so this is the target for Cumnock and Dalziel.

Cumnock are on 19 points and have three games left, but these include Glens on Saturday and Irvine the week after, before finishing up with Dalziel.  It's looking unlikely they have enough games left to catch Cambuslang.

Dalziel are on 14 points, but have five games left.  They too have Irvine to play whilst they also have Garnock to play, but first up, it Annan away this weekend.  Annan have struggled second half of the season, with their two most recent results being losses (Kilmarnock and Irvine), but Dalziels recent results haven't been any better.  We're going to go for a Dalziel win as they have the greater motivation.

Dalziels final two games are against Cumnock and Strathendrick.  Out of their remaining games, it's looking like they need at least four wins, and that's a big ask.

However, even if Cumnock or Dalziel do pull off a miracle and overtake Cambuslang, it still might not be enough.

We need to keep an eye on the National 3 relegation battle, where Hillhead Jordanhill are currently a single point above Orkney and the final relegation place.  And guess who they play this weekend, that's right, Orkney.  A win against Orkney, and surely they remain in National 3 - lose, and Hillhead have two awkward away games to try to save their National league status.  If Hillhead do come down, then it will be three down from West 1, and Cambuslang, Cumnock and Dalziel will all be playing West 2 next season.


West 1 Updates:

15th January 2019

See Also:


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