The top 3 in West 1 each had bonus point wins, so Glens still lead the way, 2 points ahead of Garnock and 4 ahead of Stewartry (Garnock having played a game more). The title race still has a way to go as Garnock and Stewartry have each other to play home and away, and Stewartry have to visit the Bearyards on 23rd April.
With Greenock losing to Strathmore in National 3, this leaves them rooted to the foot of table, 6 points behind Ardrossan and 11 points behind Perthshire. It not impossible that neither Greenock nor Ardrossan will drop from Nat 3 to West 1, but it's looking increasingly likely, with the knock-on effect that we'll have two Clubs relegated from West 1 to 2, and two from 2 to 3.
If it is one down from West 1 to 2, then it's looking like a three horse race (Irvine being draggged into this following a points deduction yesterday), but two down then also means Carrick and Annan need to be keeping their wits about them.
If it is one down from West 1 to 2, then it's looking like a three horse race (Irvine being draggged into this following a points deduction yesterday), but two down then also means Carrick and Annan need to be keeping their wits about them.
| West 1 | ||||||||
| Played | W | L | D | Diff | TB | LB | Points | |
| Allan Glen's | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 437 | 9 | 0 | 53 |
| Garnock | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 260 | 10 | 1 | 51 |
| Stewartry | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 275 | 8 | 1 | 49 |
| East Kilbride | 12 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 65 | 5 | 1 | 30 |
| Kilmarnock | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 30 |
| Annan | 9 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 5 | 0 | 25 |
| Carrick | 13 | 3 | 10 | 0 | -334 | 4 | 2 | 18 |
| Lenzie | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | -94 | 3 | 2 | 14 |
| Irvine | 7 | 2 | 5 | 0 | -154 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| Strathendrick | 11 | 2 | 9 | 0 | -317 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Cambuslang | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | -188 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
Cambuslang are still at the foot of the table, but with a new coach and several games in hand on Endrick, Lenzie and Carrick, a couple of results in their favour will make a big difference. Next up for them is Irvine, so we'll see if a revival is in the offing.
Endrick and Irvine are both on 7 points, but Endrick have played four more than Irvine. Worrying for Irvine though, they were unable to field a team against EK yesterday, so they'll need to get this sorted if they are to be playing West 1 next season.
Lenzie & Carrick have a gap to the bottom three, so probably feel relatively safe for the time being, but they both have difficult games this weekend so could find that gap closed and then they have a series of games against the other relegation contenders.
Come the end of February, the relegation battle could look very different.
Endrick and Irvine are both on 7 points, but Endrick have played four more than Irvine. Worrying for Irvine though, they were unable to field a team against EK yesterday, so they'll need to get this sorted if they are to be playing West 1 next season.
Lenzie & Carrick have a gap to the bottom three, so probably feel relatively safe for the time being, but they both have difficult games this weekend so could find that gap closed and then they have a series of games against the other relegation contenders.
Come the end of February, the relegation battle could look very different.
Following the result at Whiteshawgate, the question now is if the title challenge is done and dusted.
Cumnock are 14 points clear of Wigtownshire and 25 clear of Strathaven. Shire have one game in hand, Strathaven four - bonus point wins in each and Strathaven are still five behind.
Cumnock have five games remaining, which includes Wigtownshire (away) on 19th February, and have a significantly better points difference. If Shire win their game in hand, and beat Cumnock on the 19th, they're still fur points off the pace, but it would give Strathaven an opening.
It was a tight affair in yesterdays game between Strathaven and Cumnock with few scoring opportunities, but Cumnock defended solidly to prevent Strathaven getting the result they needed to bring them right back into the title race. Cumnock have one hand on the title, but a Shire win on the 19th and it will open up again.
It was a tight affair in yesterdays game between Strathaven and Cumnock with few scoring opportunities, but Cumnock defended solidly to prevent Strathaven getting the result they needed to bring them right back into the title race. Cumnock have one hand on the title, but a Shire win on the 19th and it will open up again.
Strathaven v Cumnock
Like West 1, the potential for two going down means the relegation battle results in five Clubs needing to pay full attention.
WD look cemented to the foot of the table 14 points behind Helensburgh, but with three games in hand (including two against Helensburgh in their remaining 10), catching their nearest opponents is still a possibility. However, if Greenock are relegated from National 3, and we have two down from West 2 to 3, then WD need another 3 points on top of that to catch Uddingston.
| West 2 | ||||||||
| Played | W | L | D | Diff | TB | LB | Points | |
| Cumnock | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 481 | 11 | 0 | 59 |
| Wigtownshire | 12 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 159 | 7 | 0 | 45 |
| Strathaven | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 111 | 5 | 1 | 34 |
| Oban Lorne | 11 | 6 | 5 | 0 | 78 | 3 | 3 | 30 |
| Dalziel | 11 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 3 | 27 |
| Paisley | 13 | 6 | 7 | 0 | -149 | 1 | 0 | 25 |
| Clydebank | 13 | 4 | 9 | 0 | -95 | 2 | 3 | 21 |
| Uddingston | 11 | 3 | 8 | 0 | -190 | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| Helensburgh | 11 | 2 | 8 | 1 | -218 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
| Waysiders/ Drumpellier | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | -192 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
Helensburgh & Uddy will both be looking up the table where both Paisley & Clydebank have played two games more so are by no means safe. It is though a tough run-in for both Uddy and Burgh.
In addition to the two against WD, Helensburgh have two against Strathaven as well as Cumnock away to contend with, whilst Uddy have Oban twice as well as Cumnock. Perhaps it will all come down to the game on 2nd April when the pair are scheduled to meet Ardencaple.
Loads of action to keep us interested across the West 2 competition.
In addition to the two against WD, Helensburgh have two against Strathaven as well as Cumnock away to contend with, whilst Uddy have Oban twice as well as Cumnock. Perhaps it will all come down to the game on 2nd April when the pair are scheduled to meet Ardencaple.
Loads of action to keep us interested across the West 2 competition.
West 3
Saturdays big game in West 3 took place between the top two at Auchenkilns with Cumbernauld hosting Glasgow Uni Medics.
Whilst both have been scoring plenty of points they have also been pretty mean defensively - it looks like it was the defences who were on top with little between them at the end of 80 minutes. At 18 - 14 in favour of the hosts, there were no try bonus points but Medics do pick up a lose bonus.
Cumbernauld finish their league campaign on 47 points, Medics are 8 behind with three games remaining (Lanark this weekend, Cowal on 19th Feb and Hyndland on 12th March). Medics are looking for a couple of wins and a bonus point in the remaining games to take this seasons West 3 title.
Whilst both have been scoring plenty of points they have also been pretty mean defensively - it looks like it was the defences who were on top with little between them at the end of 80 minutes. At 18 - 14 in favour of the hosts, there were no try bonus points but Medics do pick up a lose bonus.
Cumbernauld finish their league campaign on 47 points, Medics are 8 behind with three games remaining (Lanark this weekend, Cowal on 19th Feb and Hyndland on 12th March). Medics are looking for a couple of wins and a bonus point in the remaining games to take this seasons West 3 title.
Bishopton strengthened their grip on third place with an important win away at Loch Lomond, helped also by Lochaber losing at Shawlands. With three games in hand, Bish can match Cumbernaulds point total, so still technically in with a chance of the title, but there's a big big points differential to be closed.
Shawlands win wasn't enough to move them up the table as Cowal won at Lanark
Shawlands win wasn't enough to move them up the table as Cowal won at Lanark
| West 3 | ||||||||
| Played | W | L | D | Diff | TB | LB | Points | |
| Cumbernauld | 12 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 344 | 6 | 1 | 47 |
| Glasgow University Medics | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 213 | 6 | 1 | 39 |
| Bishopton | 9 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 87 | 4 | 0 | 32 |
| Lochaber | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 173 | 4 | 3 | 23 |
| Loch Lomond | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | -10 | 2 | 0 | 23 |
| Moffat | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | -125 | 5 | 1 | 22 |
| Birkmyre | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 96 | 3 | 2 | 21 |
| Cowal | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | -34 | 3 | 1 | 13 |
| Shawlands | 9 | 2 | 7 | 0 | -100 | 1 | 2 | 11 |
| Isle of Mull | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | -35 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| Clydesdale | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | -160 | 2 | 0 | 7 |
| Hyndland | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | -287 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Lanark | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | -162 | 0 | 0 | -10 |
In addition to Medics v Lanark this weekend, we also have Birkmyre hosting Lochaber in the battle for fourth, as well as Cowal v Mull and Bishopton v Clydesdale.
We're not sure if the league table is up to date as the points deduction for unfulfilled games doesn't look right.
We're not sure if the league table is up to date as the points deduction for unfulfilled games doesn't look right.
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