West 1:
Well, the top 2 in West 1 put down a bit of marker to the challengers who fancied a shot at promotion action this season.
Leaders Garnock stuck 50 points past East Kilbride with no reply whilst 2nd placed Stewartry won 55 - 16 at Cambuslang. Whilst the automatic promotion spot might have been a bit too much to ask, both East Kilbride and Cambuslang must have been casting an eye on the play-off place that comes with second place. However, these results suggest they have a way to go yet.
West Results - 3rd December 2022
Kilmarnock were in third place with a much better chance at that play-off spot, but they too have had that ambition stomped on with a 46-10 defeat at local rivals Cumnock. This result moves Cumnock into 3rd place, five behind Stewartry, but having played a game more.
It's looking increasingly like the battle for the title is now between Garnock & Stewartry.
The relegation battle took a wee turn at the weekend as well. Lenzie won against Ardrossan Accies, whilst Carrick had a win against Annan. Annan had a comfortable win against Carrick the previous week, whilst the Predictor had Annan as strong favourites.
At 31 - 25, the result was close, but it's a crucial 5 points for Carrick in their battle to avoid the drop to West 2. They are 5 points ahead of Accies, but they have played a game more.
Lenzies win moves them ahead of both Cambuslang and East Kilbride.
Next weekend Garnock host Carrick and Stewartry host Lenzie, which we're pencilling in as full points for the two leading the title challenge. Accies host Kilmarnock, which should be a win for the visitors, but will there be a hang-over from this weekends result?
| West 1 | |||||||||
| Played | W | L | D | Diff | TB | LB | Ded | Points | |
| Garnock | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 224 | 7 | 0 | 43 | |
| Stewartry | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 240 | 7 | 0 | 39 | |
| Cumnock | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 158 | 7 | 2 | 33 | |
| Kilmarnock | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 79 | 5 | 1 | 30 | |
| Lenzie | 10 | 5 | 5 | 0 | -41 | 1 | 1 | 22 | |
| Cambuslang | 9 | 4 | 5 | 0 | -90 | 5 | 1 | 22 | |
| East Kilbride | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | -12 | 4 | 1 | 21 | |
| Annan | 10 | 3 | 7 | 0 | -103 | 4 | 2 | 18 | |
| Carrick | 10 | 1 | 9 | 0 | -273 | 1 | 1 | 6 | |
| Ardrossan Academicals | 9 | 1 | 8 | 0 | -182 | 0 | 0 | -3 | 1 |
West 2:
The results at the top of West 2 went pretty much as expected, well almost.
Leaders Strathaven won at home, 2nd placed Oban Lorne won away, whilst third place Dalziel sat idle as their game with Irvine was off as the Irvine were unable to raise a team - but then things got interesting.
The big West 2 game of the day saw fourth placed Wigtownshire visit fifth placed Uddingston, with Shire 6 points ahead and a game in hand. However it was the Lanarkshire team who took the honours, but it was close at 10 - 5. Shire have lost three times in the league this season, each time being on their travels into Lanarkshire.
West Results - 3rd December 2022
Having being given a wee nudge following last weeks update, we've been crunching the numbers, and by our reckoning (with no Club coming down from the National leagues), we will have two promoted from West 2 to 1, and possibly a 3rd if two go up from West 1 - we're happy to be shot down in flames if this number crunching proves to be incorrect.
If correct, it means the top five all have an interest in the promotion race.
Another piece of information that has come our way is that former Glasgow Warriors players Grant Stewart is now back playing with his home Club Strathaven - this could have a massive influence on the promotion battle.
At the foot of the table, Irvines non-fulfillment means they are docked four points, leaving them on one. Clydebanks defeat at Strathaven leaves them on 8 points and then we have Paisley & Strathendrick who met each other on Saturday.
Prior to Saturday, they both had two wins apiece with Endrick ahead by virtue of more bonus points. Despite going down a try in the first few minutes, it was Strathendrick who took the points with a 22 - 16 win. A lose bonus for Paisley means they are now 10 points ahead of Irvine, with Endrick another 6 ahead.
This weekend coming, leaders Strathaven have a home tie against Uni Medics, Oban welcome Endrick whilst Dalziel have a tricky derby match against Uddy. Whilst at the foot of the table it's Paisley v Irvine - a win for Irvine and they go into the Christmas break with Clydebank firmly in their sights.
| West 2 | |||||||||
| Played | W | L | D | Diff | TB | LB | Ded | Points | |
| Strathaven | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 412 | 7 | 2 | 41 | |
| Oban Lorne | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 279 | 7 | 0 | 39 | |
| Dalziel | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 145 | 6 | 0 | 34 | |
| Wigtownshire | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 282 | 6 | 2 | 32 | |
| Uddingston | 10 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 29 | |
| Glasgow University Medics | 10 | 4 | 6 | 0 | -164 | 4 | 1 | 21 | |
| Strathendrick | 9 | 3 | 6 | 0 | -157 | 3 | 2 | 17 | |
| Paisley | 10 | 2 | 8 | 0 | -253 | 1 | 2 | 11 | |
| Clydebank | 10 | 1 | 9 | 0 | -242 | 2 | 2 | 8 | |
| Irvine | 8 | 1 | 7 | 0 | -315 | 2 | 2 | -7 | 1 |
West 3:
A wee bit of shuffling of positions in West 3 following the weekend. Whilst Birkmyre won to maintain top spot, a loss for Lomond/ Helensburgh v Waysiders Drumpellier and the Bishopton game being off, has allowed Cumbernauld to jump into second place from sixth. They had a big win against Shawlands, who now find themselves down one place to sixth.
West Results - 3rd December 2022
Lomond/ Helensburgh picked up a lose bonus point so they're up to third, with Bishopton down to fourth.
WDs win moves them up one place and onto the same points as Lochaber, whilst both have games in hand on leaders Birkmyre.
Mull suffer a second points deduction of the season for failing to field a team, which will make it increasingly difficult for them to make it a top six spot for the league split second half of the season - though not impossible.
Lochaber and WD are 7th & 8th, but have games in hand on both Hyndland and Shawlands who are currently 5th and 6th. With so many Clubs with an interest in the top six split, it's going to be interesting to see how these remaining game go, and that starts this weekend coming with WD away at Hyndland and Lochaber away at Shawlands.
Our remaining result from the weekend saw Moffat hosting Lanark/ Clydesdale with the home team taking the honours.
In addition to the important games at Hyndland and Shawlands this coming weekend, we have another few games that will impact league positions.
Bishopton v Birkmyre is hard one to call, Birkmyre are scoring loads of points, whilst Bishoptons defense is being miserly - this could go either way.
Mull v Cumbernauld is another awkward one to call - Mull are scoring loads of points at home and have 4 try bonus points from 5 games. Cumbernauld also scoring plenty of points, but have had a few tight games against top 6 challengers.
Our final game of the weekend has Lomond/ Helensburgh hosting Moffat. Lomond/ Helensburgh will be looking to make up for their defeat to WD, whilst Moffat are looking for their first away win of the season.
We could see another significant shuffling of positions again this weekend, but there's plenty more of that come in January with the combination of fixtures we have remaining.
| West 3 | |||||||||
| Played | W | L | D | Diff | TB | LB | Ded | Points | |
| Birkmyre | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 131 | 4 | 0 | -3 | 25 |
| Cumbernauld | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 163 | 3 | 1 | 20 | |
| Lomond & Helensburgh | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 70 | 2 | 1 | 19 | |
| Bishopton | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 82 | 2 | 0 | 18 | |
| Hyndland | 7 | 3 | 4 | 0 | -25 | 4 | 2 | 18 | |
| Shawlands | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 | -68 | 4 | 1 | -3 | 16 |
| Lochaber | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 83 | 4 | 1 | 14 | |
| Waysiders/Drumpellier | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | -33 | 3 | 1 | 14 | |
| Isle of Mull | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 72 | 4 | 0 | -7 | 9 |
| Moffat | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | -177 | 3 | 1 | -3 | 5 |
| Lanark & Clydesdale | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | -298 | 0 | 1 | -3 | -2 |
Hearing a (very credible) rumour that Strathaven have been given a 2 point deduction for playing an unregistered player against Clydebank, wonder who that could have been.
ReplyDeleteSee the points deduction has now been applied - but they get to keep the result.
ReplyDelete