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Promotion and Relegation - It's hotting up
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Park Ranger View Drop Down
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    Posted: 01 Mar 2022 at 06:10
Promotion

Let's all assume 2 are going up. I'm sure Doncaster and Ealing have sound ground plans in place.

Park's game in hand over Caldy (Plymouth Albion at home) will take place on the final game of the season and Caldy will need to watch that result.

Caldy are obviously the form team and it is difficult to predict who could beat them - maybe only Park and Rams for their away fixtures.

Meanwhile Park have 4 huge banana skins - Cinderford and Blackheath away and Cambridge and Caldy at home.

Then we have Caldy v Sale where someone is going to drop points.

My prediction is Caldy Champions and Park runners up for the second promotion spot with Sale in third place.


Relegation

Blackheath are the key. They will be fighting for their survival now which makes their home game against Park very tasty indeed. 

What is for certain is that everything will go down to the wire.
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Big Eddie View Drop Down
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Caldy can never be favourites for anything...........wooden hut, a pot noodle for lunch and an open field to play on with a couple of benches for the odd spectator...(and most of Caldy's spectators are distinctly odd) ........at best puts Caldy in the role of 'Pretender'

Sale are the clear and obvious favourites.........they have a stand FFS and a much better nickname. Difficult for the 'Ravers' to ever be viewed as favourites when up against 'The Dogs of War'

The 'Dogs' have 7 games remaining .....5 of which are at home
The 'Ravers' have 7 games remaining ....4 are at home
Park have 8 games remaining ...4 at home

Amongst others the Ravers have to play Park, the Dogs and the Rams as well as Albion and Leeds who will be very much scrapping for points.......Taunton and Bishop Stortford are very capable of causing an upset. This week it is Plymouth Albion at home and the Ravers will have to up their intensity enormously because I understand that the giant father and son combo of Colin and Chris Bentley will be travelling to the Wirral to support Plymouth Albion. That gives the Albion an advantage before play even begins

The Dogs have Rams and Cinderford both at home and a visit to Paton Field for a bit of pot noodle fun....the Dogs only other away game is against misfiring Moseley

Park have Cambridge and the Ravers at home

Predicted order

1. The Dogs of War
2. Park
3. Possibly the Ravers but the Rams/Cambridge and Cinderford are still in the mix


Edited by Big Eddie - 01 Mar 2022 at 08:05
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FHLH View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Big Eddie Big Eddie wrote:

Caldy can never be favourites..... 

Big Eddie, you tease, don't be so coy!

Who'd have thought that Ampthill's ground would pass muster - you have nothing to fear on that front - I'm sure you can dig deep for some extra champagne storage - or is it Cava? 

Predicting the end game might end up with you as champions - but we're too far out for that. Come back in four weeks time!

Your ever loving, 

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Big Eddie View Drop Down
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Dear FHLH,

I absolutely agree predicting the end game is foolish with a quarter of the season to go.....but I just had to challenge Park Ranger who was positioning Caldy as favourites and that just cannot be right...........the Caldy coaching team don't even realise there will be an end to the season because their focus is only ever the next game........

Anyway I don't think we have ever paired our pot noodles with Cava it just underwhelms. 

Our tipple of choice on coach journeys on the way to every game is South African Graham Beck Brut NV a first class methode champenoise sparkling wine that is terrific value  ..... and a good Malbec on the way back......as ever the Ravers will stay true to their motto WOLWAOTB
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castleparknight View Drop Down
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Originally posted by FHLH FHLH wrote:

Who'd have thought that Ampthill's ground would pass muster 

I believe clubs that come up to the Championship have a predefined number of years in which to make improvements. I think Ampthill may be getting near to that deadline but I am not 100% on this - and last time I was down there someone in the clubhouse was mentioning that some improvement works may be in the pipeline. A flat surface to stand on whilst leaning against the rails would be welcome LOL
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Big Eddie View Drop Down
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Originally posted by castleparknight castleparknight wrote:

 A flat surface to stand on whilst leaning against the rails would be welcome LOL

At least Ampthill have rails.............a bit of rope and road spikes have worked well for Caldy 
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Camquin View Drop Down
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Ampthill were talking about a new site about 2 miles up the road.
I assume it went quiet due to Covid.
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A nice bit Park Ranger and great subject and Big Eddie always the underdog?
Rewind a couple of seasons my friend and the battle at the top of Nat 2 north.
Sale had to come to Caldy to win the league, about this time of the year if I recall,, history sir history, it does repeat itself!

So, as I see it, Its Caldy's to lose .. I did say back at the start of the season, after seeing the pre season reports I fancied Caldy.

I think a couple of things have come to light and we will know more after this coming week.

If Cindy beat Park, I think Park do not finish in the top two.
I think the loss of Howard in the back division is a major problem, reasons stated before, not sure if and  when he is back, but he is a major key to Parks back division unlocking defences.
I also think the fall out from Cokanasiga and Eshergate might affect Park. Will he be back in a Park shirt at 12 next week, or will he be at Esher. If as I suspect he is back at Park, then I think it totally devalues the loan system, turning out like he did last week and I think there might be some more fall out from it and the people that send him out on loan may make him stay at Esher for the honesty of the competition

What Park cannot afford, is to lose both him and Howard.

Rams are coming up hard on the rails, but I can see a Caldy/Sale 1-2 at the top

At the bottom, well TJ's have already gone.

The Blackheath v Leeds game this week is massive for both clubs, even though Leeds have games in hand. If Leeds win this then I think Blackheath finish 2nd to bottom and run the risk of going down. 
What I do think is mad, Blackheath offering the team £500 a man win bonus from last week, for each game  won and then losing the last play of the game, but Blackheath obviously are very very desperate to stay in National 1 and are throwing that kind of money at it, to do it. The question is once they are safe, if they are, do they take that away again?

Full views will be posted with this week previews as always 

Stay safe you all ..






Edited by Scrumtime - 01 Mar 2022 at 11:23
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Big Eddie View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Scrumtime Scrumtime wrote:

A nice bit Park Ranger and great subject and Big Eddie always the underdog?
Rewind a couple of seasons my friend and the battle at the top of Nat 2 north.

Sale had to come to Caldy to win the league, about this time of the year if I recall,, history sir history, it does repeat itself!

So, as I see it, Its Caldy's to lose .. I did say back at the start of the season, after seeing the pre season reports I fancied Caldy.

It was a big day in late Spring 2017 when Caldy snatched the game from Sale after the Dogs of War had raced into what seemed to be an unassailable lead. The Dogs of War will still be smarting from that and their never say day attitude which has been on display in their last two games will be to the fore I am sure in the fixture on 23rd of April.

If the game on 23rd April is half as good as it was back then I for one will be happy regardless of the result.........if the Dogs win I will buy Jimbo Lad a pint of 'Trappers Hat' an iconic Wirral beer.....with a very unusual and iconic name which I will relate to Jimbo Lad when we meet.

Caldy are always underdogs in every game at this level........at least that is how I see it.

Anyway we have to beat Albion/Leeds/Taunton/Park/Bishop Stortford and Rams before the Sale game comes around. We could lose any or all of those........

WOLWAOTB


Edited by Big Eddie - 01 Mar 2022 at 11:26
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Camquin View Drop Down
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I get the impression there is no love lost between the Dogs and the Ravers. I was at Edgley Rd for Cambridge's great escape. We were reliant on one of Moseley or Caldy scoring in the dying minutes, but such was the maths, we did not mind who. There was a huge roar when Moseley scored to condemn Caldy to Nat2 - from the Sale fans. Technically, Cambridge still needed the fourth try at that point, but it was clear it was coming. The Sale boys were mentally already on their summer break.

Anyhow, best of luck. But ideally lose to one of the banana skins and beat Rams - that way you might open the door for us. Though if we stay as we are, I will see you next year. I have still to make it up to the little wooden shack.
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Big Eddie View Drop Down
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......and some Pot Noodle Camquin. 

I was at Moseley and of course was not aware of how the joyous Sale supporters celebrated as Caldy succumbed to Moseley in the final minutes to be sent tumbling back to National 2 North. 




Edited by Big Eddie - 01 Mar 2022 at 11:38
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jimbojetset View Drop Down
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Originally posted by Big Eddie Big Eddie wrote:

Originally posted by Scrumtime Scrumtime wrote:

A nice bit Park Ranger and great subject and Big Eddie always the underdog?
Rewind a couple of seasons my friend and the battle at the top of Nat 2 north.

Sale had to come to Caldy to win the league, about this time of the year if I recall,, history sir history, it does repeat itself!

So, as I see it, Its Caldy's to lose .. I did say back at the start of the season, after seeing the pre season reports I fancied Caldy.

It was a big day in late Spring 2017 when Caldy snatched the game from Sale after the Dogs of War had raced into what seemed to be an unassailable lead. The Dogs of War will still be smarting from that and their never say day attitude which has been on display in their last two games will be to the fore I am sure in the fixture on 23rd of April.

If the game on 23rd April is half as good as it was back then I for one will be happy regardless of the result.........if the Dogs win I will buy Jimbo Lad a pint of 'Trappers Hat' an iconic Wirral beer.....with a very unusual and iconic name which I will relate to Jimbo Lad when we meet.

Caldy are always underdogs in every game at this level........at least that is how I see it.

Anyway we have to beat Albion/Leeds/Taunton/Park/Bishop Stortford and Rams before the Sale game comes around. We could lose any or all of those........

WOLWAOTB
Tragically, I no longer drink beer, but, if you have a decent whisky I'm more than happy with that. However as you say, there's lots of rugby to play and the top of the table might not look anything like it does now. Might be Rams as champions, with Cinderford and Cambridge in 2nd and 3rd. This league has been fantastic so far with teams causing upsets left right and centre! Early season, Sale were absolutely spanked by TJ's and Caldy were nilled by Birmingham Moseley and more recently Bishop's beat Rosslyn Park. No one is guaranteed a win in this league  
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Looking forward to visiting Caldy again Saturday. Nice memories of visiting previously.

Isn't it great it's so open at the top of the league, remember the Hartpury and Coventry walk overs. Will Rosslyn think finally if they finish in a promotion spot?

As for the bottom, with Albion down there I don't want to comment too much but it seems Leeds won't go away which made our win important Saturday in a month of games where three homes games, two had to be targeted and Cinderford a point I would have taken prior to the game, Moseley was postponed in another that may have been close. Now into March and it changes to three away and one at home so see I will see where we are in April now as taking it one game at a time still. Pick up as many points as possible would be my aim. With the nature of all the leagues this season it seems, it wouldn't surprise me if still as close for everyone come a month time. It really would be a final run in then with fixtures against Leeds and Darlington away on successive weekends.
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Hot off the twitter :  Bottom 3 will be going only one up 

All that money and Ealing still cannot buy their way in!!

RFU Championship Clubs Minimum Standards Criteria Findings

Issued by Rugby Football Union

 
  • Doncaster Knights and Ealing Trailfinders have not met the minimum standards criteria for promotion 
     
  • RFU and PRL will work with clubs to support the development of their plans to meet the necessary criteria for future promotion

The Covid recovery measures agreed by the RFU Council in June last year allowed for the Gallagher Premiership to be expanded to 14 clubs at the end of the 2021/22 season enabling the winner of the Championship to be promoted subject to meeting the required Minimum Standards Criteria.

Minimum Standards Criteria are in place to ensure Premiership Rugby clubs and promoted clubs have suitable facilities to protect player safety and welfare and to provide a good quality, safe environment for spectators. Each club and its nominated ground undergo an annual independent audit to assess compliance with the Minimum Standards Criteria.

All Championship clubs know the Minimum Standards Criteria required for eligibility for promotion into the Gallagher Premiership Rugby league. Standards have been in place for over 20 years and were refined last year to make the application of them simpler.  The standards are agreed by the Professional Game Board (PGB) which has Championship Clubs representation on it.

This year two Championship clubs – Doncaster Knights and Ealing Trailfinders nominated their home grounds to be eligible for promotion and to be independently audited under the Minimum Standards Criteria. 

One of the minimum standards criteria is that the stadium must hold a minimum of 10,001 fans; this is to ensure the ground falls under the remit of the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA), regulated by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), and the Green Guide, as well as to be of a standard suitable for the top league of one of the nation’s major sports.  This has been in place for many years but was considered again when the standards were reviewed last season.

Ealing Trailfinders does not currently have a licensed capacity, but the ground holds approximately 5,000 with 2,115 seats.

Doncaster Knights currently has a capacity of around 5,183 with 1,926 seats.

As a result, the independent audit has found that neither club has successfully met the Minimum Standards Criteria based on capacity (as well as other factors). The PGB therefore made a recommendation to RFU Board that neither club could be promoted to the Premiership for the 22/23 season. The RFU Board has ratified this decision. 

Both clubs have suggested they could seek to expand their facilities however no formal planning permissions are in place for this to happen.  Neither Doncaster Knights nor Ealing Trailfinders proposed ground-share arrangements in their applications. 

Bill Sweeney, Chief Executive Officer of the RFU said; “The RFU and PRL would welcome a Championship club being promoted to create a 14-team Gallagher Premiership league. 

“In the past, clubs with home grounds which would not meet the Minimum Standards Criteria have nominated other grounds, under a ground-share agreement to provide a bridge between a club developing its own facilities to provide safe, compliant participation in the Premiership. 

“The RFU and PRL would like to support and encourage all Championship clubs to continue to develop their proposals for the expansion and development of their grounds including the submission of formal planning applications."

Both clubs are entitled to appeal the decision through an independent arbitration process.

This decision leaves 11 teams in the league and therefore only the winner of National One will be promoted to the Championship for the 22/23 season.

-ENDS-

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scrumtime - only the bottom 2 will be relegated from N1 as OEs are already out.
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Originally posted by Raider999 Raider999 wrote:

scrumtime - only the bottom 2 will be relegated from N1 as OEs are already out.

Bottom 3. OEs will be placed at the bottom so including OEs 3 sides go down
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Originally posted by Scrumtime Scrumtime wrote:

Originally posted by Raider999 Raider999 wrote:

scrumtime - only the bottom 2 will be relegated from N1 as OEs are already out.

Bottom 3. OEs will be placed at the bottom so including OEs 3 sides go down


Yes, I agree - just clarifying
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However, I do not believe OEs will enter a side into National 2 next season.
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Camquin View Drop Down
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The Leeds match at Club this week takes on more interest now there are definitely two clubs going down.
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Originally posted by Camquin Camquin wrote:

However, I do not believe OEs will enter a side into National 2 next season.

They can't do that. If they want to get back in the leagues, let them start again in Kent 2 and work their way back up like Richmond and London Welsh are.
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