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Promotion and Relegation - It's hotting up |
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Park Ranger ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() Joined: 30 Apr 2009 Location: Phnom Penh Status: Offline Points: 708 |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Posted: 01 Mar 2022 at 06:10 |
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Promotion 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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If you're not on the pitch you can't win the game
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Big Eddie ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Status: Offline Points: 5042 |
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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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''The future isn't what it used to be''
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FHLH ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() Cambridge Joined: 19 Apr 2009 Location: Cambridge Status: Offline Points: 5316 |
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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, Foghorn |
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"My father told me big men fall just as quick as little ones, if you put a sword through their hearts."
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Big Eddie ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Status: Offline Points: 5042 |
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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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''The future isn't what it used to be''
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castleparknight ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 07 Jun 2012 Location: Doncaster Status: Offline Points: 3003 |
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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
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Onward and Upwards C'mon Donny!
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Big Eddie ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Status: Offline Points: 5042 |
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At least Ampthill have rails.............a bit of rope and road spikes have worked well for Caldy
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''The future isn't what it used to be''
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Camquin ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 01 Jun 2007 Location: Cambridge Status: Offline Points: 11249 |
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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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Sweeney Delenda Est
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Scrumtime ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() Joined: 26 Aug 2020 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 840 |
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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 ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Status: Offline Points: 5042 |
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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 ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 01 Jun 2007 Location: Cambridge Status: Offline Points: 11249 |
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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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Sweeney Delenda Est
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Big Eddie ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Status: Offline Points: 5042 |
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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 ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 11 Oct 2017 Location: sale Status: Offline Points: 450 |
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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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hills17 ![]() British and Irish Lion ![]() Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: South West Status: Offline Points: 226 |
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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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Scrumtime ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() Joined: 26 Aug 2020 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 840 |
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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!!
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Raider999 ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() Joined: 18 Jan 2013 Location: Crawley Status: Offline Points: 4450 |
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scrumtime - only the bottom 2 will be relegated from N1 as OEs are already out.
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RAID ON
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Scrumtime ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() Joined: 26 Aug 2020 Location: London Status: Offline Points: 840 |
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Bottom 3. OEs will be placed at the bottom so including OEs 3 sides go down
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Raider999 ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() Joined: 18 Jan 2013 Location: Crawley Status: Offline Points: 4450 |
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Yes, I agree - just clarifying |
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RAID ON
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Camquin ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 01 Jun 2007 Location: Cambridge Status: Offline Points: 11249 |
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However, I do not believe OEs will enter a side into National 2 next season.
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Sweeney Delenda Est
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Camquin ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 01 Jun 2007 Location: Cambridge Status: Offline Points: 11249 |
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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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Sweeney Delenda Est
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Robb ![]() World Cup Winner ![]() ![]() Joined: 24 Jan 2017 Location: South East Status: Offline Points: 1524 |
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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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