2021-22 Championship - Week 12

Into the second half of the season we go:

Didn’t realise there was a round of matches… as it turns out to be our 2nd bye weekend.

Having slipped to third in the prediction league, I feel I can sit down again and forecast next Saturday’s results in a relaxed manner. All pressure is off.

Ampthill 4-0 Nottingham. Both teams will be targeting a win in this basement battle but I expect Ampthill to tough it out and get the points.
Doncaster 5-0 Coventry. Doncaster to keep their momentum going after last Saturday’s result against an unsettled Coventry squad.
Hartpury 0-5 Ealing. Up to a month or so back and I thought Ealing would be runaway leaders of this league. And if I was an Ealing supporter I would be tearing my hair out. Having said that, surely they will be training hard all week and be totally up for this trip to the south west?
Jersey 5-0 London Scottish. Any trip to the Island is daunting. This should be no exception.
Richmond 1-4 Cornish Pirates. I was not overly impressed with The Pirates against Ampthill and I think they will have to up their game against an inconsistent Richmond side.

Ampthill 5-1 Nottingham

Ampthill 5 - 2 Nottingham

Ampthill 5 - 0 Nottingham
Doncaster 5 - 0 Coventry
Hartpury 0 - 5 Ealing
Jersey 5 - 1 London Scottish
Richmond 1 - 5 Cornish Pirates

I can see many more games being postponed . .  but then with 10 day isolation surely Boxing day fixtures at risk too . . .  maybe time for a mid season break and cancel the cup to ensure league gets finished?

I think we will see quite a few Boxing Day postponements, which is a shame because Bedford have a (capped) 4500 sell out. Personally, if teams are able to play I’d continue playing rather than having a forced break because it’s quite possible there will be more covid outbreaks later in the season, so if you don’t have one atm then you may as well get the game on.

Bluesman11 wrote: I think we will see quite a few Boxing Day postponements, which is a shame because Bedford have a (capped) 4500 sell out. Personally, if teams are able to play I’d continue playing rather than having a forced break because it’s quite possible there will be more covid outbreaks later in the season, so if you don’t have one atm then you may as well get the game on.

starting XV for Ealing against Hartpury - I think that this is probably the best side that I've seen Ealing put out this year, and not only because of the presence of club stalwart and centurion Alun Walker returning. Unfortunately, the club's last couple of matches have shown that Rayn Smid in the starting line up is a must, and there he is. Angus Kernohan adds some real pace to the wing, which I like, and Pat Howard is always good for a rampage or two through the mid-field. I'm even a fan of the bench picks in general. I'd like to see Will Davis instead of George, but I really like that we have a replacement 9 and 10 - makes me nervous not to. A strong side, which makes sense as they get a long rest before the New Year's day game against Pirates.

1. Dylan Smith

2. Alun Walker

3. Lewis Thiede

4. Simon Linsell

5. Bobby De Wee

6. Max Northcote-Green

7. Simon Uzokwe

8. Rayn Smid

9. Jordan Burns

10. Craig Willis

11. Angus Kernohan

12. Pat Howard

13. Max Bodilly

14. Cian Kelleher

15. David Johnston

Replacements 

16. Shaun Malton

17. James Gibbons

18. George Davis

19. James Cannon

20. Malon Al-Jiboori

21. Craig Hampson

22. Luke Daniels

23. Steven Shingler