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The Run in. The race for the Title.
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Rothman2 View Drop Down
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    Posted: 24 Feb 2025 at 19:54

In compiling this, I think the only certainty is that while the top 6 positions may change, and indeed the make up of the final placings may change a little, it is clear that the winner of the league will come from these teams.


With just seven games left, it is still far from certain how this will shape up. This is testament to how competitive this league is. 


I have set out the current top 6 in the table, and below that, the remaining fixtures for each of those teams. It is clear to see that it is going to be an exciting and nerve jangling finish to the season.


I must admit that two weeks ago I looked at the remaining Roth fixtures with trepidation, thinking that it couldn’t be any tougher.


Looking at the other fixtures it is clear that all teams on this list will be thinking the same thing. Have a look and put your comments below:


CURRENT TOP 6

Team

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Points for

Points Against

Points Diff.

Try BP

Losing BP

Total Points

Richmond

19

16

1

2

586

353

233

12

0

78

Rotherham

19

16

0

3

608

402

206

10

2

76

Rams

19

13

0

6

528

338

190

14

4

70

Rosslyn Park

19

13

0

6

645

483

162

13

2

67

Plymouth Albion

19

12

0

7

512

459

53

13

5

66

Blackheath

19

12

0

7

598

421

177

10

4

62



Edited by Rothman2 - 24 Feb 2025 at 19:56
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Rothman2 View Drop Down
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Rotherham

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REMAINING GAMES FOR EACH OF THE TOP 6 CLUBS:

Home Games

Date

Away Games

Date

Richmond

Bish. Stortford

Sat.1st March

Birm. Moseley

Fri. 7th March


Plymouth Albion

Sat. 15th March

Sedgley Park

Sat. 22nd March


Rams

Fri. 4th April

Rotherham T.

Sat. 12th April


Blackheath

Sat. 26th April









Home Games

Date

Away Games

Date

Rotherham T.

Birm. Moseley

Sat. 1st March

Plymouth Albion

Sat. 8th March


Sedgley Park

Sat. 15th March

Rams

Sat. 22nd March


Richmond

Sat. 12th April

Blackheath

Sat. 5th April




Rosslyn Park

Sat. 26th April







Home Games

Date

Away Games

Date

Rams

Plymouth Albion

Sat. 1st March

Sedgley Park

Sat. 8th March


Rotherham T.

Sat. 22nd March

Blackheath

Sat. 15th March


Rosslyn Park

Sat. 12th April

Richmond

Fri. 4th April




Darlington M.P

Sat. 26th April







Home Games

Date

Away Games

Date

Rosslyn Park

Leicester Lions

Sat. 1st March

Bish. Stortford

Sat. 8th March


Birm. Moseley

Sat. 15th March

Plymouth Albion

Sat. 22nd March


Sedgley Park

Sat. 5th April

Rams

Sat. 12th April


Rotherham T.

Sat. 26th April









Home Games

Date

Away Games

Date

Plymouth Alb.

Rotherham T.

Sat. 8th March

Rams

Sat. 1st March


Rosslyn Park

Sat. 22nd March

Richmond

Sat. 15th March


Esher

Sat. 12th April

Darlington M.P

Sat. 5th April




Sale F.C.

Sat. 26th April







Home Games

Date

Away Games

Date

Blackheath

Sedgley Park

Sat. 1st March

Sale F.C.

Sat. 8th March


Rams

Sat. 15th March

Dings Crusaders

Sat. 22nd March


Rotherham T.

Sat. 5th April

Leicester Lions

Sat. 12th April




Richmond

Sat. 26th April

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Mark W-J View Drop Down
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Points: 3736 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark W-J Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 Feb 2025 at 20:30
If my maths is correct, there are twelve games still to be played between the top six sides. Roth and Rams both still have to play all of the other five clubs in the top six. My only prediction is that it's going to go to the wire!

Edited by Mark W-J - 24 Feb 2025 at 20:32
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FHLH View Drop Down
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Cambridge

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I tried doing this the year Cambridge were promoted. You will be constantly updating it - you'll prepare a spreadsheet with forecast points and still be wrong.

National One is a superb league and you have promotion and relegation. I confess that I wish Cambridge were there, especially seeing the effort Bury St Edmunds are putting in by recruiting James Shanahan from Blackheath. That would give us a true local derby!

However, the top 6 have conspired to play each other so many times before the end of the season I cannot see any clear winner - yet (but by my prediction table results I'd ignore that).

I'd like to see Rotherham winning - there are too many London clubs in Prem/Champ LOLLOL
"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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Camquin View Drop Down
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Wishing the Championship on anyone is cruel.
And I have nothing against the other fans or clubs.
But the structure is terrible.

14 teams, and hence 26 league games, will help.
But the discrepancy between the haves and have-nots is not going away.
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Rich13 View Drop Down
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It looks fairly straightforward to me….Richmond have enough of a buffer over everybody except Roth to win the league unless they start losing home games (which would then bring other teams into the mix)……or unless Roth win all those away games, which will be a very tough task. 
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kingsheathlad View Drop Down
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Points: 3415 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote kingsheathlad Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Feb 2025 at 08:04
I will go with Richmond.
Unfortunately injuries can have an impact on squads.
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Points: 1223 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Runitback Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 25 Feb 2025 at 09:10
Rams seemed to have dropped off for some reason, but there are still enough big games for them to get back in the mix.

I am not sure Richmond want promotion to the shambles that is the Championship!! Currently though they might be favourites but have a long injury list.

For me Rotherham are in the driving seat. A great coach who knows how to win leagues. A Club that spent many years in the Championship and also Premiership, so they get my vote.
Run with it
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Nat1 View Drop Down
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I agree with you. A few weeks ago I would have said Richmond were strong favourites for the title, but Rotherham just won't go away and find ways to win, even when down by 20+ points at half time! That's a sign of serious title contenders/favourites. I heard they have a large injury list with players playing out of position, but it certainly doesn't seem to be hampering them much.

Roth vs Mond is a massive fixture for both clubs, and could be the decider in all honesty. It's true that both clubs (and Rams) have some tricky matches yet to play, and Richmond have that extra home game, which could be significant, but even with that I do think Rotherham have real momentum and a solid Championship winning coach at the helm. Good luck to them, they could be on the verge of doing what Caldy did a few years ago in earning back to back promotions from Nat 2 North to the Championship. Impressive.

As for Rams, someone else mentioned it that they keep starting seasons very strongly and then fading away, year after year. I wonder if it is time for new coaching/leadership as whatever the current status quo is it doesn't seem to get the job done and a familiar pattern is emerging there. I believe the DoR at Rams is actually the Rams CEO's son so that might be awkward around the dinner table if they did part company with their DoR/coaching staff!

A very exciting couple of months to come, and it isn't over til the fat lady sings of course. Thank you RM2 for your efforts in compiling the tables and regular match day updates, good on you.


Edited by Nat1 - 25 Feb 2025 at 15:44
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Rothman2 View Drop Down
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Points: 12152 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rothman2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 4 hours 11 minutes ago at 17:11
Can’t understand why another thread has been started.

In starting this thread I published the league table and my next posting was a grid with the teams and dates the top 6 were playing!!!!!

Having said that the more threads the better. Really want to create as many debates as possible to highlight this great league. 




Edited by Rothman2 - 3 hours 48 minutes ago at 17:34
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It does rather complicate the promotion 'race' if some clubs are trying not to win it! A few months ago, I asked Camquin whether Cambridge were enjoying the Championship, and he replied, "Our crowds are up."

Perhaps someone could summarise what is currently going on regarding level 2 and the possible bankrupts' return, and the impact on level 3. Or is it all top secret?


Edited by sedgley dave - 3 hours 3 minutes ago at 18:19
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Rothman2 View Drop Down
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Have not heard anything recently Dave.

I don’t know whether it’s to do with the Six Nations being on or the situation relating to the vote of no confidence in Sweeney, or a bit of either.

I saw a report on the BBC website on 28th February mainly relative to giving more responsibility back to the community clubs as per link :

I do hope that by community they are not referring to National Leagues, particularly tampering with our brilliant league, for me the best in the country by devolving into a regional competition, which, could actually dilute the quality of the league.

I had taken it as read that the top team goes up no matter what. No one goes down from the championship, and only two would go down, on the basis that the Championship would be expanded to 14 clubs, one addition  would be a hybrid club (shouldn’t be allowed) and the Champions of Nat1.

I find the idea of a hybrid (or whatever they are called being placed in a higher division without having won the right to promotion) abhorrent.
It totally stinks to me and furthermore to stop messing around with our league.

The leaders of our game are so out of touch it is unreal.


Edited by Rothman2 - 2 hours 10 minutes ago at 19:12
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Points: 240 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Nat1 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 1 hour 2 minutes ago at 20:20
Rotherham or Richmond up as Nat 1 winner.

+1 other 'invited' up. Rams, Rosslyn Park, Albion, Moseley - did any apply/succeed in the tender process? That all seems to have gone quiet and/or been top secret.

However, if none of the above are 'invited' and if the talk of Worcester Warriors being the preferred 'invited' club is true, then it'll be both DMP and Leicester Lions going  down, based on the most likely final league positions.

Every year it seems to get to Spring time with uncertainty reigning across the leagues, it's unbelievable. What is believable is my certainty that Nat 1 remains the best league in the country (and hopefully doesn't get tinkered with).
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