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Bath v Pirates

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Poll Question: Could Pirates beat Bath
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Camquin View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Camquin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Bath v Pirates
    Posted: 27 Nov 2021 at 00:00
A third of the way through the Premiership season and Bath seem to have forgotten how to win.
In a normal season, they would be looking at relegation.
But this is not a normal season, and they might be safe for three years.

Assuming - big assumption - Ealing get automatic promotion - and Pirates stay second, could Pirates win a theoretical play-off?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Cherub Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Nov 2021 at 05:45
No
Always trying to stay bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote WEvans Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Nov 2021 at 13:27
Bath took Exeter all the way last night. They would win a potential play-off with a lot to spare in my opinion.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Taffy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Nov 2021 at 17:11
It’s a big assumption! Jersey Reds look like good 2nd place candidates 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stalwart Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27 Nov 2021 at 19:20
Originally posted by Taffy Taffy wrote:

It’s a big assumption! Jersey Reds look like good 2nd place candidates 

 
And Donny, too. Big game at The Mennaye next week (Sunday 5th) when Donny venture into deepest Kernow. Jersey away at Nottingham - can't see them slipping up there.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Rothman2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 29 Nov 2021 at 16:49
This is exposes the lunacy in pausing relegation.

There is absolutely no pressure or consequence of a) losing or b) finishing bottom, in terms of loss of income to those clubs in the Prem.

At a time where no company or person in the real world is immune to the economic threat of unemployment due to business downturn or worse, created by the uncertainty created as a result of Covid, it is inconceivable that the Premiership clubs think themselves immune to such uncertainty.

Let me remind you of what happened in 1999. At the end of the 98/99 season, we finished second to Bristol in the Championship (or whatever it was called at the time)
In that season Bristol were automatically promoted to the Prem and we had to play the team that finished bottom in a 2 leg play off.

In that season the bottom team, Bedford had lost most of their games so were guaranteed to finish bottom a considerable time before the end of the season so much so, that for their last league game (at home to Richmond) they rested their entire first XV to give them even more opportunity to rest up, knowing that, their season rested upon two games. To the contrary, we had to play right to the end. Bedford lost that game against Richmond conceding over 100 points at home with no consequence whatsoever.
As it happened, Bedford retained their status on try countback as the two games ended 38-38. 
We were able to extract our revenge the following season, against the same opponents in a 2 leg play off, but that season, we, even as Champions, did not automatically go up (second placed team got nothing).
Whether we won or lost is not the point of this post, but what it re-enforces, is that Bath, like Bedford, could lose all their games, rest key players with no consequence, whereas whichever side they play will not have that luxury or finances.

The point being don’t mistake Bath being at the bottom as being a poor side even on a par with Championship teams. Bath would absolutely be well capable of beating any current Championship team comfortably, and so the only way that could be altered is by automatic promotion.


Edited by Rothman2 - 29 Nov 2021 at 16:51
As one door closes…….another one slams in your face.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bedford Bear Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Nov 2021 at 10:52
Originally posted by Rothman2 Rothman2 wrote:


In that season the bottom team, Bedford had lost most of their games so were guaranteed to finish bottom a considerable time before the end of the season so much so, that for their last league game (at home to Richmond) they rested their entire first XV to give them even more opportunity to rest up, knowing that, their season rested upon two games. To the contrary, we had to play right to the end. Bedford lost that game against Richmond conceding over 100 points at home with no consequence whatsoever.

Some of your recollections aren't as I recall for the Allied Dunbar Premiership season 1998–1999:
  • Bedford Blues were not the bottom team, West Hartlepool finished bottom. Bedford finished 2nd to bottom.
  • Richmond and London Scottish were placed into administration and merged with London Irish. They did not compete in the subsequent season. Bedford (relegation playoff) and West Hartlepool (relegated) would have been safe if the current day administration rules were enforced then.


Edited by Bedford Bear - 30 Nov 2021 at 10:56
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Rothman2 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 30 Nov 2021 at 23:08
Bedford Bear. You are quite right. Apologies. My memory played tricks with me although I went to practically every game home and away that season.

Bedford didn’t finish bottom but Hartlepool were already relegated by the time you played Richmond you couldn’t catch the third bottom team so you rested your first team and lost 106-12 at home to Richmond on 16th May 1999.

We beat you 19-11 at Clifton Lane the following Thursday and lost 27-19 at Bedford the following Sunday.

I forgot about London Scottish merging.

I take your point about the current situation but also consider the following season when we won the league yet still had to go through a play off against you to earn our place. Consider that we played a full season yet last season was orchestrated for Saracens to play only 11 games to get promoted, and the temperature at headquarters must have been rising when Pirates beat them early on.
Such is the gap now I stand by my view that the gap has only got wider and the only way the lower team would succeed would be if the Prem team had major issues, say financially.

By the time promotion & relegation resumes the gap will be impossible to bridge.
As one door closes…….another one slams in your face.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bedford Bear Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 Dec 2021 at 18:13
Rothman2, I agree, by the time promotion & relegation resumes the gap will be impossible to bridge.
Interestingly Bedford as the Prem team in the second year play off with Rotherham had major financial issues. Frank Warren (Then Chairman) had his assets frozen in a law suit with Don King in America. Cheques were bouncing and first team players were leaving.
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