Blackheath v Sale FC: 1-5
Club turn up and turn Rams over but Sale the form team in National 1, no question .
Clubs last game before Xmas as they have lost their massive money spinner which was due to be OEs next week to swell the coffers, will they feel the pinch from this? gain a few players but lose £50K plus on the take, maybe the squad is sent out to carol sing next week to make that hole up!
Really not sure on this, but at the end of the day, Sale have won at Rams, DMP and Cindy in 3 of their last 4 games, beat Moseley at home last week not getting out of second gear (properly could not find the home changing room) and are really getting in the mix at the top. They get a result at Well Hall, with what’s coming, they will be in the mix as they have all the contenders Park,Cindy,Rams to come at home and history says they don't lose many at home, its not too much to say this could be season defining for Sale, win this and they are in the mix at the top and I think they might just sneak it, all be it a very close game
Caldy v Rams : 4-1
With both these sides you do not have a clue what turns up. Caldy shadow of themselves v Cityslickers at home, when you would have thought in the wind and rain, it was just what the doctor ordered, but then go and smash Albi and Stortford on the road either side of that. Rams well, every-time they win a big game, they seem to have massive trouble backing it up. Which if they want to be involved at the top, is an issue. Beat Park lose the next 2 against mid table sides, beat Cindy get turned over at home against Club. Just going with home advantage as the swings in the Rams performance are more than Caldy’s
Cambridge v Rosslyn Park. 0-5
So if Littlewoods (too old for some of you) were still going this would be an X (ask your parents if you don’t get it). However, despite all the social media hype and money spent, Cambridge still find themselves outside the top 6 having not been in it this season, with a half term report at best of “should be doing a lot better” win ratio of 41% is not going to win you anything in any sport. To draw a game when 14 points up with 3 minutes to go, is going some, and back that up after a loss at home to Leeds the week before, is far from the “a bit of a hot streak” as the social media king Williams announced to all they were on. Least its saved them on paying out the win bonus to all, just retainers, travel and match fees outgoing the last couple of weeks.
Now the City slickers came close last week to having bloody big hole in the side of their boat in the form of a Chinnor missile. But as at Caldy the week before they pulled through, I think they will have too much. The only two things I’d worry about and Ranger please help, are a) its Xmas party season in the City and how many stay away from the Bolli on a Friday night and b) If they have Cokanasiga in the mid field on loan from Irish still, it was not just his try last week, but his performances so far this season, because Nick Scott with him will be a battle royal against Lloyd and Hena and will go a long way to deciding this game. If Irish have recalled him and after that 80 minutes you can see why, it might be a different story.
Chinnor v Bishop's Stortford. 5-1
Battle royal from National 2 south days. No love lost from either side in this fixture for sure. The only difference now is Stortford cannot buy a win and Chinnor are starting to gel and not lose games in the last 15 minutes, christ they were unlucky at The Rock last week. This and the wide open spaces at Chinnor will not suit Stortfords all court game, in the wind and rain and the Chinnor pack looks to have too much beef about it against the smaller Stortford forwards to win any decent ball. Think the home side might get up a head of steam in this up front and it could be a long afternoon for the boys in blue and white
Darlington Mowden Park v Cinderford 1-5
DMP came 4th in a 2 horse race last week in the south west, take out the final 7 points with the last play of the game and that’s a thumping in anyones books.DMP, not really sure what to make of them, they enjoy the home comforts of the Arena that’s for sure but on the road are so hit and miss.
As for Cindy, oh that week off could not have come quick enough. This is a long trip but the week off, band of brothers attitude and let's get this show back on the road mentality will come through. Cindy have to think, they have both Rams and Park to visit them, so they cannot afford to drop anymore points as this is still very much in their hands. What I did not realise was that every team that played Cindy in the pre Xmas period have had a weeks rest before that game, so Cindy were playing a rested side every week, who had an extra week to get injured players back. That Id say was a massive advantage to all and it just shows how outstanding Cindy have been in the first half of the season, with no loan players and a very small squad.
Plymouth Albion v Leeds Tykes 5-1
Ok so Albi at last came to the party. Not sure if it was a outstanding performance, a freak result from DMP, or the loan players got told to earn their corn, whatever it was, well played. Leeds should have been over the hill and out of sight v TJ’s but got the required win in the end against the bottom side. Think this will be just a mile or two too far in this game and Albi gain another home win
Tonbridge Juddians v Taunton. 1-5
The battle of the two promoted sides. TJ’s huff and puff and give it they're all but do not have the depth. Taunton have invested in links with Prem friends either side of them and have at times looked very good with the loans in the starting xv, but without them look an average side If I’m honest. Im taking it the full quoter of Chiefs and Bears will be available, so I’m going with an away win, although the south east is not a happy hunting ground for Titans normally.
As always no need for PC police as all say in Jest. Next week is the end of the first half of fixtures. So might do a little half term report if I get time!
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