The league takes a sort of break this weekend with only a single match to enjoy. But it gives us the chance to see how things are faring.
Fixture: Saturday 17 February
Gloucester-Hartpury v Sale Sharks, Hartpury College Stadium, 13.00
What a surprise that the two teams just happen to be sitting at the top (or they will be, if they win) and at the bottom of the table.
Gloucester-Hartpury
This was the game called off when G-H discovered to their horror that their mobile medical crew hadn’t arrived. Should that happen again, they can expect the 5-point penalty that is hanging over them. Since this is a rescheduled game, we shouldn’t be surprised either to find the two sides meeting again the following weekend.
For G-H this will at last be the chance to get ahead of their rivals for the top position. Ever since the postponement they have lagged that one place behind. A lead of four points would give them a little breathing space.
One curious feature of their programme has been the narrowness of several victories (24-19, 26-33, 27-33). They have shown a champion’s ability to get the nose in front at the tape, but must wonder why it has been so close.
Sale Sharks
Georgie Perris-Redding, the visiting captain, has expressed her thoughts about the Sharks’ current position. They have lost to both the new clubs, who now sit immediately above them. She is aware of the club’s disappointing displays thus far, but is determined to readjust the balance between north and south.
They have a big day on 9 March when, for the first time, they will play at Salford Community Stadium. This is the equivalent of Bristol playing at Ashton Gate, G-H at Kingsholm or even Quins at Twickenham. Their opponents will be Trailfinders, who managed to scrape home against them in the first match, but only by virtue of an unconverted try at the close.
Sharks intend putting on a real show of ‘Northern Rugby Matters’. This is a cause close to the heart of every supporter of the league. Even if the RFU and WP 15 Ltd, agree with the principle, they are finding it very hard to turn it into straightforward victories for the sole remaining northern club.
But meeting the champions two weeks running will be a hard ask.
Overseas players were a cause of Sharks’ undoing; too many of them were involved. One effect may have been for them to realise that the club picture in England is not so much better than at home. Beatrice Rigone, for example, must have expected to find a more stable platform in Cheshire for her to work on that at home.
And news just breaks that Salford Council will raise its control of the Salford Stadium ground from 50 to 100%. It is the home of the men’s club.
Table P W L Pts
Saracens 10 9 1 45
Glos-Pury 9 9 0 44
Exeter 10 7 3 38
Bears 10 6 4 30
Lightning 9 4 5 22
Harlequins 10 3 7 20
Trailfinders 9 2 7 13
Tigers 10 2 8 8
Sale 9 1 8 3
Of those five wins at the bottom of the table, surely the most remarkable was Sale’s downing of Quins’ colours back in November.
