Just five rounds of the regular season left.
The Fixtures:
Saturday 18th January:
Bristol Bears v Leicester Tigers
Sale Sharks v Harlequins
Gloucester-Hartpury v Trailfinders
Sunday 19 January
Loughborough Lightning v Exeter Chiefs
The table divides into three groups: the top five, the two middle-order batters and the two tail-enders. It’s only the play-off battle that interests the publicists, but it’s vital for the league’s wellbeing that Lightning and Trailfinders continue to thrive.
Both have had fine results: Lightning beat past champions Saracens, and TF scored 39 points against the then leaders, Quins, to lose by a single score. The gaps between the three groups are 13 and 9 points respectively – far too wide for comfort. With only nine clubs competing, as many as possible need to be genuine contenders.
It’s encouraging to see the top five registering no fewer than fifteen losses between them, though most have come against their closest rivals.
They shape up like this after thirteen rounds:
Table P W Pts
Glos-Pury 12 9 48
Quins 11 9 45
Saracens 12 8 43
Exeter Chiefs 10 8 39
Bristol Bears 11 7 36
Yes, thirteen!
It’s down at fifth and sixth place where we need to see upsets. Lightning (6th) have achieved one, but not Trailfinders (7th).
The fate of the tailenders, Tigers and Sharks, is one of the most urgent matters to concern the newly appointed Chief Executive. I have no advice to offer; no-one has found a solution to the problem of non-achievement since the Premier 15s was established. All too often the ruthless answer has been banishment.
This weekend avoids any top-five clashes. It means fewer doubts about outcomes; only the Sunday game offers a chance. Lightning are a coming force again, but Chiefs may have heard the odd word spoken about their performances: either side of Christmas they suffered two successive losses. Ambition burns hot in the Devon breast.
Sarries have to sit at home, hoping that Chiefs don’t climb above them. But Chiefs’ games in hand mean a whopping extra ten points available to them.
By the end of the weekend G-H should still be clear on top, but Quins have their own game in hand.
Plenty of bumps in the road ahead, but at present it looks as though Bears are going to be the wallflowers. With the all-round strength they have, questions must be asked about their game management. They were near their best defeating Chiefs away, but is consistency possible?
The Red Roses are busy facing two ways. They have John Mitchell’s patent programme facing them, while the league continues full pelt. At least they have a long gap between its end in March and the RWC in August.
