Fixtures
Saturday
Tigers v Glos-Pury Midlands v West
Bears v Lightning West v Midlands
Trallfinders v Sarries London v London
Sunday
Chiefs v Quins West v London
Background
I present the fixtures slightly differently this time, to show a feature that I still find disturbing. It’s Sale’s turn to stay at home, so we are left with four fixtures involving three regions; the East Midlands, London and various corners of the West Country.
You may not find that at all concerning; I do. The game needs to be spreading its tentacles as far across the nation as possible. With only nine elite clubs, that’s impossible. But far worse to have them so limited geographically, with the one northern outpost in Cheshire. And anyone living north of Cheshire would laugh at the notion that Sale is real north country.
Back to the PWR
Life is getting edgy. The first priority for the top-five clubs is to ensure they become top-four. The odds remain against the Bears. Only one of the candidates can be certain of a win this weekend; that is a huge tribute to the league, and especially Lightning and Trailfinders, who are nobody’s pushovers.
The one exception is the champion club. A likely victory for G-H would lift them to 58 points. In sharp contrast Quins and Chiefs cannot both gain five points. Quins have a thoroughly tough run-in. After Chiefs they host Bears, then have to visit Glos-Pury to ensure safe onward passage.
The rodeo vodcast-pair (Kildunne-Breach) mentioned the question of rotation, the polite term for weakening a side. During their run of 10 consecutive wins, Quins tended to stick to the same group of players. With hindsight, should they have widened their choice, not least when playing Sharks the week before the loss to Sarries? Can they be sure of correcting weaknesses next time out?
We can be certain Chiefs have been told exactly what people think of them after their performance against Sharks. Sharks played like embattled heroes, but just one score against them? Maybe any blame should be aimed at the management who saw fit to make wholesale changes. Such are the intricacies of ‘rotation’.
For the first time we have a new-look London derby. On their current form Trailfinders are capable of pushing Sarries to the limit, something they could never previously claim. Let’s take the easy exit, and give the odds to the home team.
Star Power
Bears have announced that Shaftesbury Park is sold out. Indeed they have found it possible to add more seating to help meet the demand.
But one glance at the table, and we can see the uphill task facing Bears. They have been missing vital players, failing to achieve the consistency their supporters have a right to expect. They welcome Ilona Maher back after her broken nose. Dave Ward places her at outside-centre, where she will confront Emily Scarratt. 13 is one of the more demanding positions to play defensively. At least Maher will not be facing compatriot Alev Kelter too: she is replaced by Carmela Morrall.
Lightning are on the way back, but should find another visit to the west country a journey too far.
Table P W Pts
Glos-Pury 13 10 53
Quins 13 10 50
Saracens 13 9 48
Exeter Chiefs 12 8 43
Bristol Bears 13 8 42
Lightning 14 5 29
Trailfinders 12 4 27
Tigers 13 2 12
Sharks 13 1 4
To summarise the games played: all are on 13, bar Lightning (14) and Chiefs and Trailfinders (12). That last pair ought to hold the advantage, but Chiefs’ collapse last weekend shows the stress players can suffer. They have to produce results – or else!
