Only 2 games escaped the frost on Saturday; strangely both have had an impact on how the league is shaping up.......
Sandbach remain champions elect with a 12 point advantage over 2nd placed LSH and a game in hand. The race for the play-off place remains tight with Widnes remaining favourite due to games in hand but being hounded by both LSH and Northwich. Vale of Lune’s marginal interest in the conflict ended with defeat at Wigton. Observers at the game report that it was a very thin Vale side that turned out and Wigton took full advantage to romp home; indeed it was only a late rally by Vale that put some respectability back into the final score line. Clearly, the late rearrangement of the fixture list [seriously is 5 days sufficient notice?] has had an impact at both ends of the table.

By my count there are 7 outstanding fixtures and clubs will be awaiting the league secretary’s decision as to whether these are made up on 25th February or 17th March.

Carlisle now appear to have escaped the drop with a recent run of positive results. The Greens of Wigton and Aspatria continue to fight hard; it is not yet a lost cause, especially in the Low Moor Road camp. An unexpected bonus point win against Vale puts Wigton back in the mix. However, these two clubs remain favourites for the drop. The 3rd relegation place is starting to look like a straight fight between Wilmslow, BP and Anselmians. Above these clubs Wirral have lost their last 4 games. The latest being on Saturday when they went down at home to LSH. However, Wirral can look forward to ‘El Classico’ when, on 18th February, they entertain neighbouring Anselmians. Will they have the heart to relegate their good friends?

Looking at loss of form turns the attention into the league’s top talking point – BP – who have now lost their last 7 fixtures. BP face a mini run of tough looking fixtures. And could well be in the bottom 3 before they face Wigton on 24th March. This game takes BP into the tale end of the season when they may encounter what would be relegation deciders against Anselmians and then on the last day Wilmslow. What price one of those two teams needing a win to avoid the drop?

For all the clubs at the bottom the race is on to get over the 45 point barrier. This should just about be enough to secure another season in N1W. Looking ahead to Saturday, weather permitting, we have a round of fixtures that may have considerable bearing on who goes up or down.

Widnes visit Aspatria and will be expecting a regulation win. However, the Black Reds have been strong at home in recent games and may spring a surprise. Defeat does not put Widnes out of the running for a play-off spot but a reversal would certainly condemn Aspatria. The other play off contenders look to have winnable games with Northwich visiting Carlisle and LSH entertaining Wigton. Match of the day is derby clash of Wirral v Anselmians. If the visitors can batter out a win the clubs just above them will feel hot breath on their necks. Just the way we like our rugby.

League Statistics

Current Winning Streak : Northwich and Carlisle - 3 games
Season Winning Streak : Sandbach 9 games
Current Losing Streak : Broughton Park – 7 games
Season Losing Streak : Wigton – 9 games
Away Records : LSH lost the last unbeaten away record in Round 10 when they were beaten at Northwich. LSH’s winning streak of 5 remains the best run so far this season. Current best record is Sandbach with 7 wins from 8.
Home Records : Sandbach lost the last unbeaten home record in Round 18 when they were beaten by Northwich. Sandbach retain the best home record of 9 wins from 10.
Winless Away : Anselmians and Aspatria
Winless Home : All teams have won at home. Worst record :Wigton 4 from 9

Top 5 Attacks - Last Season’s Top Team : Vale of Lune 31.53 points per game
1. Sandbach - 31.33 points scored per game
2. Vale of Lune – 31.21
3. LSH – 25.00
4. Widnes – 24.70
5. Northwich – 22.52

Top 5 Defences - Last Season’s Top Team : Burnage 11.73 points per game
1. Sandbach – 12.72 points per game conceded
2. Northwich – 15.76
3. LSH – 16.68
4. Widnes – 17.29
5. Leigh – 18.11

Lowest Points Average Per Game : 27.42 in Round 6 – 8th October
Highest Points Average Per Game : 57.14 in Round 2 – 10th September
Overall Average Points Scored Per Game : 42.48 [last season 43.83]
Highest Score : Wirral 70 – Wirral 70:29 Aspatria
Highest Aggregate : Wirral v Aspatria – 99 points scored
Lowest Aggregate : Broughton Park v Rochdale – 3 points scored
Highest Margin of Defeat : 52 - Sandbach 60:8 Anselmians / LSH 52:0 Carlisle
Teams Nilled This Season – Carlisle, Broughton Park - 2 – Rochdale, Wilmslow, Aspatria - 1

Draws - Last season there were 8 drawn games in N1W [4.39% of all games played]. Put another way - a draw for approximately every 22 games played. This season 126 games have been played with 2 tied [1.58% of all games played]. So more tied games are overdue. For reasons not readily obvious the number of drawn games throughout the league system appears to be falling.

Bonus Point Kings
Most Bonus Points - Rochdale - 13
Most 4 Try Bonus Points – Sandbach - 10
Most Losing Bonus Points – Rochdale - 7