25 replies to this topic

[marklaspalmas]

Hi.

So, Ive been trying to keep up with this switch to summer by reading League Express over the past couple of weeks and I had a few questions, I hope you don't mind. The info is taken from the L'Express tables of 30 July.

1. In the trad. RL areas we've got the NW and Yorkshire leagues (although there's about 8 teams there that've hardly played). Nothing in Cumbria. Have they stayed in winter? And Humberside?

2. 11 clubs in 2 divisions in Wales, but nothing in Scotland? Where've they gone?

3. There seems to be a lot less clubs from non-trad RL areas in England.
Midlands looks ok, 19 clubs in 4 divisions.
North East ok, 17 clubs in 2 divisions.
And the rest of the country just 17 clubs in 3 divisions.

That makes 53 clubs in total. Surely last year there were well over 100 clubs? Some of them would've been Yorkshire/Lancashire based no doubt, but haven't a lot of teams been lost?

Thank you for your time.

[bowes]

SW 2 divisions of 5 (one of those effectively pulled out)

London/SE/East 3 divisions of 6 (1 of those pulled out) plus another 10 split into 2 merit leagues

Midlands 14 clubs in 3 divisions (but 1 effectively pulled out) and on paper 10 in practice 8 teams in the merit league (2 of which have folded)

Scotland 10 teams in 2 divisions (6 Central and 4 North)

I'll add details later

Cumberland has 2 divisions of 10 in summer

Edited by bowes, 09 August 2012 - 02:33 PM.

[tim2]

I think it's actually 22 teams from 18 clubs in the Midlands who have played some fixtures in tier 4.

The "Entry League", Division 2, that used to be called the Merit League, has not been as successful this year with only Hope Valley achieving the 6 games minimum for the play-offs (we are next with 5).

[bowes]

PS sounds like the tables were incomplete

[marklaspalmas]

PS sounds like the tables were incomplete

Quite possibly. The following week's tables were broadly the same, but without the Welsh leagues. I'd always previously relied on the L'Express results page to be full and correct. There is no mention of these 'merit' divisions either, just all lumped together under a "Tier 4" heading.

I suppose that in times of change it's hard to keep track of what's what.

Is there a reliable website with results and tables?

Many thanks for your help.

[marklaspalmas]

Regardless, would it be true to say that there has been a drop off in non-trad area clubs in England? Perhaps not if a number of these merit division tables are missing.

[bowes]

Regardless, would it be true to say that there has been a drop off in non-trad area clubs in England? Perhaps not if a number of these merit division tables are missing.

No it's about the same except North East and North Wales has grown and South Wales is massively down.

Edited by bowes, 09 August 2012 - 04:40 PM.

[old papa]

PS sounds like the tables were incomplete

I think that the Reporter for the summer Game in the League Express may have changed and the coverage is not has good for a lot of the summer game the NCL reports are nowhere near has good as previous seasons The reports in the league weekly are a lot better. ( And no I don t work for League Weekly before anyone asks)

[LONGMAN]

I think that the Reporter for the summer Game in the League Express may have changed and the coverage is not has good for a lot of the summer game the NCL reports are nowhere near has good as previous seasons The reports in the league weekly are a lot better. ( And no I don t work for League Weekly before anyone asks)

Could be something to due with Phil(the Winter)Hodgeson, Marauders long lost uncle.

[mmp]

League Express didnt inlcude NW Div 5 or any merit information the one time i've bought it. Well over 53 sides in that set-up alone. website here: http://www.northwestrugbyleague.co.uk/

[Marauder]

Could be something to due with Phil(the Winter)Hodgeson, Marauders long lost uncle.

I'm getting worried about my stalker who seems to be wanting to extend my family.

[bowes]

This is not in order of place or anything but the following is the lineups (outside of NW and Yorkshire). Effectively failed to complete the season means clubs that called off the last few games without being officially struck from the fixtures

Midlands Premier
Birmingham Bulldogs
Leicester Storm
Northampton Demons
Coventry Bears A
Gloucestershire Warriors

Midlands Division 1 West
Telford Raiders
Coventry Dragons
Leamington Royals
North East Worcestershire Ravens
Wolverhampton (effectively failed to complete the season)

Midlands Division 1 East
Nottingham Outlaws A
Northampton Demons A
Leicester Storm A
Sleaford Spartans

Midlands Division 2
Derby City
North Derbyshire Chargers
Hope Valley Hawks
Dronfield Drifters
Telford Raiders A
Leamington Royals A
Bridgnorth Bulls (folded after one game)
Coventry Warriors (folded midseason)
2 sides here only existed on paper but not in practice:
Nottingham Outlaws B
Birmingham Bulldogs A

South Premier
London Skolars A
Hammersmith Hillshoists
South London Storm
Eastern Rhinos
Elmbridge Eagles
West London Sharks (resigned midseason)

London & South East
Greenwich Admirals
Medway Dragons
Sussex Merlins
Guildford Giants
Southampton Spitfires
Portsmouth Navy Seahawks

London & South East Merit
Hammersmith Hillshoists A
Barking & Dagenham Bulldogs
Newham Dockers
Mudchute Uncles
Weald Warriors
Weald Warriors A

East
Bedford Tigers
St Ives Roosters
Bury Titans
Kings Lynn Black Knights
Milton Keynes Wolves
North Hertfordshire Crusaders

East Merit
Bedford Tigers A
Hemel Stags A
St Albans Centurions A
North Hertfordshire Crusaders A

[bowes]

South West
North Devon Raiders
Devon Sharks
Exeter Centurions
Plymouth Titans
East Devon Eagles (failed to start the season)
Exmouth Saints (late replacements for East Devon Eagles; effectively failed to complete the season)
South Dorset Giants (failed to start the season)

West of England
Gloucestershire Warriors A
Bristol Sonics A
Oxford Cavaliers
Swindon St George
Somerset Vikings
Wiltshire Wyverns (failed to complete the season)

[bowes]

North Wales Conference
Conwy Celts
Prestatyn & Rhyl Panthers
Dee Valley Dragons
Wrexham Bradley Raiders
Montgomeryshire Marauders (failed to start the season)
Flintshire Falcons (late replacements for Montgomeryshire Marauders)

South Wales Premier
Bridgend Blue Bulls
Bonymaen Broncos
Valley Cougars
Titans (Machen)
Cardiff Demons
Dyffryn Devils (effectively failed to complete the season)
Blackwood Bulldogs (failed to start the season)
Tydfil Wildcats (failed to start the season)
Torfaen Tigers (failed to start the season)
Neath Port Talbot Steelers (failed to start the season)

[bowes]

Scotland North
Moray Titans
Moray Eels
Aberdeen Warriors A
Edinburgh Eagles A
Ross Sutherland (failed to start the season)

Scotland Central
Edinburgh Eagles
Fife Lions
Easterhouse Panthers
Ayrshire Storm
Aberdeen Warriors
East Lothian Hawks (failed to complete the season)
Victoria Knights (midseason replacements for East Lothian Hawks

Cumberland League Division 1
Wath Brow Hornets A
Seaton Rangers
Seaton Rangers A
Kells
Hensingham
Maryport
Cockermouth Titans
Broughton Red Rose
Distington
Glasson Rangers

Cumberland League Division 2
Egremont Rangers A
Glasson Rangers A
Kells A
Aspatria Hornets
Flimby
Frizington
Lowca
Salterbeck Storm
Great Clifton Lions
Ellenborough Rangers

North East Premier
Peterlee Pumas
Gateshead Storm
Gateshead Spartans
Jarrow Vikings
Wallsend Eagles
Sunderland City
East Cumbria Crusaders

North East Regional
Cramlington Rockets
Miners (Ashington)
Winlaton Warriors
Whitley Bay Barbarians
Consett Steelers
Durham Tigers
Durham Demons
Peterlee Pumas A
Hartlepool
Teesside Bulls

[marklaspalmas]

Many thanks Bowes.

Ill check out L'Weekly too and see if their tables are better.

[Jonty]

It's also worth noting that the teams from the south of Cumbria (or the north of Lancashire, depending upon who you talk to) play in the NW leagues and not the Cumberland leagues. There is also a Barrow and District League, largely for the 2nd teams of these clubs, but I'm not sure whether they have switched or not.

[bowes]

It's also worth noting that the teams from the south of Cumbria (or the north of Lancashire, depending upon who you talk to) play in the NW leagues and not the Cumberland leagues. There is also a Barrow and District League, largely for the 2nd teams of these clubs, but I'm not sure whether they have switched or not.

Still winter but expect it will switch (presumably minus Dalton A) as 7 from 8 first teams and all juniors are summer.

[Marauder]

Still winter but expect it will switch (presumably minus Dalton A) as 7 from 8 first teams and all juniors are summer.

This seems to be a bit worrying
http://forums.rlfans...45706#p17065438

But I expect good reasons to be given why it will be ok.

[dogthebountyhunter]

The RFL in it's infinite wisdom have pulled the development officer and the community coaches from the South West. They effectively only help you set up and then they leave you to it. Not easy to do without assistance, let me assure you.

I hope my club will be around next season, we have great backing from the council, our local union clubs are very supportive and our players love the game. Our problem is our committee is small, the workload is getting to much, and local business in a rundown seaside town during a recession are not willing to support the club.

Money will be gone at the end of this season, and without any decent assistance from local business.... or the RFL, I fear the hardwork we have already put in will be lost.

We are not asking for much from the RFL, we just want advice and guidance where to access funding etc. We are rugby league fans at Sharks, we are not business men. They expect us to be able to do it all!!!