COMMISERATIONS to Rochdale Mayfield and Oldham St Annes.
Those sides are the first to be formally relegated from the National League’s Premier and First Divisions in the inaugural season of Rugby Football League’s flagship grassroots competition.
Mayfield have, in reality, long been doomed to falling through the top-flight trapdoor and, in fact, had to wait until Saturday, July 11 before registering their first and, to date, only win with a 30-18 victory over Heworth.
I don’t like reflecting on any fact, though, until it’s exactly that – a mathematical fact – and that’s now the case following the Rochdale outfit’s home defeat a couple of days ago at the hands of Thatto Heath Crusaders.
Who will join Mayfield in being relegated from the Premier Division has yet to be resolved, with Heworth and York Acorn very much in the mix and Lock Lane not yet able to quite jettison relegation worries.
The battle for pole position in Division One and with it automatic promotion remains intense, with Dewsbury Celtic and Kells set to fight it out right to the wire.
Meanwhile Dewsbury Moor are waiting in the wings for any slip-ups by the two pacesetters, although Saturday’s draw at relegation-haunted Pilkingtons (earned with a late George Woodcock penalty-goal at that) has hardly helped the Maroons’ cause.
St Annes will operate in Regional Conference rugby in 2026. The Saints cannot survive after losing at Oulton Raiders while Pilkingtons could also be very close to the drop, although the St Helens side were only denied victory over third-placed Dewsbury Moor Maroons on Saturday through a late penalty-goal.
The Recs, who had to settle for a draw in ending a seven-match losing run can, mathematically, overhaul Wigan St Patricks but would have to win both their remaining games, and hope that Pats lose both of theirs. And a huge points difference differential makes Pilks’ position even more precarious.
Congratulations, however, to Wests Warriors, who beat London rivals Hammersmith Hills Hoists 32-12 in Saturday’s National Conference South Grand Final (a major event which, sadly, wasn’t publicised at all by the Rugby Football League, as far as I can see).
Meanwhile, there were two 24-0 ‘results’ in Saturday’s Cross-Conference Play-Off and Shield fixtures.
At the time of going to press I was waiting to hear from the RFL as to whether those were ‘walkover’ wins, or whether the matches actually took place.
In addition, no results at all were presented for three other games in those categories. Again, I’m seeking clarification from the RFL.
On a much brighter note, the Military Inter-Services tournament reaches its second stage on Saturday, when the RAF entertain the British Army at Stanningley’s Arthur Miller Stadium in west Leeds.
Two games will be played on that ground, with the women’s teams squaring up at noon and the men’s facing off at 5.30pm.
I understand, meanwhile, that the men’s Academy sides will play each other at nearby Stanningley Park at 2.00pm.
An occasion not to be missed, I think, especially as the RAF, who toppled holders the Royal Navy on Friday, will be crowned as champions if they prevail.
I’d planned, incidentally, to run full reports on all three of last Friday’s matches (the two men’s games and the women’s fixture) in today’s issue.
I now hope to elicit full information regarding scorers in each of those games in time for next Monday’s League Express.
And, also looking ahead to the weekend, Castleford Tigers’ OneBore Stadium is the place to be these days for BARLA’s major occasions.
There are three Yorkshire Youth finals on Saturday, and three more on Sunday, as listed elsewhere in this issue.
The action starts each day at 11.00am, with the last games kicking off at 3.00pm. Get there if you can – you won’t be disappointed, and I’ve no doubt some big stars of the future will be on show.