National 1 Prediction league 2022 week 25

So we now have a proper battle at both the top and the bottom of this great league of rugby.

RFU take note, this is what happens to sport when there is a flow, not just looking after your mates with a load of rule bending!

This is going to lead to some decent rugby and some finger nails being chewed, some very boozy Sat nights and some very sore Sunday morning heads, some happy and some sad faces, but you know what, that is what sport is all about

So lets look at it: 

At the top. If we are honest it is Caldy’s to lose. They are in the driving seat, even if Big Eddie plays it down! Yes the others can get in the mix and fixtures will make things interesting, but take at the look at the lost column, Caldy sit at 3, that speaks volumes. Remember what I said a couple of weeks ago, only one side have ever gone up losing more than 5 games, Ampthill on 6!

At the bottom, even the new £500 a man win bonus being offered by Blackheath could not stop a 81st minute loss at Albi, this weeks game at Well Hall is massive as Blackheath’s run in is dreadful and against sides you would rather not play if you need to win week in week out, even if they win this week, I cannot see them picking up many more points out of the remaining games

For TJ’s, as we said, Caldy was very much after the Lord Mayors show and the writing is now very much on the wall. 

So we need to ask, who is the one lucky side going up and who will join TJ’s in National 2 next season? This weeks games may give a little more of a clue to us all.

Birmingham Moseley v Taunton     4-1 Two mid able sides, Moseley are now safe I’d  say  as are Taunton, this  one of the few games with not a lot riding on it. Think after the last couple of wins the home side will come out trumps and I expect this to be very open and high scoring.

Blackheath v Leeds Tykes     1-4 Massive game 1:  Now we are talking.  Blackheath have played 3 more games than Leeds who are 8 points and 2 places behind. Would you rather have points in the bank or games in hand? Blackheath have the worse run in of all the sides, all be it the least amount of games left as well, so even if they do win this the gap will not be big enough to be safe. Last game of the season is away at Cindy as well, but before that they have Rams, Park, Sale to name just 3. So the way I see this is, panic button has been  well and truly hit at Club and they do not know what to do. It started with the  selection at 10 v TJ’s (game lost) then the arrival of the £500 per player win bonus v Plymouth (game lost) and panic alarms going off all over the place and even throwing in a practice match last night against another team, you are in March and need a practice match!!. Leeds on the other hand where unlucky v Moseley last week and will get stronger now with the end of BUSC year and that could well get them out of trouble. Winning is a habit, but so is losing. so on that note I think Blackheath may win this battle but lose the war (I know my points say different). Karma has a great way of sticking its head up and coming back to back to bite you on the backside, when you really don’t want it to, there are a lot of people in Chislehurst saying that Karma word at present!

Caldy v Plymouth Albion   5-0 The Ravers are top and as Yaz once sung "the only way is up". For the boys from the “hut on the hill” with Pot Noodles for lunch you could not write this. This has to be a 5 point home win and time to pull away, whilst the others in the race are busy knocking lumps out of each other this week. Albi will be happy after last weeks result as that closed the gap and they still have 2 games in hand over Blackheath and are one point behind, with TJs among others to visit Plymouth. But you cannot stop saying good things about Caldy and we even got a Royle chip and chase thrown in last week to please his fan club

Chinnor v Tonbridge Juddians     5-1 Chinnor’s seasons done as the last few results have said, but they do need to win the odd game not to get into a rut. So when you have lost the last 4 what does the doctor ordered, a visit of TJ’s, who although are still fighting know they won’t be around next year at this level. Chinnor will just be too streetwise and win this. It's a big pitch at Chinnor and they do needs the points. The TJ's 10 will kick the ball away a lot and Worrall, Goss and co will love the open spaces and return with interest

Cinderford v Rosslyn Park     5-1 Massive game 2: This is make or break for either side. Rewind when Cindy went to Park they were 9-0, they lost, but they had chances too win that game. Park were a better side then. I think at Cindy they will be in for a hell of a battle up front and thats the issue, have the City slickers got the stomach for it, Rams showed a couple of weeks ago, you don't let them run the show and have everything their way, that plan B is not as effective, they are also not on the plastic carpet. The other major issue is they will be missing Howard from the back division and it will be also interesting to see if or who Cokanasiga  plays for, after turning our last week for Esher in Parks week off. He had a major influence on the Esher v Redruth game scoring 2 tries, Esher have a top off the table clash at Clifton,Park have a top of the table clash at Cindy, lets see how that plays out, because there will be a couple of sides looking very closely at the team sheets.

As for Cindy, I think they will just control this game from 1-10, it aint going to be pretty or a 45-43 score line. The Cindy pack know how to play the pitch and once they get Park into “coffin corner” in front of the clubhouse, they will turn the screw. This is building to be a great game, for the loser I think it will be a long way back and possible be season over Im sorry to say.

Darlington Mowden Park v Cambridge     4-1 So we know know after 8 months that finally DMP can play. Of all the sides, I think  their league position is false. The first 50 minutes v Chinnor and last week at Rams, it's suddenly coming together. They are running out of home fixtures but do have a game in hand at the bottom. I think this performance will be an extension of their last 2 games. I can see them coming away with a win to put pay to Cambridge top 4 finish and also ease their fears. As for Cambridge, look we all know they have spent a lot of money this season and for that they have got the rewards. It will, barring the wheels coming off, be their best finish in National 1, it was only a point, but that massive error at Caldy will cost them, the question is what is left to invest next season?

Sale FC v Rams  4-1 Massive game 3 : Yet another cracking game, a Sale win and Rams season is over and I think that Rams have been misfiring at times this season. Sale, never say die “dogged” approach to every game, bought home the last 2 games and there is no reason why that does not apply in this game. I said before winning is a habit and Sale have that habit. Rams will run them close, but live to fight another day. As for Sale they will chase The Ravers all the way 

I probably be wrong, very wrong on all my predictions, but for now I can see come Sat night night the top of this league will be a Caldy v Sale battle, with Big Eddie putting his sheepskin on and offering black market tickets for 23rd April at 3 times the asking price,standing room only and  bring your own lunch. 

The bottom will not play out till Leeds, Plymouth and DMP all play their games in hand but what is for sure is it's a must win weekend for one side in South East London otherwise that part of the country will not have a Nat 1 team next season.

As always PC police chill, these are my views and mine alone and if you don't like them please don't read it!