Wanderer wrote:
I always felt that this league was more winnable this season than for the last 3 or 4 seasons and could also be easier than future seasons with further Clubs reportedly waiting in the wings. If we fail to get promoted this season, I fear for attendance levels next season.
TBF If we could get third place we'd have a reasonable shot at promotion via the play offs (be happy to be proved wrong but I think first or second is beyond us).
Whitehaven and Newcastle would have to implode not to win enough of their remaining games to stay in front of us, even if we were to win all our of our games.
To have a chance of finishing third, we'll almost certainly have to win at Oldham. Based on the way we've already beaten them twice this season, it's quite possible we could do it again.
Hunslet, who have two games in hand and the same points as us, are harder to predict as they have some tough games left.
Finishing 5th really needs to be avoided as the play-off route would be:Round1) Home to Team 6
Round 2) Away to Team 3 or 4
Round 3) Away to Team 2, 3, or 4
Round 4 Final) Away to Team 2, 3, or 4
Finishing 6th would have the same pathway except Round One would also be away. In effect, to go up from 5th (or 6th) we'd need to win three away games against the teams who finished above us.
Finishing second, third, or fourth does allow for a second chance should you lose a game.
The best case scenario if finishing third would be:Round 1) Home to Team 4 ... If winning...
Round 2) Away to Team 2 ... If winning... straight to the final, playing at home.
Losing either of these two games gives a second chance.
Team 2 really does get the best of it:Round 1) Bye
Round 2) Home to 3 or 4 ... If winning... straight to the final, playing at home.
A loss in Round 2, means a home game against 3,4,5,or 6 to make the final.
It's shame second place looks beyond us as I'd quite fancy our chances given that scenario.
