League 1 preview

This weekend sees a weekend off for Newcastle Thunder, I know I'm not the only League 1 fan who is becoming increasingly frustrated by the stop-start nature of the schedule! Saying that there are three games taking place and as usual there's some good battles to look forward to!

Rochdale v Midlands Hurricanes

Saturday afternoon sees Midlands make the trip to Rochdale. This is my game of the weekend as Midlands have started well and Rochdale were up there last season and lost out in the play-offs. I think Rochdale may have enough to beat Midlands but it could be a close run thing. I expect Rochdale to keep building and be up there in the play-offs at the end of the season, if Midlands could make the play-offs it would be great for them showing real progress in the midlands.

Keighley v Workington

Sunday afternoon sees Workington on the road to Keighley. Every week I always say I think Keighley will come good and every week they don't. I'm not sure what's going on at Cougar Park but they've been the disappointment of the League 1 season so far. Workington turned up at Thunder last week and did a job on us, especially with the power and game management they brought off the bench with Reid and Doran. Pre-season I'd have said this would be a home win and at some point Keighley will come good, but I think Workington will take this one.

Whitehaven v Goole

Sunday also sees Goole travelling to Whitehaven. Goole will be looking to bounce back from a 50-6 defeat at Rochdale while Whitehaven drew at home 24-24 with Dewsbury. Goole will turn up in Cumbria wanting to be physical and it'll make for a decent game as Whitehaven won't back down at home. But I think Whitehaven take the win here.

What else is going on in League 1

The main debate that seems to be bubbling is will League 1 and The Championship combine?

As I've said earlier, the stop-start nature of the league isn't good for fans or clubs. At Thunder our next home game is 1st June, then with Cornwall cancelled on 6th July we don't play at home again till 20th July. We then play three home games in three weeks, all I want to see is some consistency. For the clubs especially with losing a game it must be frustrating. A ten team league isn't enough but at the same time I'd be concerned about the leagues combining as this could lead to some big scores. It might mean there's more money available for League 1 clubs but then you'd think there'd be a reduction in funds for Championship clubs to balance things out.

Blaydon rugby club

Currently there's twenty three teams in the two divisions, could Anglian Vipers or Bedford who applied last year to join League 1 re-apply and make two leagues of twelve? That would be my preferred option at the moment. But again we're in a position where there's a lack of clarity, I understand that Cornwall folding has thrown a spanner in the works but It would be great to have clarity as for some clubs it'll impact on their recruitment.

If the leagues were to combine would it be an east-west split? You wouldn't be able to play every team twice, for me once it gets like that it does have an impact on the league at the end of the season. These are all things to think about.