League 1 round up

It'll be a bit briefer this week as I didn't make it to Keighley to watch Thunder. Although there has been some surprising results!

The whole league seems to have gone a bit flat, I think this is due to the potential restructure off the field. We should be looking forward to an exciting race to the play-offs and the play-offs with The Championship. Instead there's uncertainty and fans being concerned that players could get injured in a set of play-off games that are meaningless.

Keighley Cougars v Newcastle Thunder

Keighley ran riot against Thunder on Sunday afternoon turning a 32-0 half time lead into a 56-0 victory. Andy Gabriel bagged five tries in a comprehensive victory.

The result keeps Keighley in ninth and Thunder remain bottom. Thunder do have a couple of games where we can show that we can be competitive, Whitehaven at home is an opportunity although they had a really good win against Midlands this weekend. The other is Goole away where we were competitive at times at home against them but didn't take chances.

Although the tough times continue for everyone, I'm optimistic about the future and see this as part of the process we have to go through as a club. The big thing at the moment is the unknown around the league situation next season, once that is confirmed the club can have a chance to plan.

Next week, randomly the whole league doesn't play which is strange in mid-August. The week after is the double header on the Bank Holiday Sunday with Thunder v Whitehaven at 16:00 following York Valkyrie v Wigan Warriors women which kicks off at 13:00. Let's get down and get behind the team at home one last time this season. If the club do ask for any help then get involved and help how you can.

Dewsbury Rams v Workington Town

This was a brilliant result for Workington on the road, They stunned Dewsbury to take a 4-22 half time lead. Zarrin Galea bagged a hat trick as although the Rams came into it in the second half Workington took a 20-36 victory. Workington remain in third but importantly have a points cushion due to results elsewhere. Dewsbury sit in fourth, one point ahead of Midlands and Rochdale but crucially they have played a game more than their play-off rivals.

Goole Vikings v Swinton Lions

There was another excellent result at Goole as the Vikings beat the Lions. I'd thought this one was going to be a Swinton victory but credit to Goole who led 18-4 at half time and turned it into a 28-14 victory. Goole remain in seventh in what has been a really encouraging debut season in League 1 and Swinton sit in second place.

Rochdale Hornets v North Wales Crusaders

I said this could happen and it did, Rochdale turned over league leaders North Wales at Spotland. Rochdale held a 10-4 half time lead and turned it into an impressive 20-16 victory against the league leaders who have faltered in the last couple of weeks. Rochdale are putting more pressure on those above them sitting one point off the play-offs in sixth place. North Wales are still top and do have a couple of games in hand on second place Swinton but will be desperate to get back to winning ways.

Whitehaven v Midlands Hurricanes

There was another impressive victory for an underdog side as Whitehaven downed Midlands in Cumbria. Whitehaven stormed into a 24-10 half time lead and taking home at 26-16 victory. Whitehaven remain in eighth and Midlands are in fifth in the play-off mix.

The league

How are you feeling about the current situation with not knowing about next season? Do you want to keep League 1 separate? A combined Championship and League 1? I've even seen a reference to three leagues of seven, I'm not even sure how that works!

For me, there currently isn't enough teams to have a separate League 1 and Championship but I would like to see this explored in terms of interest. We had Anglian Vipers and Bedford interested last season and I've also seen rumours of Bristol being interested. Next season might be too soon for these teams but longer term I'd like to see all options explored.