To Chayders:

Infamous Prediction League? Maybe but only if there were to be a quorum of tipsters - many of the previous contestants are conspicuous by their absence from these threads.

Went on the less verbose Superleigh Predictor last night (sporadically remember to do so). Today's prediction 10-54. It's a little cooler today and I'm guessing there'll be water breaks around the 20 minute mark in each half. It happened in the Brentford v Utd match yesterday (first half watched in The Egerton with Oirish Mick - and very potty-mouthed he was!)

To Jack:

Had you been around at the time and read the prediction league thread, you'd already know all about automated moderation. Once used the original Danish spelling of the king we dub Canute. It was, when posted, auto-moderated to "Spiffing Chap".

One poster used to add a letter I to the word that you tried to use and the resultant branch of Islam slipped past AM. However, bearing in mind what recently befell Salman Rushdie, Bongser would not advocate doing things that way.

Instead take a word from Oirish Mick's potty - "shoite" is fine!

Well, that’s the thousand up. So far ‘planes have not been dropping Icarus like from the sky. We wait under the sword of Damocles (and in Bongser's case under the kitchen table) until the league tables update just before 5pm.

Phew!

While I agree that Leigh are not guaranteed promotion (just remember the Catalans millionaire game at the LSV, when we were odds on favourites), why is everyone assuming it will be Featherstone in the final? Their form of the last month does not indicate they will get past Halifax who are their most likely opponents in the semi final, and should have won the league game at Fev. earlier this season.

I think it could be either Fax or Barrow and that's not saying that we couldn't slip up.

Agreed that it may not be Fev (or even us though far more likely).
I fancy Fax, Barrow and Batley at their best, could get a win over Fev.

I personally think Batley seem spent now.

Fev themselves, by all reports, seem to be getting their heads back in the game, maybe this the Brian McD storm in form to a final.

This weekend seeing Fev travel to Barrow will be an interesting one to mull over.

There is a definite change of tune coming out of a certain pit village in West Yorkshire at the moment.

Fan's of that village's rugby club are getting a lot chirpier all of a sudden. They are beginning to believe that fortune, and by implication, prospects of success against Leigh in a play off final are improving..

They believe that they are suddenly playing better and that key players who have been out injured are gradually returning to fitness at just the right time in the season. In Ford, they believe that they have at last found the maverick half back to unlock Leigh's normally watertight defence. They are also expressing the view that they think that Leigh have peaked too soon form wise.

For my money there will be two things in particular to look out for in their game against Barrow at the weekend which, for me, will confirm or deny Yorkie grounds for optimism.

Firstly, the result. Barrow are good and dangerous opponents and are playing at home. It will be a good result for Fev if they win.

Secondly, the number of points that they concede. Barrow are a threat in attack so it will be a real test of whether Fev's season long defensive shortcomings have finally been fixed.

If Barrow win and/or Fev concede more than 20 points then I think that the perceived remarkable turnaround in form and prospects is just another false dawn.

Conversely, a win for Fev and a virtual shut out in defence and then they might, just might, be on course to give us more of a game, if both teams compete the play-off final.

Best not to worry about what tuthers are doing. I think we are good hands with Adrian and Chris. If we bring our 'A' game to the 2 playoff games i can only see one outcome and all is leythers would be very happy. Complacency could be a problem but as i say i think that Adrian and Chris are far too smart for that. Probably the biggest decision if both are fit will be who plays stand off.

Yes, Jack, Bongser too noticed the accelerando beat on Fev's forum. Ford had a good game - against all but relegated Dewsbury - suddenly they, with Kheirallah out for the season, think that they have a mast on which to pin their colours. Kopczak's back, others in the offing. Whoopy-ding as a Scots ex-girlfriend used to say.

On the obverse side of the coin, Nene will be back, rested with by then three games under his belt for match fitness, haven't heard Ben R is long term, Amone is already back, Ferguson will have served his head injury probation, who knows with Green, and business end of the season (peaking too early) Leigh nilled a full time team by 60 on the oppo's own midden on Sunday.

Nothing is a given in a one off, but Bongser is guessing "tails".



Sorry, Vanners!

Well it is time to say it I guess.
I truly believe that we will need to have the off day of all off days to not win the two playoff games.
Fev will be getting a couple back but without Kheirallah, I honestly think they don’t have the X factor to break us down. Ford has an above average kicking game but they have to get us under pressure on a repeated basis for that to work. With the likes of Fergy, Nene, Chamberlain and Charnley etc to defend it, no matter what, that will not work. I also think that they don’t have the forwards to put Ford in that position enough to kick on the last, no matter who is back or not back. Our pack is stronger, end of !
This weekend will be very interesting with regards to the Fev result, and I think they will be run close or even beaten, but regardless I believe we have them in a one off game.
Time to count my eggs !
Re who plays 6, LL will be firing on all cylinders by the playoffs, and is a force to be reckoned with. He would be my first choice BUT I’ve already said that BR has had the best season I’ve seen him play. So either way I’m confident in who plays 6.

BnB.
Please check your messages.
Cheers
Paul