Crucial game looking at the table.

Toulouse Pl 17 points 33
Rochdale PL 18 points 29
Barrow Pl 18 points 27
York Pl 17 points 23
DONS PL 17 points 22
Keighley PL 18 points 20
Hunslet PL 18 points 20
London Sk Pl 17 points 16

Hopefully Tonks is passed fit & join Hedges returning to the squad, Keighley like us have had an up & down season !

Fancy Barrow to come 2nd to Toulouse !

The last game at Toulouse is v Barrow as it happens.

Should we be worried about someone catching us for 5th place? If Keighley beat us, they'd be level on points. Their last two games are away to Barrow and at home to York.

Could Hunslet catch us? They're two points behind us. They're away at York, home to Toulouse, and away to Rochdale. Looking at those fixtures, it seems very unlikely we'll finish out of the top five even if we lose to Keighley on Sunday although we would probably have to beat Skolars in the last match to do it, if we drew a blank at York and Rochdale.

Can we over-take York for 4th? York have Hunslet, Skolars, and Dons at home, plus Keighley away. I'd guess York will win at least two out of the other three games, which would give them 29 points if they beat us. This means our best, if we beat Keighley, Rochdale and Skolars, would be 28. If we don't win at York, we can probably forget about finishing above them.

What happens if we finish 5th? Assuming Toulouse win at home against either Rochdale or Barrow in the first play-off match, we'd face an away trip to either Rochdale or Barrow. If we finish 4th, we'd either be away to Rochdale or Barrow (most likely) or away to York (least likely). It might even be a trip to Toulouse if they got turned over at home in the first play-off game (very unlikely).

To finish third and get a home tie, we'd need to win all our remaining games and hope Rochdale lose all theirs, whilst Barrow would need two wins out of their last four to definitely finish above us. They have Skolars away and Keighley at home, plus Toulouse away. Rochdale have Toulouse away, Dons at home, and Hunslet at home.

Rochdale could be vulnerable but they'd have to lose to us and then lose at home to Hunslet and we'd need to win all our last four games. It looks like 4th or 5th and away tie in the play offs probably against Barrow or Rochdale.

We've generally done well against sides beneath in the league. I don't expect Keighley to trouble us this weekend although it will be like a cup to final to them. If they lose their season is all but over.

If Barrow don't finish second now, I'll be amazed.

Pete Green in the Star hopes Tonks will be available .

COYD

with all the best will in the world the top 2 places are nailed on toulouse will be top rochdale or barrow will finish second, now Im definately a glass half full type of guy but IM also a realist. Im away this weekend because of shoite RFL planning/fixtures definately will not be coming back early good luck to the boys hope we win and a big up to the loyal (few) fans. COYDs

Must win, simple as.

Carl has stated in this week's In The Dugout that next year's season ticket details will be listed in the match programme on Sunday.

If the fixture format remains the same next season and the season ticket includes unknown fixtures, I'm afraid I won't be buying. I'll pay for the matches I do get to see.

I wonder if they have changed the format in C1 for 2017 , as we must be outsiders for promotion.

L Welham out .
Have we any other centres available .

Makes sense.

you can count me in on that one to wanderer, I think the fixtures/planning for this season have been pathetic to say the least there is no doubt that this has cost the club money with poor attendances and lack of interest, people like to plan !!! unlike the RFL. hope those that attend sunday have a good day and all the players finish the game fit and well,

www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/a ... ey-cougars

www.doncasterrugbyleague.co.uk/a ... ey-cougars

I would imagine the RFL will be trying to work out how to best accommodate Toronto into the format and that no final decisions will have been made yet on the exact format.

I agree with other posters that it makes it hard to commit to buying a season ticket when fixtures are announced at short notice later in the season when we've probably already got holiday commitments, etc. The value of the season ticket drops for every game missed and it gets to a point where it doesn't make sense to buy one if you're likely to miss two or more games.

I don't think this is a problem that just applies to rugby though. The football Premiership are forever changing dates of matches to fit in with TV schedules, rather than sticking to what's best for fans. They're now moving some games to Friday nights as well as Sundays and Mondays.

The present format to Championship One leaves a lot to be desired without the added problems discussed here.

Is jones bishop still with us