Yep, really looking forward to the big kick-off. We're up at Hindley and are expecting a tough hit out against a well-drilled side.

Divsion 5 has the look of a really competitive division and it should be a good season. Best of luck to all.

Results...

Ashton Bears A 18-20 Bolton Mets
Bury Broncos 16-16 Crosfields
Hindley A 32-18 Chester Gladiators
Little Hulton Reds 12-6 Portico Vine
Wigan Bulldogs 28-30 Culcheth Eagles
Woolston Rovers A 38-24 Fitton Hill & Hathersha

Some interesting results!

Bury 16-16 Crosfields

A mixed game and hard to be completely happy with a draw but with several on debut and about 10 lads missing I'm 'frustratingly content'. A couple of stupid errors in defence let them in but otherwise we were fairly solid. Could have shifted the ball a bit better but pretty good and we'll gel with time.

The only brawl we had in season 10/11 was against Crosfields - for late knees on the try scorer, and they did it again. From then a couple of their lads were just looking to fight and a few more scuffles broke out. All handbags really.

Ref wasn't great and did his best to kill the game - loads of penalties against both sides for "not playing the ball with the foot". Seriously, if you're having to give so many penalties and both teams are exasperated perhaps your judgement is a little skewed?

Nearly pinched it on the 80th minute with a penalty on the halfway line, but it was just pulled it wide.

Meh, ignore me moaning, just frustrated we didn't edge it when I thought we were probably the better side - was a good tough game, really enjoyed it and happy we did pretty well against a big and clearly experienced Crosfields side.

I attended the Bury v Soap match. It was the first game for Crosfields lads for about 7 months, due to not playing in the Winter Interim season

The brawl was unfortunate. I think it was six of one, half a dozen of the other on who wanted to fight. I was disappointed to see supporters, officials & substitutes entering the field of play from the Bury touchline, when the brawl happened leave it to the players to sort out.

The penalties were bordering on ridiculous at times for both sides. Maybe the heavy pitch was having its effect on the referee himself

Bury extremely unlucky not to snatch the win at the end. The Crosfields supporters thoroughly enjoyed the pub after the match, a lot of proper beer on offer!!

See you at Crosfields later in the year, hopefully everybody keeps their cool and let the rugby flow!

Is that what it was

So...let's try some predictions. Actually, don't know anything about half these clubs so largely guessing.
Hindley A started well against Chester, who are also a decent side, Crosfields at home will be tough, Culcheth seem to be improving each year, Wigan were strong last time we played them. And of course I'm going for Bury.

Bolton Mets vs Hindley A - win for Hindley. Having played both teams in friendlys ill have to go for Hindley.
Chester Gladiators vs Ashton Bears A - Chester for a win. Just going of last game results.
Crosfields vs Woolston Rovers A - Woolston after a good winter season think they will be the team to beat to win the league.
Culcheth Eagles vs Little Hulton Reds - Of course LH reds. Had a hard friendly against the eagles in feb lost by 2 points at there place so shud be another good game.
Fitton Hill & Hathershaw Bulldogs vs Bury Broncos - Fitton Hill. Just bcos i know nothing about them but played all winter and give woolston a good game on Sat so think they may just edge it
Portico Vine vs Wigan Bulldogs - Portico Vine. Well drilled big set of lads. Any team that play against these will be hurting the week after. Really hard win for us last week and it was there first game in 3 years think they will do well this year

Lets have a guess on what games will be on!! Crosfields had to close the 'Rec last night due to waterlogging in an attempt to get the games on at the weekend...

I'll have a guess, but a little bit out of touch with some teams

Bolton Mets
Ashton A
Crosfields A
Culcheth Eagles
Bury Broncos
Portico Vine

Got my predictions right!

Bolton Mets 14-24 Hindley A
Chester Gladiators 32-30 Ashton Bears A
Culcheth Eagles 28-8 Little Hulton Reds
Fitton Hill & Hathershaw 16-22 Bury Broncos
Portico Vine 18-30 Wigan Bulldogs

Scrappy win from us today, were awful for long spells, turned over loads of ball and gave away penalty after penalty but ground it out. Fitton were well drilled in attack and had 2 very strong runners who made life difficult, especially in the 1st half. Most of the game was 12-10 to us but when we finally started to play we got on top and eventually the tries came with yours truly somehow getting 2 tries in the last 10 to seal the game!
Fitton got a late one following several sets on our line and despite some fearsome goal-line defence.
Pleased with the win but too many errors, lots of improvement to come.

There's no thread for the Entry Division, but our 'A' team had their first EVER run-out today against Westhoughton and won 14 - 4

Buzzing for them and for the club. An 'A' squad of 21 with 6 lads on debut, a couple from RU, a few coming back after time away and several fringe and slightly older players. Some great defence, no backward steps and confident going forward. Probably the highest rate of completion we've ever had! Only 4 First-Teamers in the squad and none of them played 80.

Westhoughton weren't at their best but always a tough side to beat. We've come a massive way since scraping half a dozen lads together training in near darkness and thick winter mud over the last few years. A few more lads and we might be fielding 2 teams every week. The 'A's will face much sterner tests but chuffed to death today.

Was strange to play a team and hear THEM complaining, "loads of first-teamers playing..."

I'll start off predictions this week. Crosfields looking forward to a game after a couple of weeks off

Bolton Mets v Bury Broncos
Culcheth Eagles v Woolston Rovers A
Hindley A v Ashton Bears A
Little Hulton Reds v Fitton Hill
Portico Vine v Crosfields
Wigan Bulldogs v Chester Gladiators

Looks like its that time of the week then.
Looking forward to the game this weekend after a nice bank holiday weekend off.

Bolton Mets v Bury Broncos. Broncos for the win
Culcheth Eagles v Woolston Rovers A. I think Culcheth may just edge woolston at home.
Hindley A v Ashton Bears A. Hindley for the win
Little Hulton Reds v Fitton Hill. LH reds for the win of course
Portico Vine v Crosfields. Portico still looking for there first win of the season. Think they will get it at home on sat.
Wigan Bulldogs v Chester Gladiators. Bulldogs for the win

My predictions for week 3

Bolton v Bury
Culcheth v Woolston
Hindley A v Ashton Bears A
LH Red v Fitton Hill
Portico Vine v Crosfields
Wigan Bulldogs v Chester Gladiators