we've a lot of lads who've shown an interest in playing from week in week out players to guys who are coaching our juniors to Union lads who want a go to a few lads from winter RL teams who want a game to lads who've played for us in the past and only want the odd run out (such as if their Mrs is away!)...it creates a long list (must be 60ish on the full list!).

what we have found is that every second week we have the same group of regulars who are unavailable because their shift patterns are in sync. Combine that with some regulars being on holiday, some are injured and also the club enforcing rules on being paid up (no pay, no play) and it means we can have lots unavailable. we also tend to only use the occasionals for the 2nd team as it's not fair on those who train if we bring people in when suddenly short.

so, any given week 20 - 30 can be unavailable...and if they happen to be regulars as opposed to the occasionals it causes an issue. for Woolston away we had to pull in people who'd only played the odd game and a player from our last winter season who had retired to become a referee. this weekend will be other way i suspect, 30+ available and pressure from players to get an A Team game arranged!

Part of the 'hard sell' for summer rugby was that fixtures could be rearranged and played mid-week so freeing up the weekend. Well that's another great idea they had that doesn't work! Out of seven attempts I have only had one taker - and that was for us to travel away. Much easier to refuse and claim an easy 2 pts.

Bury 54-22 Wigan Bulldogs

Another superb result, after having never beaten Wigan since we both first entered NWC in 2008, we've finally done the double over them. Went 18-6 up, Wigan pulled it back to 18-18, then we drew clear with a bit of a blitz in the second half, including a few length of the field efforts. After being a close game we won comfortably in the end. Good game played in good spirit. Wigan have clearly lost players from last season, but they kept going.

122 points in 2 games now, granted we've faced weakened teams but you've still got to score 'em!

In other results - Portico 100-12 Bolton, and Hindley & Woolston both conceded.

we still have Hindley to place twice and Woolston at home...

Our club is pretty happy with the structure overall so quite content if there are no major changes.

Numbers have been up and down and we have found holidays and weekends away a bit of an issue but most of these were probably organised last year. Will be interesting to see if we have the same disruption next year.

Hopefully, the league season will kick off in early March meaning there is the option for a two-week break in August as we have found this month the toughest. The sooner the NWML get things arranged and announced the better so we can let players and officials know.

Given the number of conceded games in Div 4 and also how Accrington and Newton have gone, I think the Div 5 standard is on average better than 4. some clubs went too high with their pitch for what division to be in, especially some 2nd teams, and others based our decision on where we were, not where we are. could (should?) see some movement between 4 and 5 I think

p.s. agree we need information to plan! bloody nightmare trying to get winter facilities if not booked over next two weeks....

so, how do we all think it will end up? I think we shoudl aim for 3rd, although it may depend on whether teams can field a team and i'm sure others will be aiming for 3rd place too. My thoughts here www.pitchero.com/clubs/burybroncos/

so, how do we all think it will end up? I think we shoudl aim for 3rd, although it may depend on whether teams can field a team and i'm sure others will be aiming for 3rd place too. My thoughts here www.pitchero.com/clubs/burybroncos/

Bury 70 - 0 Woolston A

What can I say? Woolston fielded a very young team - and a very different team from the game at their place (no first-teamers this time!). First half was ok but our handling was terrible, kept ourselves trapped in our own half through errors and stupid decisions.

Then the ref sin-binned Woolston's best runner after about 20 mins for leading with the elbow. The lad had a grumble & as he walked away he threw the ball over his shoulder & hit the ref on the head! Immediate red card - was a complete accident though. Woolston were never in it after that but they kept going even with a few frustrated lads.

Anyway, was only 12-0 at half time, then we just clicked into gear with 58 points in a 30-minute second half as the ref blew early. A few lads escaped the end-of-season naked lap today - even grabbed my fourth of the season!

Now to take that into next week against a much tougher prospect in Culcheth.

We put a team on the pitch. What more can I say?

These gibes about playing first teamers are getting boring now. We haven't got a first team full of first teamers never mind spares to bolster the second! Let's just say, this summer hasn't been as good for us as for you and we can't wait to see the back of it!

Our 1st and 2nd team played on pitches side by side yesterday and we (2nds) brought a sub on who scored pretty much with his 1st touch. The conversion was held up while we had to convince the referee and the away side that it wasnt actually a lad from the 1st team who'd just been subbed in that game only to be used for a sub for us! The fact that our 1st team bench was on completely the opposite side of the pitch and using different kits seemed to be lost on the opposition and ref. Comedy gold.

Like you we'll be glad to see the back of this season, the break will do us good and hopefully see the injuries etc clear up and get back to some normality and stability next season. One thing I've picked up talking round the clubs we've played is the lack of enthusiasm for the swicth so far, I'm sure that will work itself out as the years go on. In yterms of playing parity the balance seems to be about right certainly in div 5 all the teams seem much of a muchness (probably with the exception of Portico) and I'm not expecting to see much if any movements next season. On another note, another 10 24-0's yesterday again must be a worrying sign. I'd like to see if there's a comparison between the 18-0's in the old winter league vs the 24-0's for this summer.

Most of our team came to watch the Irlam vs Woolston NWCL final in April, indeed one of our coaching team and a couple of occasional players played in it. Let's just say in the game at your place in July a lot of familiar faces from that final lined up against us, and your 1sts didn't have a game that day. It's not like your lads aren't a recognisable bunch! I'm not complaining, as long as it's within the rules you play the best team you can field.

Big credit to you for fielding a team yesterday - it was clear when you were registering lads before the game you were struggling. Many teams wouldn't have bothered turning up. In fact when we played at your place we were in the same boat - we were down to 9 lads on the Friday, spent the day pulling lads in and signed 1 or 2 on the Saturday - had probably 30 unavailable and a couple of us were ill, and another few played on injuries.

It's been good for us barring a few periods where we've struggled for numbers (like everyone else). Holidays, festivals, work all hit hard in the summer. One week we've 30+ lads, the next we're down to whoever is available. Our inconsistent results speak for themselves, again probably like everyone else.