From: naicg@vax.oxford.ac.uk
Newsgroups: rec.sport.rugby
Subject: RFL review and fixtures, division one
Date: 15 Dec 92 15:37:06 GMT
Organization: Oxford University VAX 6620

I thought I would say something about how each time has performed so far, 
and give a list of fixtures over the holiday period. 
A few things to note: 
All games are league matches unless marked RT (=Regal Trophy)
Any games marked with a * are likely to be postponed because of RT involvement
Games due to be played on Boxing Day may be put back to 27th December.
There are semi-finals of the RT on 2nd and 9th January

Bradford N. (Currently 4th, 14 points from 12 games)
Seven successive wins took them to the top of the table in early November, 
but that has been followed by four successive defeats. The loss of record 
signing Deryck Fox through injury appears to have been a major blow. They 
will want him to return very soon.
Fixtures: 16/12 Warrington(H)(RT),(20/12 Widnes(H)(RT)),26/12 Halifax(A),
	  3/1 Wigan(A)*,10/1 Wigan(H)*

Castleford (Currently 3rd, 16 points from 12 games)
Started the season very badly. Four defeats in seven league games and 
a preliminary round Yorks cup defeat. Five successive league wins since 
have kept them in with a chance of their first Championship, in 
Darryl van de Velde's last year as coach.
Fixtures: 19/12 St.Helens(A)(RT),26/12 Leeds(A),1/1 Wakefield(H)*,
	  10/1 St.Helens(A)*

Halifax (Currently 6th, 12 points from 11 games)
The early season leaders are another side who are slipping down the 
table. A lack of consistency, particularly away from home, needs to 
be overcome if they are to challenge for honours later in the season.
Fixtures: 18/12 Leeds(A),26/12 Bradford(H),1/1 Sheffield(A),10/1 Hull KR(H)

Hull (Currently 7th, 12 points from 11 games)
Have only lost once at home, and are the only side to have won at Wigan, 
but still lie in mid-table. Royce Simmons appears to have done a good job 
in his first three months in charge.
Fixtures: 20/12 Leigh(H)(RT),26/12 Sheffield(H),1/1 Hull KR(A)*,
	  3/1 Wakefield(H)*,10/1 Widnes(H)*

Hull KR (Currently 14th, 4 points from 12 games)
A reasonable start has now been wiped away, with some heavy defeats, and 
a players strike causing the team which played at Leigh last Sunday to 
contain several members of the U-18 side. Are going to have to work very 
hard to stay in the first division.
Fixtures: 20/12 Warrington(H)*, 26/12 Wakefield(A),1/1 Hull(H)*,
	  10/1 Halifax(A)

Leeds (Currently 12th, 7 points from 11 games)
Another huge turnover in players, and considerable financial outlay, over the 
summer promised a big season. Eight defeats (plus a draw) from nine away games 
in all competitions sees them out of the running for everything bar the 
Challenge Cup. At least most of their remaining games are at home, where they 
have only lost once.
Fixtures: 18/12 Halifax(H),26/12 Castleford(H),1/1 Salford(H),
	  10/1 Warrington(A)*

Leigh (Currently 13th, 6 points from 13 games)
Lost their first eight games to be adrift at the bottom. Two wins and two 
draws in the last five games have seen them move up a place. If only one 
team is relegated, they may well stay up if they can maintain current form.
Fixtures: 20/12 Hull(A)(RT),26/12 Salford(A),3/1 St.Helens(A)*,
	  10/1 Sheffield(H)*

Salford (Currently 10th, 10 points from 11 games)
Reached fourth place in the league by the end of October, including a double 
against Castleford. Have failed to win a game since then, a trend which 
must be reversed if they are not to enter the relegation battle once more.
Fixtures: 26/12 Leigh(H),1/1 Leeds(A),10/1 Wakefield(A)

Sheffield E. (Currently 5th, 14 points from 12 games)
Last season's second division champions have made a fine start to the 
season. They reached their first Yorkshire Cup final, and are well placed 
in the league, having beaten Castleford,Widnes,Warrington(twice) and Leeds. 
Garry Jack and Bruce McGuire have been excellent signings.
Fixtures: 26/12 Hull(A),1/1 Halifax(H),10/1 Leigh(A)*

St.Helens (Currently 2nd, 18 points from 12 games)
Were unbeaten over the first eight weeks of the season, a run which 
included a 17-0 victory over Wigan in the Charity Shield. That run came 
to an end in the (home) Lancashire Cup final. Since then, they have 
stuttered a little, with a few injury problems. The next few weeks see some 
vital games for them.
Fixtures: 19/12 Castleford(H)(RT),27/12 Wigan(H),1/1 Widnes(A)*,3/1 Leigh(H)*,
	  10/1 Castleford(H)*

Wakefield T. (Currently 9th, 10 points from 12 games)
Six successive defeats at the start of the season left them next to bottom. 
A victory in the Yorkshire Cup final has sparked a run of five wins in six 
league games, although they lost heavily in the RT to London. A run in the 
Challenge Cup, and a top eight place look their best hopes.
Fixtures: 26/12 Hull KR(H),1/1 Castleford(A)*,3/1 Hull(A)*,10/1 Salford(H)

Warrington (Currently 11th, 9 points from 11 games)
Six points from their first four league games, including that win at Hull,
made Warrington look likely title contenders. Have only managed one win in 
their last seven games, and face some tough local derbies over the next 
few weeks.
Fixtures: 16/12 Bradford(A)(RT),20/12 Widnes(H)(RT)/Hull KR(A),
	  26/12 Widnes(H),1/1 Wigan(A)*,10/1 Leeds(H)*

Widnes (Currently 8th, 10 points from 11 games)
A disappointing start for Phil Larder as coach. Have looked a very good 
side in their two games with Wigan, and a narrow county cup defeat at 
St.Helens, but have failed to match those performances on a regular basis. 
Still in the RT, and likely to be strong challengers for the Challenge Cup.
Fixtures: 20/12 Bradford/Warrington(A)(RT),26/12 Warrington(A), 
 	  1/1 St.Helens(H)*,10/1 Hull(A)*

Wigan (Currently 1st, 20 points from 11 games)
Two defeats in their first three games had them being written off by the 
media. Only Brisbane have beaten them since. Shaun Edwards is the league's 
leading try scorer, and equalled Martin Offiah's record of ten at Swinton. 
Their sequence of 14 successive away league wins will be severely tested at 
St.Helens.
Fixtures: 20/12 Workington(A)(RT),27/12 St.Helens(A),1/1 Warrington(H)*,
	  3/1 Bradford(H)*,10/1 Bradford(A)*

Ian