Both Exeter and Loughborough still remain with a chance to be crowned the champions of the BUCS Rugby League Premier South.
It is Loughborough who currently occupy the top spot, with seven wins in nine games seeing them sit on 21 points.
Not far behind the Midlands side is Exeter, with 18 points. However, it could be argued that Exeter have the best chance of finishing top, as they have two games in hand over their title rivals.
The title race that will go down to the wire
The equation is simple: Exeter need to win their games in hand to be in with a shot for the title. Although they have only been beaten once all season, Loughborough currently hold the pschyological edge given their superior standing in the league.
The first game in hand will be played on Wednesday 18th January, when the Devon side host Nottingham Trent. Victory would see them go level on points with Loughborough.
It is on Wednesday 25th January that the title could be decided once and for all. Exeter travel to Birmingham to play at 2pm, with Loughborough hosting Gloucestershire at the later time of 7pm.
If Exeter win, the pressure on Loughborough to match the result will be massive. However, they can take some heart from the fact that in their reserve fixture against Gloucestershire, Loughborough earned a dominant 68-4 victory.
Gloucestershire do have the opportunity to have a say in where the BUCS Rugby League Premier South title ends up. The last game of the season sees Exeter travel there, with them most likely to be level on points with Loughborough. Therefore, in this scenario, an Exeter win would see them crowned champions.
The race for third in the BUCS Rugby League Premier South
Although Nottingham Trent and St Mary’s are unable to win the title themselves, both teams have something to play for in their remaining two games.
Both sides sit on 12 points after eight games, with the two teams facing off in the last game of the season.
St Mary’s have demonstrated their prowess several times throughout the season, but none more so than when they played host to Loughborough.
On a cold mid-November afternoon in south-west London, the Twickenham side did the unimaginable and beat Loughborough. It was not even a close affair, with the final score reading 38-10 to the home side.
However, the concession of a walkover in the reverse fixture sees the team sit on 12 points despite having picked up five wins. Without the walkover, they might have been considered as the dark horse in the title race.
Nottingham Trent’s season has been full of ups and downs, with fourth place an appropriate standing for a side with four wins and four losses. A late season surge could see the side secure an impressive third place finish.
A season to forget for winless Birmingham
After going further down the BUCS Rugby League Premier South table, you find Gloucestershire and Birmingham.
Gloucestershire sit in fifth with six points, and will be content knowing they have done enough to secure their place in the top league of BUCS Rugby League for another season.
Their two wins have come against Birmingham who sit below them, but will be encouraged with some of their performances. They came within six points of victories against both St Mary’s and Nottingham.
Occupying the bottom spot in the league is Birmingham, who will be doing all they can to try and remain positive about their 2022/23 campaign.
After earning their place in the top league through the playoffs last season, they have struggled to compete. However, they have had to concede of two walkovers due to several injuries in their squad, meaning they are ineligible to compete in the relegation playoff.
As a result, it is confirmed that Birmingham will be playing in the Midlands 1A next season.
Birmingham are a resilient side who will be disappointed with the outcome of their season in the top-flight, but will use it as motivation to storm back next season.
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