The next league matches are not until Saturday 11th April but it’s interesting now to look at the full promotion/relegation/play-off picture affecting our league (National 2 North).
The re-introduction of play-offs this season has certainly added interest to Tynedale’s league campaign and it’s possible that we will be going into the final match of the season with the runners-up spot (and play-off place) still to be decided.

The last time the final match of the season held such interest was at the end of the 2015-2016 when on the final day of the season Tynedale were one of a group of 5 teams who could be relegated. Tynedale had to travel to Leicester Lions needing a win to be sure of avoiding relegation – Tynedale won that match.

MOVEMENT BETWEEN NATIONAL 1 AND NATIONAL 2 NORTH.

LEAGUE PLACINGS/RECORDS (as at 28th March)
Note: All National Leagues play 26 matches

FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES based on the above league records the following movements would take place:-
Sheffield RUFC are already promoted into National 1.
Leicester Lions, Sedgley Park and Dings would be relegated into National 2. (Likely that Sedley Park would be relegated into National 2 North.)

The play-offs would be:-
Tie 1 - Clifton v Oundle (Peterborough area)
Tie 2 - Tynedale v Luctonians
Final - Winners of Tie 1 v Winners of Tie 2 (the winners of Tie 1 will be the home side in the final)
The winners of the final will play in National 1. (the others in National 2)

Note: Play-Offs scheduled for May 9th and May 16th

REMAINING FIXTURES IN RACE FOR RUNNERS-UP SPOT
APRIL 11th
Tynedale v Scunthorpe
Darlington MP v Macclesfield
Hull Ionians v Billingham
APRIL 18th
Billingham v Tynedale
Macclesfield v Otley
Preston Grasshoppers v Hull Ionians
APRIL 25th
Wharfedale v Tynedale
Sheffield Tigers v Macclesfield
Hull Ionians v Fylde

NOVEMENTS BETWEEN NATIONAL 2 NORTH AND REGIONAL LEAGUES

LEAGUE PLACINGS/RECORDS (as at 28th March)

Note: Final match of the season on April 11th Huddersfield v Anselmians (from The Wirral) will decide champions.

FOR ILLUSTRATIVE PURPOSES based on the above league records the following movements would take place:-
Scunthorpe and Hull would be relegated into Regional Leagues.
Heath (from Halifax) and Huddersfield would be promoted into National 2 North. (Heath are already champions and guaranteed promotion)

The play-offs would be :-
Tie 1 – Anselmians v Alnwick
Final - Rossendale v winners of Tie 1 (played at Rossendale)
The winners of the final would play next season in National 2 North, the others in Regional leagues.

THE DREADED LEVEL TRANSFERS
When the play-offs are finished and we think the dust has settled there is still the cloud of "Level Transfers" hovering over several clubs who are deemed to reside close to regional boundaries. These transfers are necessary to ensure the number of teams in each league remains constant.

Example: Prior to the start of this season Lymm and Chester were transferred from National 2 North to National 2 West while Macclesfield were switched from National 2 West to National 2 North.
Its possible, for example, that if Macclesfield are not promoted they will be switched back to National 2 West while after serving their one season in National 2 West, Chester and Lymm may be moved back to National 2 North!

Why Dreaded? - This season Macclesfield’s longest away journey was to Tynedale (174 miles). Last season, in National 2 West, Macclesfield had journeys to Camborne (322 miles), Redruth (319 miles), Plymouth (267 miles), Exeter (224 miles) and Taunton (195 miles)!!!
Thankfully Tynedale, in the far north of England , are very unlikely to be a candidate for a level transfer, unless, of course the English and Scottish National Leagues merge!!

LEAGUE POSITIONING RULES
For the benefit of anybody who wasn’t sure (everybody?!?) :-

If two or more clubs are equal on league points, their position is decided by the following criteria, applied in order:
1. Highest number of wins: A club with a higher number of wins in the league is placed higher.
2. Highest number of draws: A club with a higher number of draws is placed higher.
3. Match points difference: The greater difference between match points "for" and match points "against".
4. Points "for": The club with the higher total number of match points "for".
5. Aggregate score: Aggregate points scored in matches between the tied teams.
6. Subsequent wins: Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second, and so on until the tie is settled.