Premier League Roundup

With every team in the Premier League with just 4-6 games to go, we take a look at who wants what from the final few weeks of the season.

Starting at the bottom and moving up…

The Relegation Battle

On the back of Northern 2’s impressive win over Westoe on Thursday relegation looks all but settled for the season.

Northumberland 2 are 79 points adrift of safety, having won just one game this season. They are a young side with a host of promising players but the top tier has proved a bridge too far this season.

Sunderland are now 35 points adrift, albeit with a game in hand, having also only won only one game so far this season. Barring a miraculous turn around of form and fortune it looks like the Wearsiders will fall short of a third straight season in the Premier League.

Much credit must go to Northern 2 for their performances this season. A great season for any side, especially a second team, shows the strength in depth that the Gosforth-based club possess.

Northumbria Cup

The top four sides in the division will qualify for the Northumbria cup. Northern 1 and Newcastle University look to be sure of a spot but there are still two to be filled. There are four sides with the potential to claim them:

Westoe are 25 points clear of fifth position but have struggled with injuries since the Christmas break, losing to Newbiggin and Northern 2 and scraping past a weakened Sunderland. They still have high quality players in Paul Lord and Chris Boyer, but face a tough game next up against Newcastle University.

Northumberland 1 have a formidable top two in newly crowned County Champion Max Forster and 14-time champion Dave Barnett. They also have to opportunity to stretch the current nine point gap to fifth in their next game against their own second team.

Newbiggin are currently on a five match winning streak which they will hope to extend in their next game against Northern 2. They have impressed this season, overcoming the loss of Paul Lord to Westoe to solidify themselves as a secure top flight outfit.

Tynemouth are the outsiders to qualify as they face a 19 point deficit to fourth place, and are currently on a three match losing run. They also face a tough visit from Northern 1 next up, but possess a solid squad that is capable of putting together the sort of run needed.

The League Title

Despite early season pressure from Westoe the title race has boiled down to two teams Northern 1 and Newcastle University.

Newcastle University looked certain to make it two years in a row as their classy top three of Chris Wiggins, Michael Mackay and Bryan Beeson once again shone. They are still strong favourites but a 4-1 defeat to Northern 1 in their last outing has given a glimmer of hope to the Gosforth side.

Northern are four points ahead with four games to go, however the students have an extra fixture, giving them the edge.

 

 

 

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