And it's confirmed that we survive, just (<4 points between us and Roth).
Let's put this underperforming season behind us and go on to greater things.
We're losing Roth, Hull I's and Canterbury as opponents. The former two much regretted, the last less so, mainly as it's such a long way.
It looks like we're getting Taunton Titans (simple drive down M5), Tonbridge Juddians (round the M25, but less far away than Canterbury) and Caldy (far end of the Wirral). I haven't made it to Caldy before, maybe this time?
And at the other end, good luck to Mond as they go back up, and hello to ... well, they say they're going to be playing under a new name, so not Yorkshire Carnegie. Back to Leeds Tykes maybe? And will they stay at Headingley?
Yorkshire Evening Post and the club website indicate that Carnegie will become "Leeds" again next season, whether as Tykes is not stated, and also that they are to relocate away from Headingley, which they have rarely come close to filling below the top tier, and not that often then. Where to is not specified.
Earlier on in the season they played a few games at West Park Leeds RUFC, probably playing there.
Mose stay up Oak stay where they are, welcome very locally Old Saltleians to Midlands 2 West (N) Women's 1st XV stay where they are in Championship 2 Midlands
Will definitely miss the Iron and Steel and Pie and Chips at Rotherham, glad we're getting another trip north to Leeds, looking forward to Caldy and two new trips to Taunton and Tonbridge.
Just looked at Roth message board. Have to feel sorry for them as they were giving survival a real go. Mostly it's accepting of a bad situation, but let's see if their Directors challenge the RFU decision.
For us, a lucky escape, but we now need to focus on next season.
First and foremost (and I know I say this every season), we need players who genuinely want to play for the club and to see the club do well. Second, we need to build a team based on solid, tight, consistent Defence. It might not be pretty rugby, but neither is a -144 points difference with only 8 wins in 25 games. Third, players need to be fit and last the full game from first whistle to last.
