The bell has rung...

The barmen have rung the bell and it's time for the last round, Kopano and gentlemen. [I hope you appreciate my sneaky pun with the use of Catherine from JAG instead of a picture of a bell. Well I'm bleak if you didn't cause because looking for the appropriate picture took a 'toll' on me...oh god I'm getting worse.]

Moving along, the bell has rung and I am afraid it is a death knell for most sides and they are going to have to pack up the boots until 2007. As promised here is a little mathematic breakdown of who is in contention for semis, along with the details for Round 9.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS LANK IMPORTANT. There is a varsity game at 7pm on the C-field this wednesday so times have been shuffled to accomodate this. ALSO, the B League games are taking place on the B field and the A league games on the C field. Get that soldiers? Read the purple stuff...we're having a purple patch!

If you sitting there wondering that this makes as much sense as a 'do not touch' sign written in Braille I'll let you in on the reason. 2007 could see the home fields of the A and B league swopping so we thought we'd guinea pig it out now... Do enjoy!

The Chances:

A-League:

Contrary to populat perception Rochester do not have a chance of making the play-offs. Just thought I'd clear they up. In fact they have more chance of playing A league next year! Along with them, neither do Kopano. The Nadoes, Cobras and Barbarians are all guaranteed a semi spot. This leave Ubumbo (13), Soco Thoco (13) and Marquard (9) fighting out to see who can lose to the Nadoes in the semi. There log points are in brackets.

This gets more interesting when you hear that the Barbarians play Ubumbo and Marquard play Soco Thoco. So Marquard can make it if they beat Soco Thoco by more than 7 points (and don't leak four tries) and if Ubumbo lose. If Ubumbo and ST both get the same log points St will go through as they have amassed 3 bonus points this season...

B-League:

Panthers, Wildboys and Shebeen Boys are all already through. Wildboys have a game in hand so just one log point will give them the top spot and the 'easier' game. If not Panthers stay at the top and play the 4th side. Smuts is virtually assured a 4th spot but the Turtles can take it if: Smuts lose to College by more than 7, they score 4 tries and against the Spanners and make up an 11 point points difference against Smuts. Yes its complicated but they have more of a chance than Hidding, College and the Spanners...

Interestingly enough Smuts can also make 3rd spot if they win with 4 tries and the Shebeen Boys lose without a bonus to the Wildboys! Of course this means Wildboys will go 1 and face the Shebeen Boys again in the semis whilst Smuts will face the Panthers. This won't be good for Smuts after Panthers caned them earlier in the season.

Just for some clarity. If sides end on the same number of log points the leader will be decided by bonus points, then tries, then points difference, then season result! The rules regarding semi-finals, pertaining to the event of a draw have been brought in line with the IRB this year so look forward to an update on that next week.

See you on the Mile...