Final days of BWPL competition are always nerve-racking affairs - and tomorrow will be no exception. Just ask Sheffield. Having lost 15-14 to Cheltenham in the last game of the Saturday programme, they now need to wrap up their Division 1 campaign with victory over Invicta if they are to qualify for the Super 5s.
Remarkably, there is still a chance that all three teams promoted from Championship 1 last season will feature in the League's showpiece finale in March. Solihull and Caledonia have already made it alongside Manchester and champions Cheltenham. Now Sheffield are poised to break through - if they take the points against Invicta. Defeat would probably leave tomorrow's match-up of Bristol and Lancaster to decide the fifth slot.
Led by seven-goal Joel Abbott, Sheffield almost beat champions Cheltenham. The game was tied at 13-13 with three minutes remaining, but Cheltenham's experience showed as they edged into a 15-13 lead with goals by Albert Tarres and Will Rayson. Chris Armstrong's fourth goal of the day came just two seconds from the end.
Solihull bounced back from defeat by Manchester to outplay Lancaster 16-6, including four goals by Ryan Padbury.
The finale will be just as tense in Division 2 at Swansea. A trio of London clubs - Penguin, Polytechnic and Sutton & Cheam - plus Team Northumbria are already through to Championship 1. Poly beat Northumbria 12-4, including four goals each for Sergio Schiaffino and Lyndon Cranley. Exeter and Welsh Wanderers are left to fight it out for the fifth qualifying place.
Remarkably, there is still a chance that all three teams promoted from Championship 1 last season will feature in the League's showpiece finale in March. Solihull and Caledonia have already made it alongside Manchester and champions Cheltenham. Now Sheffield are poised to break through - if they take the points against Invicta. Defeat would probably leave tomorrow's match-up of Bristol and Lancaster to decide the fifth slot.
Led by seven-goal Joel Abbott, Sheffield almost beat champions Cheltenham. The game was tied at 13-13 with three minutes remaining, but Cheltenham's experience showed as they edged into a 15-13 lead with goals by Albert Tarres and Will Rayson. Chris Armstrong's fourth goal of the day came just two seconds from the end.
Solihull bounced back from defeat by Manchester to outplay Lancaster 16-6, including four goals by Ryan Padbury.
The finale will be just as tense in Division 2 at Swansea. A trio of London clubs - Penguin, Polytechnic and Sutton & Cheam - plus Team Northumbria are already through to Championship 1. Poly beat Northumbria 12-4, including four goals each for Sergio Schiaffino and Lyndon Cranley. Exeter and Welsh Wanderers are left to fight it out for the fifth qualifying place.
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