Wait, what’s this? I'm tackling the playoffs? SAY WHAT?!
Before I begin, I must apologise to the Bath Killer Bees. On
the final RP Poll, I posted the stupidest comment of all time on BKB's blurb – “Wait, what’s that? Their first game is against
Loughborough...Oh, well, at least they had a good regular season!” Well, aren't I an idiot? BKB proved me (and the rest of the world) wrong, as they
upset the Aces to advance to the next round.
I would also like to point
out that instead of moaning/criticising the rankings, Bath let their football
do the talking. I’d hate to have been a person associated with one of the
losing teams who moaned complained about last weeks rankings...
Now, it’s time for the list!
1. Birmingham Lions
The number one team on this list continued their march to
another national championship final with a 51-0 victory over Leeds Carnegie. The
good news for the Lions is that they survive for another week. The bad news is
that the Lions now face a ridiculously long trip up to Stirling to take on the
undefeated Clansmen. Things may end up being worse if Tristan Varney is indeed
injured and out for a long period of time.
2. Hertfordshire
Hurricanes
No game for the ‘Canes as their #1 seeding in the playoffs
meant they were on a bye last weekend. Last year’s champions will begin the
defence of their title against the Sheffield Sabres who knocked off UWE at the
weekend. With a 19 game winning streak that dates back to last season, many expect to see the ‘Canes on this list next week! (But let’s not get
ahead of ourselves yet!)
3. Derby Braves
Similar to the ‘Canes, Derby were on a bye due to their
playoff seeding. The Braves will begin their inaugural national championship
playoff campaign with a home game vs. the on fire Portsmouth Destroyers. If the
Braves are going to find a way to win that game, they’ll need their O to be
firing on all cylinders against a defence that only conceded an average of six
points per game.
4. Stirling Clansmen
Let’s make it a hat trick of teams who’ve been on a bye at
the weekend, as the Clansmen remain in the number four spot. With home field
advantage, an offence who could have posted more than 431 points had they
actually had games in the second half of the season, and a chance to prove to
everyone that the Saltire conference isn't a walkover, the Clansmen should feel
confident heading into this weekend’s game against the Birmingham Lions. Let’s
just hope that the lack of games in 2013 doesn’t come back to bite them!
P.s. this game is
going to be amazing!
5. Bath Killer Bees
Wowzers! Talk about an upset! In case you haven’t heard (no,
the bird isn’t the word), the Killer Bees came back from 13-2 down to knock off
the Loughborough Aces, who many consider to be the third best team in the country, and advance to the next round of the
playoffs. With Hull next up for Bath, I wouldn't be surprised if they won this
one and made it to the semi finals. Wonder how many thought that would happen
when the Bees lost to the Sabres in last season’s challenge trophy final?!
6. Hull Sharks
Speaking of the Sharks, Hull drop to number six following
the Killer Bees win at the weekend and the fact the Sharks were on a bye. Now,
after almost having their perfect season ruined by a lowly team in their
conference, I wouldn't be surprised if the Sharks were out to make a statement in
this week’s game. It should be a cracker!
7. Sheffield
How did the Killer Bees get their vengeance on the Sabres
after last season’s trophy defeat? They just defeated Loughborough meaning the
Sabres will now have to travel to Hertfordshire to take on the Hurricanes
following their mauling of UWE. Any other year, I’d say it’s been a great
season for the Sabres and enjoy their off-season, but after last week’s
results, I don’t know what to say anymore...I don’t even know if the grass is
green and the sky is blue.
8. Portsmouth
Destroyers
The Destroyers find themselves as the lowest ranked national
championship team heading into the quarter finals after their victory over the Cougars at the weekend. But, before everyone jumps
on my back, being the lowest ranked team isn’t a bad thing. It now gives you
the underdog tag and means you can prove everyone wrong! Therefore, due to my
motivation, the Braves are now put on upset alert as they Destroyers will want
to prove me wrong! If this works, I need to change my career path and become
the next Mr. Motivator (without the dodgy clothing!)
9. Southampton Stags
The first challenge trophy team to make an appearance on
this week’s poll is the Southampton Stags who were on a bye last weekend. With
plenty of time to rest up (Stags haven’t had a game for two plus weeks),
Southampton should be fit and ready to go for their game against the Tyrants.
With home field advantage, I’d be surprised if the Stags didn’t come away with
the ‘W’ this weekend!
10. BNU Buccaneers
One of the big movers from the weekend’s results is the BNU
Buccaneers who came from behind to defeat the Gloucester Gladiators, earning
their first ever playoff win in the process. For winning their first playoff
game, the Buccaneers are now rewarded with a long-ass trip to Glasgow to take
on the Tigers! At least their AU has been kind enough to pay for the whole team
to stay in a hotel the night before their game next Sunday.
11. Warwick Wolves
No game for the Wolves as the team were on a bye at the
weekend. Now it’s back to business for the Midlands team as their attention
turns to the Leeds Celtics. For much of the season, the Wolves have been
scrutinised for their less than impressive schedule, meaning this weekend will finally give the team an opportunity to prove they’re as good as their
record suggests. Should they lose though, the Wolves will just be another team
who made the post season due to an easy schedule!
12. NTU Renegades
Remember last week when I said I predicted the Millergades
to win the challenge trophy? Yeah, that pick doesn’t look so bad after watching
NTU’s beat down on the UEA Pirates. With Danny Miller tearing opposing defences
up, and a defence who seemed to have their own gravitational pull judging by the number of
picks they had at the weekend, NTU still remain my firm favourites to win it
all!
13. Manchester
Tyrants
I only thought it was Bradford who loved overtime games, but
clearly I was mistaken, as it seems all Northern teams love overtime! First
off, whoever decided to make the two point call, bravo! You have some huge
cojones! Season’s on the line and you make that call. If it’s good, you’re a
hero. If it fails, you’re a scapegoat. Well, fortunately for este hombre, the
call paid off and he’s a hero for another week! Secondly, the Tyrants now have
to come back down to Earth as they face the long trip to Southampton to take on
the Stags. Quite the daunting task!
14. Cambridge Pythons
This weekend will be a memorable game for yours truly. It
will be the weekend when #TeamPHD takes on the Millergades in the battle of the
RP nicknames, so proud! Despite a miserable loss to Westminster, #TeamPHD were
on a bye week at the weekend meaning they should be healed and ready for the
first playoff game in team history. It’ll be a tough one, but a little birdie
tells me they’re up for it! Either that or they’re looking forward to show
piecing their talents on InkSpot Media
P.s. We/I/all of
Britball requests that Mr Burden of InkSpot Media uses #TeamPHD instead of
Cambridge Pythons on his video!
15. Leeds Celtics
What a surprise, the Celtics won...That’s no disrespect to
the Celtics, but everyone with a basic understanding of football could have guessed that the
5-3 Celtics were going to beat the 2-4-2 Edinburgh Predators (no one should
blame Edinburgh or Scotland itself for this situation, they don’t make the
rules/decisions). The Celtics will find themselves coming up against tougher
opposition at the weekend when the team travels south to take on the one-loss
Warwick Wolves. With a lot of confidence under their belt after their win last
weekend, I wouldn't be surprised if the Celtics left the Midlands with a place
in the semi finals locked up.
16. Glasgow Tigers
The final team on my poll is the #1 seed in the challenge
trophy – the Glasgow Tigers. Despite their number one seed and home field advantage,
I still don’t see the Tigers as the favourites for this weekend’s game against
BNU, probably because the Tigers forfeited their last game in the third
quarter, and the Bucs are flying high with confidence and won’t be affected by
the long travel on the day. Either way, the stage is now set for the Tigers to
prove me wrong and remain on my poll for another week! If they want any belief
this week, just remember that the Double Wing doesn't win you a championship...
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