BUSY APRIL LOOMING LARGE
The business end of the season beckons and there’s plenty to play for across all of the divisions in the West London Vets’ League (WLVFL). All good.
PREM TITLE IS THE RAMS TO LOSE
In many ways the division with the least jeopardy is the Prem. It’s not that all is sorted, but there would have to be some eye-opening results if things were really going to change radically now.
At the top both West London Rams and Chelsea have 31 points. But, crucially, the Rams have four games left to play whereas Chelsea only have three. Only one of those four games is at home (against the Whippets on 25 April), but even then the Rams will expect to take the points they need from contests at Croxley, Claygate and, on 2 May, Kew Park Rangers.
Croxley, meanwhile, won’t be going into that game against the Rams (scheduled for 11 April) smoking big Cuban cigars. They need a win to give themselves any chance of retaining their top flight status. Even if they do manage to take three points from that game then the Whippets will need to lose two of their final three contests and draw the other for Croxley to stay up. Given that Chelsea (11 April) and the Rams are on the Whippets’ agenda it’s certainly possible that they could lose two, but the Whippets will back themselves to get three points against an already doomed KPR on 18 April.
INTRIGUE AT BOTH THE TOP AND BOTTOM OF DIV 1
Division 1 is far from as clear cut as the Prem. Indeed, there are a host of permutations at both the top and bottom of the table.
Bank of England (27 points from 12 games) and Ruislip Rangers (25 points from 11 games) are still favourites to go up. But neither will feel the job is done quite yet.
Wandsworth sit third, three points behind Ruslip. But, the Borough only have two games left, the first of which is indeed at Ruislip on 11 April. If Ruislip win that then you really do feel that the promotion race will be run.
Nottsborough have quietly moved into fourth place and in theory they could still gatecrash that particular party. They play Bank of England on 18 April – win that and they are still in it, lose and the promotion slots definitely will be all sorted.
The picture at the bottom is much more complicated. That having been said, Poly are unfortunately already doomed. They have two games left and even if they win both of themthey won’t be able to get out of the bottom three.
Jamrock are also looking down the barrel a bit. If they win all four of their remaining games then they probably will (just about) stay up, but given they have Bank of England (11 April) and Ruislip (9 May) on the radar that’s a very tall order.
Who will end up occupying the third and final relegation spot is, however, far from clear. It’s currently Ascot United’s second string, but they do have games in hand. Indeed, if they win two of their remaining four then they will be mathematically safe.
West Kensington Kings are the ones who are probably feeling most precarious. They have one game left, and that looks like it might be a right humdinger; they play fellow relegation strugglers, Army Crusaders (on 11 April).
If WKK lose or draw then Ascot need to win just one of their four to condemn the Kings. If WKK win then Army will be getting jittery. Even then, one Army win against either Jamrock (18 April) or Nottsborough (25 April) will still see them safe.
Got all that? Yep, it’s complicated…..
PLENTY TO PLAY FOR IN DIV 2
Claygate Royals Hounds have led Division Two from more or less start to finish and that’s not going to change now. They have two games left but the title is already theirs.
Either Woking Welcome or Clapham Old Xaverians will be joining Claygate’s second string in Division One next season. Woking currently have a point advantage there, but all is likely to hang on the contest between the two on 11 April. If Woking win, they are up. If they lose, then Clapham become favourites, particularly as Woking travel to Claygate in their final game. Big contest on 11 April, then.
Nothing is mathematically sorted at the bottom, but in realityboth Civil Service and Laleham are looking like they are doomed. Old Tiffs, however, do still have reason to be hopeful. They are third bottom, but just the one point behind Croxley Green IIs. Thames Ditton are only point further north so they are also far from safe.
There are still quite a lot fixtures left to be played in Div 2, but the games between the sides at the bottom are likely to be pivotal. Keep an eye on Old Tiffs v Croxley (date yet to be confirmed) and Thames Ditton v Old Tiffs (25 April). They could be crucial.
THE MYSTERIES OF DIVISION 3
Being honest, the situation in Div 3 remains something of a mystery to the outside observer.
On the one hand, the formal league has finished. MMB and Old Salvatorians grabbed the top two spots, both were three points ahead of Old Wimbledonians. That means they will be plying their trade in Division 2 next season.
Wimbledonians, Hersham, Putney Vale Rangers, Old Thorntonians and Old Meadonians will slide into Division Three alongside the three relegated sides from Div 2, whilst the eight bottom sides in Division Three will come together in a newly created Division Four. Port Vale were the first ever winners of Div 4 in the football league (in 1958-59), which of the eight will be ‘doing a Vale’ next year? Time will tell.
On the other hand, the three-league post-season Div 3 doesn’t really seem to have got going. There have only been two games in the five team Div 3A (well done to Hersham and Old Salvatorians for winning those), whilst Div 3C has only seen four contests played out (and well done to Bank of England IIs for winning one of them; their first win of the season!).
There’s been a bit more action in Div 3B, but neither Thorntonians nor Meadonians really seem to have got into the swing of it. No matter, the main meal is now long since finished and that’s the key thing.
ASCOT’S SUPERVETS LOOKING GOOD
The Supervets have also spilt their league, but in that competition the winners of the ‘Conference Championship’ will indeed be declared league champions. So, lots to play for there.
Ascot United’s SVs had a bit of a bumpy autumn, but they are still looking primed to retain their title. The Whippets and Croxley look most likely to contest that with the Yellas, and the game between those two on 25 April looks like it’ll dictate who gives Ascot the closest run for their money.
Old Lyonians have had a decent spring, and that sees them lead the Alliance division. They’ve won four from five and that sees them three points ahead of Jamrock. The side from Harrow travel to Jamrock on 25 April, too; looks like that game will be pivotal in sorting out who ends up top of the pile there.
Go well everyone.