Div 3 North 2017 - 18

[Mick Norris]

Warwickshire Select have decided that their second team, relegated from division 2, would like to play in division three North next season.

Always welcome to see a new (to the division) team, which should make it more interesting; the website has the following:

1 Warwickshire Select 2
2 3Cs 2
3 3Cs 3
4 Ashfield Breadsall 1
5 Ashfield Breadsall 2
6 Bradford DCA Knights A
7 Bradford DCA Knights B
8 Bradford DCA Knights C
9 Cheddleton 2
10 Enniscorthy
11 Gonzaga
12 Holmes Chapel
13 Hounds and Bears
14 Jorvik
15 Manchester Manticores 2
16 Manchester Manticores 3
17 Manchester Manticores 4
18 Spirit of Atticus B

I'm not sure if 3Cs 3 or Enniscorthy are returning; have we heard anything from Hounds & Bears and is there any news of new potential teams?

[LawrenceCooper]

Warwickshire Select have decided that their second team, relegated from division 2, would like to play in division three North next season.

Always welcome to see a new (to the division) team, which should make it more interesting; the website has the following:

1 Warwickshire Select 2
2 3Cs 2
3 3Cs 3
4 Ashfield Breadsall 1
5 Ashfield Breadsall 2
6 Bradford DCA Knights A
7 Bradford DCA Knights B
8 Bradford DCA Knights C
9 Cheddleton 2
10 Enniscorthy
11 Gonzaga
12 Holmes Chapel
13 Hounds and Bears
14 Jorvik
15 Manchester Manticores 2
16 Manchester Manticores 3
17 Manchester Manticores 4
18 Spirit of Atticus B

I'm not sure if 3Cs 3 or Enniscorthy are returning; have we heard anything from Hounds & Bears and is there any news of new potential teams?

Shropshire are emigrating north.

[Mick Norris]

That's good news too

[MartinCarpenter]

Its definitely good. I was a bit worried we'd struggle to justify 2 promotion places every year, but we seem to be gaining just enough strong teams each year to make it fit together

Presume Gonzaga fairly heavy favourites to go up, then a few decent teams who could.

[Mick Norris]

Current position, with 3Cs 3 returning but not Enniscorthy, is potentially 19 teams:

Confirmed Fees paid
1 3Cs 2 Y Y
2 3Cs 3 Y Y
3 Ashfield Breadsall 1 Y Y
4 Ashfield Breadsall 2 Y Y
5 Bradford DCA Knights A
6 Bradford DCA Knights B
7 Bradford DCA Knights C
8 Cheddleton 2 Y Y
9 Gonzaga Y Y
10 Holmes Chapel
11 Hounds and Bears
12 Jorvik
13 Manchester Manticores 2 Y Y
14 Manchester Manticores 3 Y Y
15 Manchester Manticores 4 Y Y
16 Shropshire 1
17 Shropshire 2
18 Spirit of Atticus B Y Y
19 Warwickshire Select 2 Y Y

[Mick Norris]

A final total of 20 teams; an even number, thankfully, so no triangular matches

No Hounds and Bears, but a new team in Castleford Tigers

1 3Cs 2
2 3Cs 3
3 Ashfield Breadsall 1
4 Ashfield Breadsall 2
5 Bradford DCA Knights A
6 Bradford DCA Knights B
7 Bradford DCA Knights C
8 Castleford Tigers
9 Cheddleton 2
10 Enniscorthy
11 Gonzaga
12 Holmes Chapel
13 Jorvik
14 Manchester Manticores 2
15 Manchester Manticores 3
16 Manchester Manticores 4
17 Shropshire 1
18 Shropshire 2
19 Spirit of Atticus B
20 Warwickshire Select 2

[Alex McFarlane]

an even number, thankfully, so no triangular matches

#And so say all of us, and so say all of us.

[LawrenceCooper]

an even number, thankfully, so no triangular matches

#And so say all of us, and so say all of us.

Now all that's required is trying to avoid pairing the 3Cs, A&B, Bradford, MM, Shropshire teams with each other

[Mick Norris]

Now all that's required is trying to avoid pairing the 3Cs, A&B, Bradford, MM, Shropshire teams with each other

That would be great

[MartinCarpenter]

I'd be sorely tempted to give up and have them all play each other in round 1.......
(This might risk being accused of being lazy )

[Roger de Coverly]

I'd be sorely tempted to give up and have them all play each other in round 1.......

It's a rule used in evening league all play alls that teams from the same club have to meet first.

[Alex Holowczak]

an even number, thankfully, so no triangular matches

#And so say all of us, and so say all of us.

I'd have assumed, based on last season's event, that the probability of an odd number of teams not turning up would be higher than the probability of zero or an even number of teams not turning up?

[Kevin Thurlow]

"No Hounds and Bears, but a new team in Castleford Tigers "

The real Castleford Tigers?

https://www.castlefordtigers.com/

Bayern Munich play in the Bundesliga, so I guess it's not impossible!

[Neil Graham]

A final total of 20 teams; an even number, thankfully, so no triangular matches

No Hounds and Bears, but a new team in Castleford Tigers

Bearing in mind the discussion about the non-appearance of Hounds and Bears for Rounds 9-11 last year, I can't say I'm surprised.

[Tim Harding]

I'd be sorely tempted to give up and have them all play each other in round 1.......

It's a rule used in evening league all play alls that teams from the same club have to meet first.

The Irish leagues make teams from the same club meet first and surely that should be a rule in NCL too?

True, it's a Swiss in Division 3 North, but trying to avoid them meeting could lead to unfortunate late pairings and accusations of collusion if one of the clubs involved gets into a promotion battle on the final weekend.

In the case of Bradford and Manchester it would perhaps be reasonable to make the 1st team play both the others the first weekend, and leave the match between the two weaker teams to fall later on.