we played Chester when we played summer at Bury. They play in the regional division which is a few down from the summer conference division and they finished 2nd this year to Mancunians. Almost all were Union lads but had played at a high standard. I'd heard that the winter team was to be very different with the Union lads going back.

put my predictions in bold (obviously, i have to pick Bury!!!)

so folly, irlam, bury, bolton, folly lane A all winning, the others, well, coming second...

Cadishead were smashed 50-12 by hindley, hindley are a really good side though should be in the prem really? One of my work mates plays for hindley and apparently there murdering teams week in week out.

Normanton knights 30-12 Eccles&salford
Haydock19-14Folly lane
Irlam 27-6Hindepool
EcclesA0-18Bamber Bridge
Folly A 34-8little Hulton
IrlamA16-16Culcheth

They won a game 2 - 1 last year in what sounded like an absolute classic match against Rochdale Cobras - but they are quality, could easily go up to 1st division maybe the prem. They had a new club house etc. done and i assume they dropped out of the league while that work was being done, then came back in at the very bottom - we've had two years against them and been battered (almost) every time!!! They put 100 past someone last year...that has been the daft thing about the bottom divisions over recent years - Hindley, Rochdale Cobras, Milnrow, and then Waterhead - all very very good sides coming up agaisnt new clubs. Hard to take.

Full local results:
NCDiv1 - Normanton 30 - 12 Eccles
NWC 1 - Haydock 19 v 14 Folly Lane
NWC 3 - Haresfinch 16 v 23 Langworthy Reds
NWC 3 - Irlam Hornets 27 v 6 Hindpool
NWC 4 - Eccles & Salford A 0 v 18 Bamber Bridge
NWC 4 - Hindley 50 v 12 Cadishead Rhinos
NWC 5 - Eccleston 30 v 18 Bury Broncos
NWC 5 - Bolton Mets 16 v 34 Wigan Bulldogs
NWC 6 - ***DERBY GAME*** - Folly Lane A 34 v 8 Little Hulton
NWC 6 - Irlam Hornets A 16 v 16 Culcheth

Was at the NWC meeting last night and the Lancashire Cup draw was done. No chance i was entering Bury into it as it is a straight draw which includes Nat Conf teams and lets just say, many of the 'stronger' clubs from NWC. Almost all entrants came from the top divisions, with additional fast rising clubs like Hindley (Div 4) also in the mix...

and then out came Little Hulton from Div 6. Very brave is what I say...but good luck! can't see you getting close against Hindley...

Anyway, this weeks fixtures. Lots of local sides at home so please support them

Nat Conf 1 - Eccles v Widnes St. Maries
NWC 1 - Folly Lane v Roose Pioneers
NWC 3 - Burtonwood V Irlam Hornets
NWC 3 - Langworthy Reds v Pilkington A
NWC 4 - Cadishead Rhinos v Rochdale Mayfield A (or B, depending on whether they run their Pennine League side still!)
NWC 4 - Leigh Central v Eccles A
NWC 5 - Bury Broncos v Widnes Tigers
NWC 5 - Wigan St. Cuthberts A v Bolton Mets
NWC 6 - Ashton Bears A v Folly Lane A
NWC 6 - Halton Simms Cross A v Irlam Hornets A
NWC 6 - Little Hulton v Rochdale Cobras A

NWC 6 - Ashton Bears A 16 v 16 Folly Lane A

In constant rain, both teams managed to earn a point in a very scrappy affair. Knock on after knock on for both teams in a game what never got going, I'd say a draw was a fair result in the end.

Bury 46 - 6 Widnes Tigers

could have been more, we conceded in the first minute then dominated. Bury could have a great year with the new additions we have. few short at chorley next week but hopefully bring in a few who've been missing so far and go from there...urge any locals to come and watch

Nat Conf 1 - Eccles 9 v 40 Widnes St. Maries
NWC 1 - Folly Lane 36 v 24 Roose Pioneers
NWC 3 - Burtonwood 12 V 26 Irlam Hornets
NWC 3 - Langworthy Reds 22 v 18 Pilkington A
NWC 4 - Cadishead Rhinos 12 v 22 Rochdale Mayfield A
NWC 4 - Leigh Central 48 v 6 Eccles A
NWC 5 - Bury Broncos 46 v 6 Widnes Tigers
NWC 5 - Wigan St. Cuthberts A 18 v 0 Bolton Mets
NWC 6 - Ashton Bears A 16 v 16 Folly Lane A
NWC 6 - Halton Simms Cross A v Irlam Hornets A (result not in)
NWC 6 - Little Hulton 18 v 0 Rochdale Cobras A

Both Simms Cross games were cancelled as a mark of respect to ex-player Chris Percival who lost his battle against cancer earlier in the week.

Was gutted when Bolton game was called off, I'm sure will be getting a b0ll0cking for this at training

what happened?!

Coach couldnt get hold of some of the players on friday night/saturday morning

This weekend:

NC1 - Milford Marlins v Eccles
NWC1 - Blackpool Scorpians v Folly Lane (tough one - Scorpians have been flying up the divisions!)
NWC3 - Irlam Hornets v Haresfinch
NWC3 - Spring View v Langworthy
NWC4 - ***DERBY*** Eccles A v Cadishead
NWC5 - Chorley Panthers v Bury Broncos
NWC5 - Bolton Mets v Crosfields A
NWC 6 - Folly Lane A v Blackpool Scorpians A (er, both clubs have two pitches - why not switch fixtures and play back to back?)
NWC 6 - ***DERBY*** Irlam Hornets A v Little Hulton

folly lane 1st got hammered away at blackpool think it was 58-0 and the 2nd team won at the against blackpool,

1st were missing quite a few players but still a bad result

NC1 - Milford Marlins 56 v 10 Eccles
NWC1 - Blackpool Scorpians 58 v 0 Folly Lane (i said it'd be very tough!)
NWC3 - Irlam Hornets 26 v 20 Haresfinch
NWC3 - Spring View 32 v 2 Langworthy
NWC4 - Eccles A 8 v 44 Cadishead
NWC5 - Chorley Panthers 16 v 19 Bury Broncos (big big result given we had up to 9 missing!)
NWC5 - Bolton Mets 26 v 16 Crosfields A (Bolton back! just in time to play Bury!)
NWC 6 - Folly Lane A 32 v 16 Blackpool Scorpians A
NWC 6 - Irlam Hornets A 34 v 16 Little Hulton

so, first month review...

Eccles and Salford - first year back up, and struggling. Lost 4 from 4 but a first match defeat by 1 point to Ince Rose Bridge suggested things might be better. Being a promoted side was going to be tough - and it really is!

Folly Lane - take away last weeks result, and it was a good start. Sitting 3rd at that point, they now have two wins from four games and are comfortable in mid-table.

Irlam Hornets - fantastic start, top scorers in their return to Division 3 after promotion and four wins from four mean they are top of the table and the only team with a 100% win record. Early season pace-setters for back to back promotions...

Langworthy Reds - superb start for a club that has struggled for two years. Ubeaten for the first three - but lost at weekend. Really good start for the Reds who would hope to push on and stay close to the top all year.

Cadishead - two wins from four = mid-table and safe. The division has started strangely with some teams unable to field a side and the bizarre late inclusion of Thatto Heath A!

Eccles A - no wins and stuck at the bottom, aim has to be to play as many as possible and make sure they stick around.

Bury Broncos - super start for Bury. Lost just one, away to Eccleston who would have been one of the pre-season favourites. Currently sitting third and second top scorers in the division - desire will be to keep it going...

Bolton Mets - almost the opposite of Bury (who they play this weekend!). Lost the first three with one of them being a conceded game - but a strong win last week shows they could be back and ready to move up the table

Folly A - always tough to understand the bottom division! Two wins, a draw and a defeat - upper mid-table is where Folly are but as a strong club they could push on and get themselves a division higher.

Irlam A - tough start for a new team they have a full set of a win, a draw, and a defeat - so, a good start from which to build.

Little Hulton - if Irlam had it tough, Little Hulton as an entirely new club have yet to get a win with their two points coming from a conceded game. From my Bury experience (where we won just two games in year 1!) it is very hard getting going - but they just need to press on.

Despite it being Grand Final day, there was a full set of fixtures scheduled for this weekend....gutted for anyone having to travel to Cumbria!!!!

As a result, fixtures will be all over the place with some clubs moving games to other days, others moving kick off times, others maybe conceding if there is no alternative. So, if people know definate plans for any of the below, please post them...

Fixtures
NC1 - Eccles & Salford v Myton Warriors

NWC1 - Folly Lane v Bold Miners

NWC3 - Langworthy Reds v Leyland Warriors

NWC3 - Spring View v Irlam

NWC4 - Cadishead v Bamber Bridge

NWC4 - Rochdale Cobras - Eccles A

NWC5 - Bury Broncos v Bolton Mets
Urge anyone who fancies a full day of RL to come down to this derby game. Bolton battered us twice last year but Bury have had a really good start - add to that the fact that Bolton have started poorly but are bound to get their act together this week - it could a really tasty game.

[u12.30 kick off [/uat Phillips High School, Whitefield - a few minutes walk from Whitefield met stop. After game drinks in Stand Cricket Club (with possibly a classic game of rugby league on the big screen) which is just two minutes away from the tram for people to get to OT. The club have about 30 going as part of our formal trip + others will hopefully be tagging along so will be a good laugh...and the beer is cheap in the cricket club.

NWC6 - Folly Lane A v Rochdale Cobras A

NWC6 - Ashton Bears A v Irlam A

NWC6 - Little Hulton v Accrington

I'd agree with your summaries on the teams so far, As far as Folly is concerned the result away at Blackpool for the first team was a disgrace. Not making excuses, but we did have 6 regular second teamers in the squad, this meant the seconds were struggling for a full set, but after some late phone calls we managed to get a team out and continue our drive for promotion this year. Although it is going to be very difficult with Chester, Blackbrook A and Widnes West Bank all looking very strong in Div 6.

I watched Blackpool V Langworthy two year ago in Div 3 - you could tell then that they were quality and could really move up the divisions - and with Stanley folding, i dare say they've added even more depth to the side.

Given the size of Folly as a club, they should be able to be competitive a few divsisons higher -it's just getting there with the crazy mix of teams you get at the bottom!

Couple of Derby games this weekend, both at Irlam don't know where the second team will play though with there only being one pitch at Irlam maybe they might have to switch the fixture to Folly?

Irlam V Langworthy in div 3

Irlam A v Folly A in div 6

Irlam A played their last home game at Eccles RUFC

Hope its the same for Saturday as I live right next to there, saves me trecking upto Swinton

It is.

Irlam Hornets A 4 - 34 Folly Lane A

A game in which we totally dominated in all honestly, full credit to Irlam who never stopped trying though

Stanley Rangers 28 Eccles 6
Folly 22 Albert Park 6
Higginshaw 4 Irlam 30
Ulverston 40 Langworthy 24
Cadishead 4 Rochdale Cobras 20
Eccles A 16 Thatto Heath A 16
Blackbrook A 32 Folly A 10
Fitton Hill 16 Little Hulton 10
Irlam A 6 Blackpool Scorpions 42

Good wins for Folly and Irlam and a decent effort from the rest. Its good to see that the 'A' teams are competing well at the moment and having good numbers.