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Men's League - update
11 Mar 2017

With just a few weeks left to the end of the league season, here are the main highlights and issues in the Men's League:

Premier Division

A very strong and consistent Newcastle University side are set to become Premier Division champions, with only one defeat all season. This will be the University's first title since their return to the top flight in 2013. Tynemouth 1 (champions in the previous two seasons) look to have the edge over Northumberland for runners-up spot. Westoe's home game with Northern on the last matchday of the season (6th April) should decide who clinches the last Northumbria Cup place. At the bottom, it's two from Tynemouth 2, Newbiggin and Sunderland for relegation - Newbiggin's away game against Tynemouth 2 on 16th March and their home game against Sunderland on 30th March look like crucial games, as do Sunderland's two games in the run-in against an injury-hit Alnwick team.

Division 1

Northern 2 have led for most of the season but this half have lost to both of their closest challengers Northumberland Juniors and Newcastle University 2, who just keep on winning. The match between the two chasing teams on 15th March will go a long way to deciding the promotion race and who finishes as champions. Sunderland 2 are certainties for relegation, with Northern 3's away games against Eldon Leisure 1 (23rd March) and Concordia 1 (6th April) probably deciding the other relegation spot between these three teams.

Division 2

Newcastle University 3 remain unbeaten and are certainties to finish as champions. Runners-up spot looks like being decided on 21st March when Tynemouth 3 host Primrose 1. Consett 1 are favourites for the drop, along with either Chester-le-Street 2 or Northumberland 3, who face each other on 29th March at CLS.

Division 3

Congratulations to Benwell Hill and Washington 1, who have the two promotion places wrapped up already, having only lost once each, to each other. Benwell have the slight edge in the race for the championship title, but Washington are the team in form. Northumberland 4 are all but down, with Eldon Leisure 2 probably needing to beat Newbiggin 2 convincingly at home on 27th March to avoid the drop.

Division 4

Boldon 1 and Consett 2 look certainties for promotion, with Boldon slight favourites to clinch the championship. Ashington 1 and Westoe 3 look to be going down, although a good win for Westoe at home to Northern 5 on 15th March could change the position.

Division 5

Concordia 2 and Newcastle University 4 are in commanding positions at the top with no realistic challengers, with Concordia looking the more likely to finish as champions. Northern 6 are relegated and Dunston 2's home game with Northern Juniors 2 on 5th April will probably determine who joins them, although Consett 3 aren't completely safe yet.

Division 6

Northumberland 5 are favourites to be champions, with Eldon Leisure 3 looking to have the edge over Dunston 3 for the other promotion place. Down at the bottom, Westoe 4 are already relegated, and Ashington 2 have withdrawn.

Division 7

Newbiggin 3 look like going up as champions, with three teams - Washington 2, Boldon 3 and Alnwick 2 - all in the hunt for what are likely to be two further promotion spots. Consett 5 finish with the wooden spoon, but to their credit as a newly-formed team they have fulfilled all their fixtures and given opportunities to a number of players to play team squash for the first time.