06/07/08 With the fixtures now being released we have a clearer idea of the competition structure than we did when the format was first announced, back at the beginning of May. [See article] Generally speaking the Leagues are pretty much as reported at that time, though there are one or two minor changes (though by no means minor to the teams and divisions involved!). Brixton Topcats, for instance, have reappeared in EBL3 South, after officially being relegated to Division 4. I suspect that they may have successfully appealed against their demotion, and if so I wonder whether they used Pawprint's interpretation of what constitutes "the bottom two places in EBL Division Three"? Whatever the reason, the result is that there are now thirteen teams in Division 3 South, which has necessitated an earlier start (a week before the First Round of the EBL Shield) and four "double header" weekends, in order to fit in all the fixtures. The knock-on effect is a reduction in the number of teams in EBL4 Midlands-South , which, together with the "withdrawal" of West Herts, left that division with just eight members. In fact it could have been worse for the division, as Brunel University have also disappeared, but their departure is covered by the unexpected arrival of Brighton Cougars. There are also minor changes to the Men's National Trophy. The competition will still start with a Pool stage, but since there will only be five teams in each group (North and South), instead of playing other teams in the Pool only once, there will be a home and away round-robin (as we suggested, as far back as 18th March, might be the case). Thus there will not just be five weekends of Trophy fixtures at the start of the season, but also a final three weekends of matches in the New Year. In addition to giving the Division 1 members an extra four fixtures (as compensation for not having increased the division itself to twelve teams) this should also keep interest in the Trophy Pools alive right through until January, and maintain the focus for the four semi-finalists who will have only a month to wait before that next stage, as opposed to three months last year! As far as the Trophy fixtures go, Reading Rockets will begin their defence of the title on 27th September, with a visit to Bristol Academy Flyers in the South. With beaten Finalists Worthing Thunder now having moved into the BBL, Reading are the only one of last year's semi-finalists in the South Pool. The North, however, has the other two teams which reached the last four, Manchester Magic and Sheffield Arrows. This must leave Derby Trailblazers wondering what they've done to upset the fixture computer, which has scheduled them to begin their Trophy campaign with two away games - visiting both these teams, on 27th September and 4th October respectively! Returning to the National Trophy, after a year's absence (which they used, in division 2, to add the Patron's Cup to their long list of silverware) are Tees Valley Mohawks, who hold the record winning this competition in five successive seasons, from 1999 to 2003. They make their return with a visit, on 27th September, to Coventry Crusaders, who only avoided relegation as a result of Worthing's move "upstairs", but then the Mohawks play host, on 4th October, to the League, Cup and Championship holders, Manchester Magic, who will be looking to add add to their impressive CV with the only competition they have yet to win! While the Trophy has moved to home and away fixtures in the Group stage, the Patron's Cup sticks to the same "home or away" format that it has used for several years. Both the South and North groups have six participants, and so the Pool stage will be over by 18th October. Competition looks to be fiercest in the North Pool, which contains the only past winner, Leicester Warriors (2007), last year's beaten finalists (and Championship Winners), Team Northumbria, as well as EBL3 Champions (and 2007 EBL Shield winners) Leeds Carnegie. By a quirk of the fixture list, Northumbria meet both of their key rivals in the first two weeks of the competition - visiting Leeds on 27th September, and hosting Leicester on 4th October. The EBL Shield has been marked for the past two seasons by victory in the Final for a team from Division 4, over an opponent from Division 3. With Leeds Carnegie no longer eligible to enter the Shield, as they are now in Division 2 after successive promotions, and Derby Trailblazers II having gained promotion to Division 3 (as have many of the strongest teams from Division 4), it will be fascinating to see whether the remaining Div 4 teams, or any of the newcomers, can live up to the precedent. Surprisingly, there are still teams choosing not to enter the Shield, and six have done so this year. Even more surprisingly two are from Division 3, though both have "form" for not fancying knock-out competitions. City of Nottingham Tribe haven't entered either the Shield or Cup for the last three seasons (though they were Shield quarter finalists in 2005), while Sheffield Sabres have an even greater phobia, having only entered the Shield once (in their debut season in 2001-2), and never having participated in the Cup! Three of the Division 4 non-entrants are newcomers, Team Durham Wildcats (the academy team of Durham Wildcats), Aston Athletics (Birmingham Athletics' second team) and University of Wales, Newport, and for all three it may be that the Shield begins too early in the season (and too early in the University term) for them to be ready in time. More surprising is the absence of UWIC Archers, who have entered the competition in their previous three seasons (though they did default in 2006-7). Holders Derby will start their bid to become the first team to win the Shield more than once on 25th/26th October, in the second round, when they will visit the winner of the Sefton Stars v Stockport Falcons first round match. Among the favourites this year must be runners up in Division 3 North, and Championship Finalists, City of Sheffield Saints, who declined promotion to Division 2. Unless, of course, age finally catches up with the legs of Garnet Gayle and their other veterans. The Saints have a home tie in the first round, against newcomers Leeds Carnegie II, with the winners playing host to either Tyne Met. Trojans or Wear Valley Warriors. The survivors then have a probable "tie of the round", with the potential visit of Derby. Last year's beaten finalists Worcester Wolves II had an unwelcome "double", as they paired their Final appearance with relegation from Division 3. They are the only Division 4 team with a bye into the second round, where they will visit either Reading Rockets II or Team Gloster Jets. West Herts Warriors II, finalists in 2007, begin their quest in Round 2, at home to Ilkeston Outlaws or College of West Anglia Fury., with the prospect of a visit to either Oxford Brookes University or Black Country Univ. of Wolverhampton (or even Loughborough Cardinals if they can overcome Wolverhampton first) in Round 3. The fourth (and last) previous finalists in the competition are Brixton Topcats, the only team to have appeared in more than one Final, with defeats in 2003 and 2005, and success in 2004. If they are to make it through to another Final they will have to do it the hard way, against Division 3 opponents, in the most competitive section of the draw. They visit newly-promoted Guildford Heat II in Round 1, with the winners travelling to Southampton Trailblazers for the prize of a home tie against (probably) London Towers. The survivors then face a daunting quarter-final visit, in mid-December, to one of Hackney White Heat, Westminster Warriors, Eastside Eagles, Wellingborough Phoenix or London Westside. With a record 51 entries this year, the eventual winners will certainly have earned their moment of glory. The Women's National Trophy also looks highly competitive, and wide open, this year. Finalists in three of the last four season Sheffield Hatters II, are not in the competition (nor the League) this season, but holders Sevenoaks Suns II will be looking to make it three wins in as many seasons for their club (following their first team's vistory in 2007). With a bye to the second round, the Suns will play host to either Holbrook Tigers (1983 Finalists) or Brixton Topcats (Finalists in '86), with a probable third round visit to Edmonton Green Phoenix (previously Enfield) who take on Westside or newcomers Millwall in Round 2. In the same half of the draw, previous winners (as Chelmsford), Southend Swifts will be looking for a return to the Final after eight years, and they start in the second round in mid-November with a visit to newcomers Guildford Heat or Wellingborough Phoenix. Should they surmount that hurdle, the Swifts will be on the road again in December's quarter final, this time travelling somewhat further to either Mansfield Giants or Leicester Beauchamp Cannons. The other half of the draw contains two previous Finalists, and two Winners. Cardiff Celts won the competition way back in 1994 (when they were still Cardiff Flyers), and they visit non-league Bristol Flyers in the first round, with a view to hosting 2003 Finalists Plymouth Raiders in the second round. The winners face a probable quarter final visit from South Birmingham Blazers (Black Country Bears under a new name). Stockport Lapwings, who won the Trophy in 2002, after falling at the final hurdle in the previous two years, play host to debutantes Wear Valley in Round 1, aiming to set up a local "derby" at home to non-league, but probably strong, Manchester Mystics II . Meanwhile, 2004 Finalists Ellesmere Port, now playing as BiG Storage Cheshire Jets, host the only team to finish below them in Division 2 North last season, Sefton Starlights, with Bury Blue Devils (third in the North last year) awaiting the winners, as they eye a visit to the Stockport/Wear Valley/Manchester winners in the quarter final.
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