By Ballagher
January 30 2004

Another good week for many of the tipsters with no less than 4 people getting 11 out of 12 matches correct. No-one was sufficiently sober (even before the game I mean) about the lack of tries in the Saints match but I guess we all dream. Only 5 people backed Biarritz over Sale but, aside from that, it was those who backed the apparent outsiders that lost out.  Indeed, the second biggest loser was a certain game in France on Friday night.  9 unpatriotic people (myself included) backed Agen against the mighty Saints (perhaps like me you thought it a curse on the side to do otherwise) and I like to think we played a small part in the victory.

Congratulations this week go, once again, to Maverick.  In winning outright he also closes the gap on overall leader (still Ajack) but good performances elsewhere among the overall league leaders mean not much has changed at the top.

At the bottom of the table, I think an explanation is required.  I’ve been eliminating from the weekly table those that have not entered that week.  However, because some of you have missed just the odd week, I’ve kept everyone in the overall standings.  What I’ve done is I’ve counted a no entry as being backing for all the away teams and no tries in the Saints game.

So special mention should go to Slimjimmie (who remember is leading one of the other leagues – that one where, as Ajack has pointed out, the ref keeps fiddling the results).  Anyway, in spite of entering this weeks competition TWICE, he still finished behind the 6 people who didn’t bother.  Good stuff Big Man!

Anyway, this is the weekly table.

CMP = Correct Match Predictions
ST+ = Saints Tries Plus
ST- = Saints Tries Minus

Pos	Name	CMP	ST+	ST-	Total
1	Maverick	22	1	1	20
2=	Norfolksaint	20	0	1	19
2=	Saint Tim	22	1	2	19
4=	Big Rich	22	2	2	18
4=		20	1	1	18
4=	WestMidsSaint	22	2	2	18
7=	Ajack	20	1	2	17
7=	Ballagher	18	0	1	17
7=	Chris the Saint	20	1	2	17
7=	Lloydie	20	2	1	17
7=	Saintsby	22	3	2	17
12=	Carole Thacker	20	1	3	16
12=	Hil	20	1	3	16
12=	Macsaint	18	0	2	16
15=	Chris Hoddle	18	1	2	15
15=	Mark H	18	0	3	15
15=	S Timms	18	1	2	15
15=	TaG	18	0	3	15
19	Saints 80	18	2	2	14
20=	Smurfomatic	18	2	3	13
20=	St Rich J&N's Dad	18	3	2	13
22	Hippo	16	3	2	11
23	Slimjimmie	14	3	2	9

Maverick’s weekly victory closes the gap to one point.  More importantly, many of you will know that I tend to look at positions (particularly 1 to 15 strangely enough) in a different light from most pundits.  Increasingly as the field spreads (and the “=” signs disappear) there is the making of a pack.  And, having met 7 out of the 8, I reckon it’s not at all bad but I imagine the opposition would soon work out who we’d throw to in the line-out (on the basis that there’s no-one prepared to try to lift me up).  There’s still a bit of tussle in the backs.

Anyway, back to the league, there’s still plenty to play for.

1	Ajack	100	6	5	89
2	Maverick	98	6	4	88
3	Saint Tim	96	4	5	87
4=	Ballagher	96	8	4	84
4=	WestMidsSaint	98	10	4	84
6	Big Rich	96	8	6	82
7	Norfolksaint	90	6	4	80
8	Hil	98	10	10	78
9=	Chris the Saint	90	8	5	77
9=	St Marlowe	86	6	3	77
11	Macsaint	90	8	7	75
12	Lloydie	90	10	6	74
13	Smurfomatic	88	8	7	73
14=	Chris Hoddle	86	8	6	72
14=	Mark H	88	8	8	72
14=	TaG	92	9	11	72
17=	Hippo	86	9	7	70
17=	S Timms	86	8	8	70
19	St Rich J&N's Dad	90	23	5	62
20	Shaddo	74	9	4	61
21	Carole Thacker	78	14	7	57
22	Daimon	70	13	3	54
23	Saintsby	74	13	9	52
24	Wellsaint	66	13	2	51
25	Tingewick Saint	62	12	4	46
26	Slimjimmie	62	12	5	45
27	Saints 80	60	13	6	41
28	Newlom	50	17	1	32
29	Jazzman	44	11	4	29