By Ballagher
April 18 2003

With the Saints, Llanelli, Biarritz and Leicester Tigers falling at the quarter final stage there have been some movers and shakers in the ComeOnYouSaints.Com Heineken Cup Tipster League. Ballagher brings you the latest. OK.  Not much time before the weekend’s matches are ancient history.  So before you lose interest in the HC altogether, time to check up on how your early season predictions are going.

Scoring and league table

A quick reminder.  The scoring is as follows:

For each quarter finalist you predict correctly 2 points.
For each semi finalist 4 points.
For each finalist 6 points.
For the winner 10 points.

The table is based on the maximum number of points you can still get.  The maximum for a completely accurate prediction is 54 points (which needless to say is no longer possible for anyone).

After the quarter finals

So here are the standings now that the quarter-finals have been and gone.  As before, I’ll leave most of the comment to yourselves but please remember not to shoot the messenger.

Chris (the Saints Ed).  I think I recently pointed out that NOBODY LIKES A SMARTASS!  Do you think we could have a competition, some time, which you don’t lead?  This is getting beyond a coincidence.  But you can’t afford to rest easy.  There’re plenty of people waiting to pounce.  Just look at all those vying for the number 8 shirt!

Nonetheless, backing the demise of Leicester does not seem quite such a bad call now.  Indeed the big winners are those that have put their faith in Munster and Toulouse.  (Only 3 people thought Leinster would make the last four and absolutely no-one saw Perpignon getting to this stage.)

Big losers are those dreamers that tipped a Saints victory against their East Midlands rivals.  Special mention goes to Craig who remains the strongest tipster, as he’s still holding the rest up.

Anyway, here’s the table.

Position    Name    Points
1    Chris the Ed    40
2    Jamie Taylor    38
3=    Gareth Hughes    36
3=    Abbers    36
3=    Ross    36
6=    Daimon    34
6=    TaG    34
8=    Ajack    32
8=    Jim Taylor    32
8=    Stockers    32
8=    Tim Empson    32
8=    Amy Harrison    32
8=    Ballagher    32
8=    Rob Morgan    32
15=    Chris Hoddle    30
15=    Dropgoal    30
15=    Large    30
15=    Mark Hazell    30
15=    Hippo    30
20    Shaddo    28
21=    Eddie Baggott    26
21=    Sir Henry    26
21=    Well Saint    26
24=    Craig the Ballboy    24
24=    Rich Joe's Dad    24
24=    Simon Timms    24
27=    Carol    22
27=    Dan Cooper    22
27=    Lord Stephen    22
30=    Clarkey    20
30=    Jack    20
30=    Maverick    20
33=    Adam Reynolds    18
33=    Sea Bass    18
33=    Chris Marshall    18
33=    Hil    18
37=    Chris Parr    16
37=    David Percy    16
37=    Kerry Tobin    16
37=    Markskaaa    16
37=    Smurfomatic    16
37=    Terry Wright    16
43=    Amy Battison    14
43=    Ian Morris    14
43=    Sam Wigg    14
43=    Tightheed    14
43=    Weeble    14
43=    Saint Andrew    14
43=    Saint Claire    14
43=    Stephen Edwards    14
43=    Tom Harris    14
43=    Tom Howell    14
53=    West Mids Saint    12
53=    Ben Dover    12
53=    Edward Lovelock    12
53=    Ernie    12
53=    Philip Knighton    12
58=    Carl Furness    10
58=    David Lloyd    10
58=    LOM    10
61    Craig Holmes    8