Tom Chat - Gameweek 36 & 37

Tom Iddon
3 days ago
6 min read

It’s the penultimate Tom Chat of the season, and we are nicely set up for a final-week scramble across AllSwengland.

Matchleague Premier

With one game to go, ST IVES SEAGULLS remain in control of the Matchleague Premier title race after a strong 88-75 win over UNBEATABLES. They move onto 57 points, three clear of WILLS WINGDINGS, with a healthy goal difference advantage still in their favour.

WILLS WINGDINGS did their part, beating COYS FC 81-77 to keep the pressure on. It was not enough to close the gap, but it keeps the race alive going into the final week. They now need a win, a ST IVES SEAGULLS defeat, and a significant swing in points difference.

The biggest move in the top four came from TASTUR BONDAI BARCA, who edged past MOATY'S MANIACS 82-80. That result takes them level with FOREVER QPR on 42 points, but ahead on goal difference after FOREVER QPR lost 79-76 to FOSSIL PARK EAST.

JDEACON7 produced the performance of the week, beating DZEKO & THE BUNNYMEN 92-73. That result lifts them to fifth on 40 points and gives them a strong finish to the season after back-to-back wins.

At the bottom, DZEKO & THE BUNNYMEN and SHADWELL TOWN are already relegated with one game still to play. CALZIO are the only side in the bottom three who can still escape, but they need a final-week win, VICTORIOUS SECRET to lose, and a huge swing in points difference to overturn the gap. Their 86-86 draw with REPLACEMENTS kept them just about alive, but it leaves them needing a lot to go their way.

With one round left, the title is still technically alive, TASTUR BONDAI BARCA and FOREVER QPR are locked together in the race for third, and CALZIO are clinging on at the bottom. DZEKO & THE BUNNYMEN and SHADWELL TOWN have already had their relegations confirmed.

Division 1

JURYSOUT are Division 1 champions. Having already secured promotion, they confirmed the title with a 79-71 win over IFK HARLTONHAM, moving onto 54 points with one game still to play. It has been a strong campaign from the leaders, and they now go into the final week with both promotion and the title wrapped up.

Behind them, the race for the other two promotion places is still alive. CHACARITA missed the chance to strengthen their position, losing 73-60 to MISSING LINK, while EZE DOES IT took full advantage with a tight 83-80 win over TEAM GOTLAND. That leaves CHACARITA and EZE DOES IT level on 46 points, with GREMLINS just one point behind.

The result that really changed the shape of the promotion race was BADLY GOOD’s 107-82 win over GREMLINS. It was a huge performance from BADLY GOOD, who have now put together back-to-back wins after a difficult run. For GREMLINS, it was a costly defeat, dropping them out of the top three with only one round remaining.

COMMITMENTS were also convincing winners, beating ATLETERNA 97-55 to move level with MAFIA FOUR LIONS on 42 points. MAFIA FOUR LIONS were beaten 96-81 by BY 'ECK, who continued their strong finish to the season and have now won three in a row.

Elsewhere, ALPHA ATHLETIC and TEAM GEORGIES BOYS shared the points in a 95-95 draw. The relegation places had already been confirmed before this round, so the lower end of the table was mainly about pride. TEAM GEORGIES BOYS picked up a point, while IFK HARLTONHAM and ATLETERNA both suffered further defeats.

With one game left, JURYSOUT have done everything they needed to do. The remaining drama is in the promotion race, where CHACARITA, EZE DOES IT and GREMLINS are still fighting for the final two places.

Division 2

Division 2 has the tightest title race of all four Matchleagues, and it is going right to the final week. GLORY GLORY remain top on goal difference, but their 84-82 defeat to HOOFBALL has blown the title race wide open.

That was the result of the week. HOOFBALL edged the leaders by just two points, moving level with GLORY GLORY on 49 points and keeping themselves firmly in the championship fight. GLORY GLORY still have a huge goal difference advantage, but three straight defeats have left them vulnerable at exactly the wrong time.

RED EXILES are right there as well after a comfortable 70-49 win over MAKRILLARNA. They move onto 48 points, just one behind the top two, and remain very much in contention for both the title and promotion. With one game left, they still have plenty to play for.

REAL ALE ROVERS missed a major chance to stay in the top three, losing 73-55 to LALJILAND FC. That defeat drops them to fourth on 47 points, but they are still only two points off the top. They can still be promoted, and they can still finish as champions, but they now need results elsewhere to go their way.

Behind them, BECKENBAURFLY and CORNISH REDS both kept their outside promotion hopes alive. BECKENBAURFLY edged GOTHATTERS FC 74-73, while CORNISH REDS beat HENRY C FC 77-75. Both sides are now on 45 points, although they will need a final-week win and a lot of help above them to force their way into the top three.

SPECKLED JIMS produced the biggest winning margin of the week, beating KAMIKAZEES 96-66, while BONGO FURY saw off WHALLEY RANGE FC 79-67 to move onto 40 points. LALJILAND FC also deserve credit for their win over REAL ALE ROVERS, which had a major impact on the promotion picture.

At the bottom, the wooden spoon is now confirmed. KAMIKAZEES will finish bottom after their defeat to SPECKLED JIMS, leaving them on 15 points with one game remaining.

With one round left, nothing is settled at the top. GLORY GLORY, HOOFBALL, RED EXILES and REAL ALE ROVERS are all still in the title and promotion conversation, while BECKENBAURFLY and CORNISH REDS remain outsiders for the top three. It is set up for a huge final week.

Reality League

The Reality Matchleague title race is going to the final week after both of the top two lost in Week 21. FOREVERGAIS remain top on goal difference, but their 95-73 defeat to MAFIA FOUR LIONS RL opened the door for PUKKI BOWL FC.

PUKKI BOWL FC could not take full advantage, though, losing 88-79 to UNBEATABLES RL. That leaves the top two level on 42 points, with FOREVERGAIS still holding a strong goal difference lead. With one game to go, the title is still alive, but PUKKI BOWL FC will need a final-week win and a big swing to overtake them.

Below them, the chasing pack is now bunched together on 36 points. MAFIA FOUR LIONS RL were the big winners, beating the leaders and moving up to fourth, while BONGO FURY RL also joined the group with a 66-58 win over THEKUDOSTOUCH.

NO KANE DO slipped to a narrow 88-84 defeat against SHADWELL TOWN RL, while KUDUS TO YOU were beaten 58-51 by WHITEADDERS. That leaves NO KANE DO, MAFIA FOUR LIONS RL, BONGO FURY RL and KUDUS TO YOU all level on points, with goal difference deciding the order between third and sixth.

Elsewhere, WILLS WINGDINGS RL picked up a comfortable 60-26 win over GAIS, which could prove important at the bottom. WHITEADDERS also kept themselves in the wooden spoon fight with their win over KUDUS TO YOU, moving onto 19 points and closing the gap to WILLS WINGDINGS RL to two points.

With one game left, the title is the main story. FOREVERGAIS and PUKKI BOWL FC are level on 42 points, with FOREVERGAIS still ahead on goal difference. At the other end, WHITEADDERS have given themselves a chance of avoiding the wooden spoon, closing the gap on WILLS WINGDINGS RL to two points going into the final week.

Bror Lefin Final

BONGO FURY are the Bror Lefin Trophy champions after a 57-50 win over IFK HARLTONHAM in the Gameweek 37 final.

It was an all-Scalesy final, with both sides managed by John, so there was always going to be a slightly suspiciously happy ending for someone. In the end, it was BONGO FURY who came out on top, edging a low-scoring contest to claim the trophy.

IFK HARLTONHAM kept it close, but BONGO FURY had just enough to get over the line and secure their first bit of silverware. Whether that trophy was earned, manufactured, or quietly ordered in advance is not for us to say. But the record books will show BONGO FURY as Bror Lefin winners.

For Mr Scales, it was a guaranteed winner either way. For BONGO FURY, it was the one that mattered.