Having won four of their last five matches the Crusaders are in a shared sixth position with Northumbria and Birmingham A’s and are able to qualify for the playoffs. However, with one match-weekend to go in a very competitive division they can finish anywhere from sixth to just outside of the playoffs in ninth. The first eight teams qualify for the playoffs.

Crusaders are battling with Northumbria, Birmingham A’s, and Glyndwr Nets for the three remaining spots in the playoffs. In the last weekend of matches three games will decide the positions from six to nine:

Team Northumbria v Medway Park Crusaders
Uni Of Birmingham v Glyndwr Nets
Birmingham A’s v Westminster Warriors

Depending on the results Medway Park, Northumbria and Birmingham can all finish between sixth and ninth, while Glyndwr will finish either eight or nine. The uncertainty comes from the fact that two or more of the teams will finish tied on victories, allowing for tie-breakers to come into play.

With two teams tied the tie is broken firstly by head-to-head games between the two teams. If each team has won one game, the next tie breaker is the points score in head-to-head games. If, as in the case of Glyndwr and Medway Park, the points score in the head-to-head games is still even, the difference in points scored in the league will decide.

If three teams are tied the tie breaker is head to head games between the three teams.

If University of Birmingham should edge out a surprise win that would leave Glyndwr out of the playoffs, but is seems like the University side have given up on the season, and we’ll presume Glyndwr will beat them. The two interesting games are Northumbria v. Medway Park and Birmingham v. Westminster, so we’ll take a look at the possible results below.

Northumbria beat Crusaders, Birmingham beat Westminster

If Northumbria beat Crusaders the result of the Birmingham A’s v. Westminster match will decide if Glyndwr or Crusaders are left out of the playoffs.

A Birmingham win v. Westminster will leave Crusaders and Glyndwr tied with eight wins each, and to break the tie the fourth tie-breaker will have to come into play, as the teams each won a game against each other by six points. Total points difference in the league will then come into play, and here Crusaders are a healthy +66, while Glyndwr are -124, leaving Crusaders with a an insurmountable lead in that category, and Crusaders in the playoff spot:

Northumbria beat Crusaders, Birmingham lose to Westminster

A Birmingham loss v. Westminster will leave Crusaders, Glyndwr and Birmingham tied with eight wins each, and the head to head games between those teams will decide the playoff positions, leaving Crusaders out in the cold. Birmingham will have won three and lost one game, as they have beaten Crusaders on both occasions, and only lost one to Glyndwr, so the A’s will be the best of the three teams. Second will be Glyndwr, as they have split their games against both teams. Crusaders will lose out on the playoffs, as they have lost both games v. Birmingham and only picked up one win against Glyndwr.

Crusaders beat Northumbria, Birmingham beat Westminster

If Crusaders win at Northumbria, the result of the Birmingham A’s v. Westminster match will decide if Northumbria or Birmingham A’s are left out of the playoffs and who places 6.

A Birmingham win will see Birmingham tied on wins with Crusaders on nine, but with Birmingham having the tie-breaker and 6th place, as they beat Crusaders both times, putting the Medway side in 7th place.

With a Birmingham win and Northumbria loss Northumbria and Glyndwr will be tied on eight wins. This will leave Northumbria out of the playoffs and Glyndwr in, as Glyndwr won the first match by 17, while Northumbria while Northumbria only managed a 10 point win in the second match.

Crusaders beat Northumbria, Birmingham lose to Westminster

With Crusaders beating Northumbria, but Birmingham losing at Westminster, Crusaders will take sixth place, leaving Northumbria, Birmingham and Glyndwr tied for 6

The tie breaker will favour Northumbria, as their two wins against Birmingham and one against Glyndwr give them three wins and only one loss in the tie-breaker. Glyndwr will take 8th place as they have split their games against both Birmingham and Northumbria, while Birmingham will be left out with only one win in the tie-breaker.

Conclusion

With the results outlined above each of the four teams battling it out has a one in four chance of being left out of the playoffs. Crusaders can take care of business by beating Northumbria, which could see them go as high as sixth, if Birmingham loses. On the other hand, a Crusaders loss and a Birmingham loss would leave Crusaders out of the playoffs, so let’s hope Crusaders can take care of business at Northumbria.