National League Power Rankings

1. Colchester Gladiators (4-0)

We have a new number one in the Power Rankings! The Gladiators handed a spanking out to our previous number two team, the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders, and took advantage of Chester losing to take the top spot. A 48-16 win over a previously undefeated Blue Raiders side was an impressive feat and they’re fully deserving of our top spot.

2. Solent Thrashers (4-0)

No game for the Thrashers this week but they move up due to the fall of the Blue Raiders and Romans. Next up for them is the new boys, the Swindon Storm, this coming weekend. With Gloucester and Farnham out of the way will Solent have one eye on an undefeated season?

3. Merseyside Nighthawks (4-0)

How about them Nighthawks? They faced off against our number one team, the Chester Romans and handed out a 47-13 drubbing after a tight first half. They’ve now scored an impressive 197 points in just four games and conceded only 36. But it’s not all rosy as key players Harry Routledge and Duvalle Merchant picked up bad injuries in the game. However Merseyside sit pretty at number three in our PRs and will be looking to move up higher as the season progresses.

4. Chester Romans (3-1)

A 47-13 defeat looks bad on paper but the Romans’ loss against the Nighthawks was a closer run thing than it looks. It was tight until the 3^rd quarter when the Romans began to press in order to try and catch up with Merseyside. The Nighthawks capitalised on Chester’s pass heavy attack and took it to them. Chester can feel good about where they’re at. They’ve beaten Manchester this year, convincingly, and gave a team just out of the old division one a very good game.

5. Gateshead Senators (3-0-1)

No game for the North East team this week but a one place rise due to others falling by the wayside. If the Senators can repeat their feat against DC against other teams then they’ll fare well throughout the year and will be heavy favourites to take the North crown.

6. Bristol Apache (5-1)

The Apache have got on with business quietly this year. They just dispatched the Cornish Sharks this weekend past. It may not have been an impressive score line, 6-0, but the Sharks are a capable team (when they’re not diving on the floor…), especially at home. The Apache may fall back down our PRs when they hit the tough final run of the season, which sees them against Solent, Gloucester and Oxford, but for now they deserve their rise.

7. Bedfordshire Blue Raiders (4-1)

A 48-16 defeat takes the high flying Blue Raiders straight back to earth but a 4-1 record is still quite impressive for Bedfordshire. They have to pick themselves up from here and move forward, starting with the Milton Keynes Pathfinders at the end of the month.

8. Shropshire Revolution (3-1)

No game for Shropshire this weekend past so they hang around at number 8. Crewe was their next game this weekend but it has now been postponed until July 14^th so next up is a trip to Manchester in their rematch with the Titans. That will be one hell of a game if the first game is anything to go by.

9. Kent Exiles (4-1)

The Exiles have scored an impressive 197 points in five games, somewhat padded out by the monstrous 87-0 defeat of Maidstone. But wins over the Watford Cheetahs and Essex Spartans have bounced them back after a shaky start to the year.

10. DC Presidents  (3-1)

A 31-7 win over a handy Clyde Valley Blackhawks team is just what the Presidents required after the disheartening defeat at the hands of Gateshead. They head to Clyde Valley for the rematch this weekend coming and will be looking for a similar outcome to this Sunday’s result.