Tom Chat - Gameweek 4 (26/27)
Three Matchleague rounds in, the first proper patterns are starting to emerge. FOSSIL PARK EAST are the last perfect side standing in the Premier, BADLY GOOD and GREMLINS are setting the pace in Division 1, and the Reality Matchleague is already ridiculously tight. There was plenty happening in the Masterleagues too.
Masterleagues
UNBEATABLES remain top of AllSwengland after an 89-point week takes them to 340 points, but FOREVERGAIS are back up to second on 327. MOATY'S MANIACS slip to third on 323, with FOREVER QPR fourth on 312.
Pontus therefore still has two teams inside the overall top four, while Reality League teams continue to punch above their weight. FOREVERGAIS sit second overall and HOTSPUR AND BOTHERED have climbed to fifth on 309, despite both squads now being locked until January.
In Masterleague 1, UNBEATABLES lead MOATY'S MANIACS by 17 points, with FOREVER QPR, MAFIA FOUR LIONS and VICTORIOUS SECRET completing the top five. John Williams' TASTUR BONDAI BARCA produced the week's highest score with 96 and jump from 12th to sixth.
FOSSIL PARK EAST continue to lead Masterleague 2 on 307 points, but there has been plenty of movement behind them. GLORYGLORY climb from seventh to second after an excellent 92-point week, while newcomer DHILLON'S HATTERS rise from 12th to third after scoring 84.
In the Reality Masterleague, FOREVERGAIS remain top on 327 ahead of HOTSPUR AND BOTHERED on 309. UNBEATABLES RL leap from sixth to third after scoring 94, with MAFIA FOUR LIONS RL and WILLS WINGDINGS RL close behind.
There is now just one perfect record left in the Premier, with FOSSIL PARK EAST making it three wins from three after beating JDEACON7 80-66. They sit alone at the top on nine points.
Last week's leaders EZE DOES IT suffered their first defeat, edged 73-70 by COYS FC, while JDEACON7 also lost their unbeaten start.
FOREVER QPR move up to second after a convincing 89-74 win against defending champions ST IVES SEAGULLS, while TASTUR BONDAI BARCA climb to third after their 96-89 victory over REPLACEMENTS.
VICTORIOUS SECRET returned to winning ways, narrowly beating WILLS WINGDINGS 83-81, while MOATY'S MANIACS picked up their first points of the season with a 75-51 win over CHACARITA.
UNBEATABLES also recorded their first Premier victory, beating JURYSOUT 89-75.
So FOSSIL PARK EAST are three points clear at the top, while six teams sit immediately behind them on six points. At the other end, CHACARITA are the only side still without a point.
BADLY GOOD and GREMLINS are the two remaining perfect teams in Division 1, with both moving onto nine points.
BADLY GOOD stay top after a comfortable 83-54 win over BY 'ECK, while GREMLINS had to work much harder for theirs, edging TEAM GOTLAND 79-76.
GLORYGLORY produced the division's highest score of the week, beating TRUMPTON TOWN 92-60 to climb to third.
MAFIA FOUR LIONS bounced back from last week's defeat with a 70-57 victory over CORNISH REDS, while HOOFBALL beat ALPHA ATHLETIC 72-61.
There were close wins for RED EXILES, who edged COMMITMENTS 73-70, and MISSING LINK, who beat DZEKO & THE BUNNYMEN 75-71. REAL ALE ROVERS completed the week's winners with a 68-57 victory against BECKENBAURFLY.
BADLY GOOD lead GREMLINS on points difference, while COMMITMENTS, TRUMPTON TOWN and BECKENBAURFLY are still looking for their first points.
BONGO FURY are now the only team with a perfect record after making it three wins from three with a 64-58 victory over TEAM GEORGIES BOYS. They move clear at the top on nine points.
Patrik's ATLETERNA dropped their first points of the season in a 59-59 draw with KAMIKAZEES, but remain second on seven points.
Rustan's GOTHATTERS FC enjoyed the biggest win of the division, beating REALSOCIABLEDAD 78-37 to climb to third. DHILLON'S HATTERS continued their strong start with an 84-80 win over IFK HARLTONHAM, giving them two victories from their opening three games.
PELUQUEROS ILEGALES picked up their first Matchleague win in style, beating SPECKLED JIMS 80-42, while MAKRILLARNA saw off KNEEJERK TITANS FC 79-65.
Elsewhere, HENRY C FC beat LIVERHAM 65-50 and LALJILAND FC defeated WHALLEY RANGE FC 64-57.
After three matches, just three points separate third from eighth, so there is already a decent scrap forming behind the top two.
After last week's transfer penalties produced some very low Reality League scores, things looked rather more normal this week.
HOTSPUR AND BOTHERED remain top, although their perfect start came to an end in an 87-87 draw with WILLS WINGDINGS RL. They move onto seven points and are now the only unbeaten team in the division.
Behind them, things could hardly be tighter. RAUKENS BK, MAFIA FOUR LIONS RL, FOREVERGAIS, NO KANE DO and UNBEATABLES RL are all on six points.
UNBEATABLES RL recorded the biggest result among that group, ending FOREVERGAIS' perfect start with a 94-82 victory.
MAFIA FOUR LIONS RL bounced back strongly from last week's heavy defeat, beating BERRAS BOYS 88-49, while RAUKENS BK defeated BITS AND PIECES 74-64.
NO KANE DO made it two wins in a row with a 71-66 victory over GAIS, and BONGOHAM picked up their first Matchleague points by beating WHATTHEHECKE 79-63.
Only one point separates the top six after three matches, while BITS AND PIECES are now the only side still without a Matchleague point.
Cup Draws
John and I carried out the first live cup draws of the season today, with the qualifying rounds of the SuperEtten Cup and Arnold Bolt Trophy both taking place in Gameweek 5.
There are 23 teams in each competition. The bottom 14 go into the qualifying round, producing seven ties, while the top nine receive a bye. The seven qualifying winners then join those nine teams to make up the 16-team field for Round 2 in Gameweek 9.
The SuperEtten Cup qualifying draw produced:
And in the Arnold Bolt Trophy:
So the first knockout football of the season arrives this weekend, with 14 places in Round 2 up for grabs across the two competitions.
See how the draw unfolded here. The usual shambles, plenty of waffle. Exactly the sort of thing Richard Humphries would approve of:
Manager of the Week
Manager of the Week goes to John Williams after TASTUR BONDAI BARCA produced the highest score across AllSwengland with 96 points.
It was a strong week across John's teams too. MAFIA FOUR LIONS RL scored 88 and won comfortably in the Reality Matchleague, while MAFIA FOUR LIONS also picked up three points in Division 1.
The Wooden Spoon of the Week goes to Dave Clark after REALSOCIABLEDAD scored 37 points in their defeat to GOTHATTERS FC.
Cheers 🤓
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