By Lee Wilcox
@efcrgreatIt would be pretty fair to say that most people in this country view rugby union as a southerner's game. Just don't mention that to any of the good folks of our wonderful Wirral who spend their free time chasing a peanut across muddy fields up and down the peninsula.
From Hoylake to Ellesmere Port you can find hardy souls who love this rugby code. More so than the league version of the game which most people do associate with northerners.
It is true to say that our top union side (Caldy) currently ply their trade in the fourth tier of the English game which isn't too bad I suppose when you consider that our top football side play in the third tier of the national game.
Caldy were actually desperately unlucky last season not to have climbed a level when they lost in extra time of their play-off final. Had they won the game then they would now be on a level par with Tranmere Rovers.
This season hasn't been the best for the Paton Field side as form has been sporadic and they currently sit mid-table in National League 2 North.
Down one tier in National League 3 North, Birkenhead Park are having a torrid season, beaten 10-24 at home by Harrogate last time out, they really need a result at home to Sandal this Saturday if they are to have any hopes of escaping relegation.
Below Birkenhead Park in North One West, Wirral are fifth while Anselmians are in big trouble sitting third from bottom.
Lower down the scale in South Lancashire / Cheshire 1 there was supposed to be a derby match between Hoylake and New Brighton last weekend but the snow put paid to that. New Brighton would have gone into that game confident being the form team out of the two. Hoylake started the campaign really well while Brighton's form was patchy but there has been a complete role reversal in recent months.
The last match between the two in November was a very close call with Brighton edging it at Hartsfield 19-18 so whenever this game is rearranged for, it should be a cracker. New Brighton are currently fourth in the table while Hoylake are 1 place and six points behind their Wirral neighbours.
Our two sides in South Lancashire / Cheshire 2 are struggling at present with Wallasey tenth and Oldershaw thirteenth in a fourteen team division.
Finally in South Lancashire / Cheshire 3, it looks very healthy for our local sides with Port Sunlight sitting pretty at the top of the pile, Ellesmere Port are third, Prenton fourth, Oxton Parkonians sixth and Capenhurst ninth. This Saturday sees Parkonians entertaining the table-toppers in what should be a very keenly fought contest.
Rugby Union English System:
Level 1 - Aviva Premiership
Level 2 - Championship
Level 3 - National League 1
Level 4 - National League 2 North (Caldy)
Level 5 - National League 3 North (Birkenhead Park)
Level 6 - North One West (Wirral)
Level 7 - South Lancashire / Cheshire 1 (New Brighton, Hoylake)
Level 6 - South Lancashire / Cheshire 2 (Wallasey, Oldershaw)
Level 7 - South Lancashire / Cheshire 3 (Port Sunlight, Prenton, Oxton Parkonians, Ellesmere Port, Capenhurst)
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