There’s a ‘Super Saturday’ ahead this weekend for the men’s community game, with no less than three grand finals to decide premier division champions in the East, Midlands and London & South East regions.
In the Midlands, Telford Raiders take on Birmingham Bulldogs at Leamington Royals RFC (KO 2.30pm) – a match which will be played alongside the inaugural Women’s Super League Midlands final (KO 1pm.)
The Raiders go into Saturday’s fixture after finishing top of the table and then defeating Leamington 24-10 in the play offs. The club celebrates its 20th anniversary of senior Rugby League this year and will be hoping to end the season on a high should they be crowned champions. Opponents Birmingham Bulldogs finished the regular season with five wins from eight matches and progressed to the final after a 24-0 walkover victory over Oxford Cavaliers 24-0 who were unfortunately unable to raise a side.
Hemel Stags will host the East Premier Division Final between Bedford Tigers A and Anglian Vipers (KO 2.30pm.) Bedford already boast a piece of silverware this season, having won the East Rugby League Community Challenge Cup for a record fifth time. The Tigers dismantled St Albans Centurions 60-26 in the play offs to book their place in Saturday’s final, while the Vipers made their debut last season and have made an immediate impact making it all the way to the Grand Final in 2023 after beating Hemel Stags 52-12 in the previous round.
And London Chargers A and Medway Dragons will compete for the London and South East Premier Division title at London Skolars (2.30pm.) The Dragons booked their place on Saturday in dramatic style against Wests Warriors A in the semi-finals with the side clinching a 22-20 victory in the final minutes of the game. As for the Chargers, they finished the season in the final play-off place and have made it to the title decider after a narrow 4-2 defeat of Brixton Bulls.
The winners of Saturday's regional Premier Division Grand Finals will qualify for the Harry Jepson Trophy, a competition for community clubs first introduced in 1997 in tribute to the legendary Rugby League enthusiast, administrator and committed expansionist.
