Yes, I know this is late. No, it’s not because we forgot. Yes, I know the games have already started. With those questions out of the way let’s do a quick-fire preview of the two Tou.. err ranking events happening this weekend.

Durham

The tier one event this weekend is in Durham, where it’s definitely going to rain a lot. The team list is a bit different to Cardiff and the seedings, based as they are on the new rankings, are a little odd considering the results at [welsh name].

Pool A is tough with a good Cambridge team in third spot, but I’d expect this to go to seed. Black Eagles are the Night King in this scenario – terrifying tales of their dominant past preceding a march from the lands of always winter to sweep all before them. They’ve added some useful ex-Glasgow pickups as well so they’re going to be tough to stop. Winter is coming.

Pool B looks straightforward but with Hucks missing talismanic figures Connor McHale and Will Rowledge, MIST might fancy their chances of an upset. Hucks are still strong but this is one to monitor.

Pool C is a very tough one. Glasgow are top seed but struggled in Cardiff to maintain their usual exceptional standards, while both Herd and Brum finished higher than them. The trek might have affected both southern teams a bit, but these games are going to be huge for the final standings given the lack of crossovers.

Pool D is brutal. Those are all good teams so good luck picking an order there.

Initial quarters thoughts; Bleagles beat Herd, Reading beat MIST, DS beat Brum, and Hucks beat GB. I’m backing Bleagles all the way for the win here, beating DS in the final. Top eight:

1. Black Eagles

2. Deep Space

3. Mighty Hucks

4. Reading

5. MIST

6. Brum

7. SMOKE

8. Herd

In the tier 2 event, if MUC have the same team as they did in Cardiff then they should handle this reasonably comfortably.

St. Albans

This is another slightly strange seeding and I don’t think there’s any chance it ends up looking like it started. Very quick thoughts:

Brighton are a wild card because I’m unsure who they actually have. If they’re strong then they have a very good chance of running the table.

Purple Cobras have been improving over the last couple of years and will be in contention. Lemmings have lots of very good young players and will be up there too. Manatees will be reliably good, they’re my fourth pick for the semis.

If Brighton are strong I think they’ll win. If not, I’d be inclined to back Cobras against Lemmings in the final.

I’m interested to hear how the event goes as a whole, being the first tier 2 event away from the main section of the division this season. Lots of teams will have enjoyed saving travel time to go to St Albans and the relative parity across a lot of the top teams should lead to a fun tournament.

Top eight:

1. Brighton

2. Purple Cobras

3. Lemmings

4. Cosmic Manatees

5. Bristol

6. Curve

7. Zoo

8. St Albans

Enjoy both events everyone! I’ll be occupied by a non-fris wedding so I’ll be keeping up with the scores with interest!