Competition for those play off places is looking like it may well prove a little tougher than some clubs might have anticipated, as Kwiek dropped to 5th place as they lost today's NL clash with 3rd from bottom Bec 15 - 13.

Both teams had their coaches on the pitch with both Tom Brady and Steve Green appearing in the starting line up.

Davesh Patel scored 4 goals for the Bec side with Stuart Ironmonger, Tom Brady and Dinos Tritsarolis all scoring 3 with the Bec male players scoring nearly 90% of the home sides goals.

Steve Green and James Woolmer each scored 3 for the visitors and the result will certainly be a blow to Kwiek's hopes of making the play offs and the battle for those play off spots is looking likely to be an interesting one.

Norwich Knights moved a step closer to proving their Premier league credentials proving tough opponents for league champions Trojans at Trinity School in Croydon, eventually losing 19 - 15 although the way the league is shaping up it is looking like the newcomers to the Premier league will be more focused on avoiding the relegation play offs rather than reaching the cross semi finals.

Bottom of the Premier table Croydon will certainly be thankful that there is now no automatic relegation for bottom Premier club after their 12 - 7 defeat at the hands of Kingfishers, left them sitting without a single point from 4 games.  Kingfishers move up into 4th place and having attracted a number of new players this season will have their eyes set on a place on the semi finals.

Croydon coach Dave Butters did a good job of avoiding relegation last season but without one or two new players it is difficult to see how he might repeat the same this season although the Premier clubs will go into the play offs wit somewhat of an advantage.

Croydon face Trojans midweek which despite Trojan's indifferent form should end in a comfortable win for the champions, despite their slow start to the season.

Nottingham's confidence will certainly be tested in the next NL matches on the 7th December as the travel to face a Kwiek side that will be keen to get back into a top 4 spot while Norwich Knights are at home to Kingfishers, and Bec travel to Croydon.

The big clash between Mitcham and Trojans then takes place midweek on Thursday 11th December 2008 at 8.40pm at Trinity School Croydon.

In the South East Regional league Nomads are looking favourites to win the title as they convincingly defeated the Wildcats 24- 9, although sadly for them that will not now provide automatic promotion to the Premier league and the will simply go into the play offs with the 2nd placed SERL team.

Who that 2nd placed team might be is far from certain as it stands and with the Wildcats likely to lose half of their current side to university next season and Cambridge Tigers set to suffer similar problems, both would need an influx of good quality players to survive the Premier league should they make it through the play offs.

Tornadoes are currently in 3rd place in the league but are in a similar position and on recent form the young Bearsted Rams side would be many peoples favourites to reach the play offs and had they not lost key players to a Premier club this season they may well been capable of gaining a foothold in the Premier league.

Cambridge City meanwhile have a strong squad in terms of numbers but have had a poor start to the season, securing their first win this weekend against Highbury 12 - 9, and they will have a lot to do if they are to reach the play offs

With what many still refer to a Division 1 being 'downgraded' to a regional league next season clubs aspiring to play in the Premier league can anticipate further movement of players from the lower league to Premier league clubs next season which is why they will be desperate to try to gain promotion this season as doing so in the future is likely to be a lot lot harder than it is now.

Joe Striling of Norwich Knights was the NL's highest scoring player of the weekend with 6 goals.