The Premier League championship race is now entering its final phase. It has been the most open contest in years and any one of the top six, including Monarchs, could still win the trophy.

Current League tables are as follows:

		P	Home			Away			F	A	P	T	BP	Total	PD
			W	D	L	W	D	L
1	Exeter	23	13	0	0	2	1	7	1222	848	31	10	0	41	374
2	Edinburgh	24	12	0	0	2	1	9	1117	1054	29	8	3	37	63
3	Swindon	22	11	0	0	4	0	7	1063	920	30	6	4	36	143
4	Workington	23	10	1	0	3	1	8	1065	997	28	8	2	36	68
5	Hull	21	10	0	1	4	1	5	978	913	29	6	2	35	65
6	Sheffield	22	11	0	0	2	1	8	1049	936	27	5	4	32	113

The remaining fixtures for each club are as follows:

	Home matches		Away matches
Edinburgh	Exeter		Sheffield
Exeter			Edinburgh	Isle of Wight	Workington
Hull	Glasgow	Workington	Arena Essex	Sheffield	Stoke
Sheffield	Edinburgh	Hull	Berwick	Glasgow
Swindon	Isle of Wight	Newcastle	Glasgow	Newcastle
Workington	Exeter	Newport	Hull

The possible points available to each of the six contenders is listed below. The number of home matches, away matches, and bonus points up for grabs is listed followed by the current points (as of September 19th). The expected points to be won at home (HP), away (AP), and bonus points (BP) are also tabulated. The maximum points available are listed followed by the expected number assuming winning home matches and losing away matches. Finally the likely points total taking account of away points is listed.

	Team	Home	Away	Bonus	Current	HP	BP	AP	Maximum	Expected	Likely
1	Swindon	2	2	3	36	4	3	4	47	43	47
2	Hull	2	3	5	35	4	4	4	50	43	47
3	Exeter	0	3	3	41	0	3	2	50	44	46
4	Workington	2	1	3	36	4	2	0	45	42	42
5	Sheffield	2	2	4	32	4	3	2	44	39	41
6	Edinburgh	1	1	2	37	2	1	0	43	40	40

The above totals are based on the assumption that Swindon win their remaining two away matches at Glasgow and Newcastle. Hull are assumed to lose at Sheffield and win at Arena Essex and Stoke. Exeter are assumed to win at the Isle of Wight and lose at Workington and Edinburgh. Workington are assumed to lose at Hull. Sheffield to win at Glasgow and lose at Berwick. Edinburgh are expected to lose at Sheffield.

Workington and Sheffield have both dropped points recently and this probably leaves things between Exeter, Swindon, and Hull. Workington have been crippled by injuries to Darren Groves, Barry Campbell and Lee Smethills and have been effectively reduced to a four-man team. It is going to be very hard to call between Exeter, Swindon, and Hull if matches run to form.

Exeter have completed their home fixtures and are in a strong position to win their last three bonus from their away matches. This will give them 44 points. Their target will be to win at the Isle of Wight to take that to 46. That will make life hard for Hull and Swindon. Both can beat that but Swindon will have to win out to the end of the season while Hull can only afford one defeat.

Edinburgh's match against Exeter this Friday could assume the status of a title decider. Should Exeter put aside their abysmal Armadale form of the past and win or draw this could ensure they take the title. If, on the other hand, Edinburgh win by a big enough margin to take the bonus point then Exeter's title chance could be diminished somewhat.

Key matches will be Hull v Workington, Sheffield v Hull, and the Isle of Wight v Exeter. Hull, like Workington, are suffering from injuries with key reserve Mike Smith out. Swindon are full of confidence and could well win their last four matches to take the title with 47 points. Only Hull seem likely to match that total and will have to get a result at Sheffield to pip Swindon.

Edinburgh are still well in contention for a top-four finish. The target will be to beat Exeter and possibly take the bonus point and then to take the bonus point from the trip to Sheffield. This would give Monarchs 41 points, a win at Sheffield, however unlikely, would just about clinch a place in the top-four.

Updates on the title race will appear on these pages.

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