The Co-Operative Championship 1
By The Man

Nothing to argue with on the handicap front for the two Super League play-offs but I do fancy low scoring affairs and there wouldn't be much downside in my eyes looking to go short on the spreads. I do, however, have a wager in the Championship One Final Eliminator:
 
York v Oldham



27th September 15:00 GMT

Again we have two teams in the last chance saloon, only eighty minutes away from a Grand Final. York are the team with the second chance whilst the league table has stood up with Oldham coming through two home encounters versus Swinton and Hunslet.

The crux of my bet here is simply that I rate York a better team. They have home advantage, finished above Oldham in the regular season and in their

Far from confident Oldham Coach Tony Benson

 last meeting between the two ran out comfortable winners in a fixture at Oldham.

Both clubs have had internal problems this season. York dispensed with their coach mid-season after misbehaviour at a corporate function whilst the main backer at Oldham effectively pulled out after disagreements with the board.

York, have been least affected and the team is still strong enough on paper. Oldham, however, due to financial restraints have had the heart of the team ripped out with five of their leading players heading North to help guide Barrow to the championship final.

Oldham have had fine teams in the last two seasons but have been beaten at the grand final stage when really on paper they should have secured automatic promotion. This season it would be ironic if they managed it with a much weaker squad.

I don't expect that to happen and I expect the form book to hold up and can see York being comfortable winners. I happened to bump in to Tony Benson, the Oldham coach, on my trip to the Wembley final recently and he wasn't very bullish about his team's chances and even went as far as tipping York for the promotion slot. I agree with his assessment in as far as York's chances of beating Oldham. If I was a layer I would have York as low as 1.44 which equates to a 6pt handicap. Grab the 1.72.

Pick: York 3pts @ 1.72 with Bet365 or Stan James