PLAY-OFFS AWAIT AS SKIRLAUGH TAKE THEIR UNBEATEN EASTSIDE RECORD INTO THE POST-SEASON
The regular league season is complete, but the job is far from finished.
Skirlaugh now turn their attention to the 2026 play-offs after an excellent campaign that has seen the First Team finish second in the Yorkshire B Conference, recording 15 wins from 18 league games.
And perhaps the standout achievement of the regular season has come at Eastside.
EASTSIDE. OUR HOME. OUR FORTRESS.
From the opening weeks of the campaign through to the final home fixture, Skirlaugh have remained undefeated at Eastside throughout the entire 2026 league season.
It was a target spoken about within the group before the season began – to make Eastside a difficult place for opposition teams to come – and the players have delivered.
Every player who has pulled on the shirt, together with the coaching staff, volunteers and supporters on the touchline, has played their part in creating that home advantage.
A season. A standard. A fortress.
But now that record will be tested again.
ROUND OF 16 – THE ROAD AHEAD
Playoff Fixtures 2026
Skirlaugh have been drawn into a three-team Round of 16 play-off group, with two more huge games scheduled at Eastside before a final trip away from home.
The fixtures are:
Saturday 5th September – Distington – HOME
Saturday 12th September – Saddleworth Rangers – HOME
Saturday 19th September – Keighley Albion – AWAY
The top two teams from the group will progress to the Play-Off Quarter-Finals on Saturday 26th September, keeping alive the opportunity to reach the Semi-Finals on 10th October and ultimately the Grand Final on 17th October.
It is a fascinating group, bringing together teams from across the new competition structure, and Skirlaugh know that everything achieved during the regular season now counts for little once the play-off rugby begins.
TWO MORE CHANCES TO DEFEND THE FORTRESS
First up is Distington at Eastside this Saturday, 5th September, before Skirlaugh welcome Saddleworth Rangers seven days later.
That means the Black & Gold have two opportunities to use the home advantage that has served them so well throughout 2026.
The message heading into the play-offs is simple:
Eastside is our home. Eastside is our fortress. Come and help us defend it.
After a long league campaign, this is where the season becomes knockout rugby and where every tackle, every carry and every point matters.
We need the Skirlaugh support behind the lads as we begin the next chapter of the 2026 season.
A huge thank you also goes to the Skirlaugh Ex Players Association, our sponsors, volunteers and everyone who has backed the club throughout the campaign.
The regular season is done.
Now the play-offs begin.
SKIRLAUGH v DISTINGTON
Saturday 5th September | Eastside
Round of 16 – Play-Offs
ONE CLUB. ONE TEAM. ONE SKIRLAUGH.