The sixth round of the Martyr’s Memorial B Division League, Nepal’s second-tier football league, concluded on Wednesday with Jhapa FC and Brigade Boys Club playing a 1-1 draw, a result that did not affect their standings.

Jhapa and Brigade Boys were fifth and sixth in the points table among 14 clubs before they played at the Satdobato-based ANFA Complex. They both earned a point each after the game; their goal differences remained stagnant; and so did their position.

Madhyapur Youth Association and Shree Kumari Club, who were the two bottom teams at the end of the fifth round, climbed to the seventh and tenth positions, respectively, by the end of the sixth round.

Madhyapur and Kumari defeated Saraswoti Youth Club and Nayabasti Youth Club on April 13 to earn three crucial points and take a leap. Currently, Nayabasti and Annapurna Club (RCT), which is one of the oldest and most successful clubs of Nepal, are the bottom-most teams.

Meanwhile, Planning Boyz United have strengthened their spot at the top of the standings with a perfect 18 points. Defeating RCT by 1-0 on Tuesday, Planning Boyz registered their sixth consecutive win in the league.

Planning Boyz’s winning streak started after a 2-1 win over Jhapa FC in their first game of the season on March 10. They then defeated Chyasal 4-0, Madhyapur 2-0, Boys’ Union 2-1 and Saraswoti 3-0 before facing RCT in the sixth round.

Shree Bhagawati Club, currently second in the table, are the only other club alongside Planning Boyz to remain unbeaten this season. They have won four games, drawn two, and accumulated 14 points from six games.

Brigade Boys will have the chance to defeat the reigning leader in the seventh round and end their winning streak. Brigade Boys and Planning Boyz will be face-to-face on April 22. Before that, Bhagawati will have to defend their streak against Nayabasti on April 20.

Planning Boyz and Bhagawati have, however, yet to secure their promotion to the A Division. They will still have to continue their winning run for a few more rounds to breathe a sigh of relief.

Chyasal Youth Club and Bansbari Club will play the first fixture of the seventh round on Friday. Chyasal are eager for a victory that would propel them to third place in the standings. With the win, they would equal points with the second-placed Bhagawati but would have to defeat Bansbari by a goal difference of at least six to best Bhagawati, who will have the chance to regain their position by defeating Nayabasti on Saturday.

Similarly, fourth-placed Birgunj United are also on the hunt for a spot in the top two with 11 points until the halfway stage.

By the end of the 13th round, which is expected to conclude on May 23, the top two teams will be promoted to the A Division. But as long as Planning Boyz and Bhagawati stay undefeated, it will increase pressure on the other 12 clubs since there will be no spot to fight for.