National Two
Saturday 2nd April
Blackheath v Manchester
Ninth placed Blackheath are at home to sixth placed Manchester this weekend looking for the win which we all but make them safe from relegation.
Blackheath are going through their best spell of results so far this season with four successive wins behind them.
At home they have the ninth best record in the division with five wins and a draw from their 11 matches to date.
Recent form sees Manchester second bottom in the Form Guide with just one win in their last six matches.
Manchester have the seventh best away record in the division with three wins and a draw in 11 matches so far this season.
Manchester were comfortable 36-12 winners when they met earlier in the season.
Prediction: Home win by five points.
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Bracknell v Doncaster
10th placed Bracknell entertain leaders Doncaster on Saturday knowing they could drop back into the relegation zone if the results on the day go a certain way.
Bracknell have a poor record of late with three defeats in their last three matches which has seen them dragged right back into the relegation battle.
They have a 50/50 record at home with five wins and five defeats and will need to pull off the shock of the season to get a result in this match.
Leaders Doncaster have already wrapped up promotion to National One for next season and a win here would see them wrap up the title as well.
They go looking for an 11th straight win having not lost since beaten at Moseley in early December.
Doncaster go looking for the double after winning 30-10 when the sides met earlier in the season.
Prediction: Away win by 12 points.
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Esher v Stourbridge
A huge game for Esher as they entertain Stourbridge looking to maintain their improved recent form.
Esher sit in third spot in the Form Guide putting together a run of four wins in six matches but with some other sides at the bottom also finding some form they are just three points clear of a relegation spot. They are also within striking distance of the two sides immediately above them in the table.
Esher have done well at home and have the seventh best record in the division with six wins form 11 matches.
Stourbridge have tailed off of late with just two wins in their last six matches to lie mid table. And are looking for their highest ever finish in a league season which was eighth in this division two seasons ago.
Stourbridge have a tremendous away record in National Two with only leaders Doncaster having a better record. They have won seven and drawn one of their 11 matches losing just three times and picking up 10 more points than at home.
When the sides met earlier in the season at Stourbridge the home side ran out 34-22 winners.
Prediction: Home win by six points.
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Harrogate v Nuneaton
12th placed Harrogate entertain second bottom Nuneaton knowing a win could see them move out of the bottom three.
Harrogate are looking to make it three in a row on Saturday and with home advantage will start the match as favourites to get some much needed points in the battle to avoid the drop. At Claro Road this season the Yorkshire side have managed just four victories in 11 matches.
Nuneaton also will be keen to get the win as they still have a chance of avoiding the drop if they can end the season with a winning run and build on three wins in their last four matches which has helped them move off the bottom of the table.
On the road though they have the worst record in the division with just two wins in 11 matches to date.
Harrogate go looking for the double on Saturday having won at Nuneaton 36-30 in a high scoring match early in the season.
Prediction: Home win by four points.
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Moseley v Launceston
Third placed Moseley need to keep on winning just in case Newbury slip up in the battle for second spot in National Two.
Moseley are looking to avoid a third successive defeat which has seen them lose ground on second place Newbury in the battle for second spot in National Two.
In fact Newbury could wrap up second spot on Saturday if Moseley fail to beat Launceston and the Berkshire side beat Rosslyn Park.
Launceston go into the match in reasonable form although beaten last time out at home to Blackheath they had won the two matches before that including an away win at Wharfedale 25-23.
On the road this season their form has been good and they have the third best away record in the division losing just three times in 11 matches, winning six and drawing the other two. .
At Polson Bridge earlier in the season Launceston were 25-6 winners.
Prediction: Home win by eight points.
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Newbury v Rosslyn Park
Second placed Newbury entertain bottom of the table Rosslyn Park knowing if the result go right they could clinch promotion to National One.
Newbury have lost two of their last three league matches but still find themselves nine points clear in second with none of the other contenders able to put together a run to take advantage of this. In fairness to two losses were away at Doncaster and Waterloo, the two most in form sides in the division. At home this season they have a great record with 10 wins form 11 matches.
Park have slumped of late and slipped to the bottom of the league table and need to win all their remaining game probably to have a chance of avoiding going back in National Three South after a two year stay in National Two.
On the road they have a dreadful record with just two wins from 10 matches this season, winning at Esher and Nuneaton.
When these two sides met earlier in the season it was Newbury who took the points with a narrow 16-11 win.
Prediction: Home win by 12 points.
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Wharfedale v Waterloo
Fourth placed Waterloo travel to eighth placed Wharfedale look to make it back to back wins and challenge Moseley for third spot in the National Two league table.
Wharfedale have had a bad run recently and prior to their draw with Manchester last time out they had suffered three successive defeats. At home this season they picked up six wins in 11 matches but were beaten by Launceston in their last match at Threshfields.
Waterloo are looking to finish the season strongly and overhaul Moseley to finish third which would be a great finish after winning promotion form National Three North last season. On the road they have done reasonable well with six wins in 11 matches although in their last away match they suffered their biggest defeat of the season going down 53-25 at leaders Doncaster.
When the sides met earlier in the season Waterloo thumped Wharfedale 49-15 at Blundellsands.
Prediction: Away win by seven points.
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