NATIONAL ONE
Saturday 9th April
Coventry v Exeter Chiefs
Only three games to go in National One and the two matters yet to be decided are whether Bristol or Exeter will be playing Premiership rugby next season, and whether London Welsh or Henley will be joining Orrell in National Two.
The game at the Butts Arena on Saturday will have a bearing at the top of the table as Coventry host second placed Exeter, probably needing to win all three of their remaining games to have any chance of overtaking Bristol.
Coventry put up a good fight at Otley on Saturday before going down by one point. They stay in seventh place and round up their fixture list by travelling to Sedgley Park, before entertaining Bedford on the last day of the season. They have played 11 games at home this season. winning eight, drawing one and losing to Bristol and Sedgley Park.
After successive defeats, Exeter picked up a bonus point win on Saturday at home to Sedgley Park. They stay six points behind Bristol and need to win their last three games and hope Bristol slip up. After their visit to Coventry they play Pertemps Bees at home and Rotherham away. They have played 11 away games this season, winning seven and losing at Bristol, Otley, Penzance and Plymouth.
This is the hardest call of the day in National One. Exeter simply have to win to keep the pressure on Bristol. Coventry have only won one of the last 10 league meetings between the sides and Exeter may sneak it.
Prediction: Exeter Chiefs to win by 5 points
London Welsh v Otley
Another big game for the Exiles as they entertain fourth placed Otley at Old Deer Park. London Welsh are desperate for the one win that would probably retain their National One status.
They were beaten 45-14 at Penzance on Sunday and saw their six point lead over next to bottom Henley reduced to a single point as a result. This is their last home game of the season before they travel to Nottingham and Plymouth and even grabbing bonus points may prove to be critical at this stage. They have played 12 matches at home this season and only beaten bottom clubs Orrell, Henley and Nottingham.
Otley are having an excellent season and they maintained their fourth position by beating Coventry 17-16 on Saturday. Last season’s fifth place finish was their best ever, so they will be going all out to go one better. They have a tough finish though and after Saturday they entertain third placed Plymouth and leaders Bristol. They have played 12 matches away from home this season, winning five and drawing one. They are in a rich vein of form at the moment and have won seven of their last eight matches.
Otley have beaten London Welsh the last three times they have met and should be too strong again on Saturday.
Prediction: Otley to win by 10 points
Orrell v Bristol Shoguns
Orrell have finally ran out of matches and will be playing National Two rugby next season. They welcome Bristol to Edge Hall Road on Saturday who will be looking for another bonus point victory.
Orrell made an excellent comeback on Saturday, losing a game of 100 points, 59-41 at Henley. The inevitable has finally happened though and they are now relegated. They have only won one of their 23 matches this season, a 26-25 home win against Henley.
Bristol completed their home programme on Sunday by beating Rotherham 43-13 in front of another superb crowd in excess of 7000. They maintained their six point gap over Exeter and have probably now got one foot in the Zurich Premiership for next season. They have three away games left, at Orrell, Bedford and Otley, and two wins will probably secure the championship. They have played 10 matches away from home to date, and only lost the one, at Exeter.
History will not count for anything in this fixture, but just for the record, Bristol have won seven and Orrell two of the nine league meetings since 1995. Bristol should win comfortably on Saturday.
Prediction: Bristol Shoguns to win by 18 points
Pertemps Bees v Bedford Blues
Not much to play for here as the season draws to an end. A win would not go amiss for the long suffering supporters of Pertemps Bees, whilst their Bedford counterparts have a day out at Twickenham to look forward to next week.
Pertemps Bees disappointed again on Saturday and went down heavily at Nottingham. They have now lost seven on the run and although still ninth in the league, they have dropped to 16 points behind eighth placed Rotherham. They have played 11 matches at Sharmans Cross Road this season and won six, including good early season victories against Otley, Penzance and Plymouth.
Bedford won their third match in the last four by beating Plymouth at Goldington Road on Saturday. They are sixth in the league, but with Bristol and Coventry to follow, this is their best opportunity to add to their tally. They have played 11 away matches this season and won seven, which is a very good return. They have not yet lost away at any team below them in the league.
Pertemps Bees have only beaten Bedford once in their last six league meetings. Unless Bedford decide to rest some of their players before the Powergen Challenge Shield Final, they should come out on top again.
Prediction: Bedford Blues to win by 8 points
Plymouth Albion v Henley Hawks
Plymouth finally dropped out of the title race last Saturday and can now start planning for next season, but visitors Henley are still fighting for their National One lives at the other end of the table.
Plymouth Albion, missing a number of regulars, went down 39-21 at Bedford on Saturday and will have to contend themselves with third place once again this season. They have had another excellent campaign and will be looking to add the Powergen Challenge Shield to their very creditable third position. They have played 11 matches at Brickfields this season and only Bristol have managed to beat them.
Henley kept their hopes of staying in National One alive with a 59-41 win against bottom club Orrell on Saturday and now trail third bottom London Welsh by only one point. It is going to be very difficult to win at Brickfields, but they finish with home games against Rotherham and Penzance. They have played 12 away games this season, and only recorded one victory, at Sedgley Park.
Plymouth have won the three league matches between the sides including a 55-0 home win this time last year. Although circumstances suggest it will not be quite so easy this season, Plymouth should still win on Saturday.
Prediction: Plymouth Albion to win by 14 points
Rotherham Titans v Penzance & Newlyn
Mid table Rotherham welcome Penzance to Clifton Lane on Saturday, a team still looking to take fourth spot in the league for a best ever finish.
Rotherham predictably lost 43-13 at Bristol on Sunday and stayed in eighth place in the league. This was their fourth loss in the last five matches and has been a very mediocre season. They have played 11 matches at home this season and won seven. The only team in the league they have beaten who are above them is Plymouth.
Penzance had a comfortable win on Sunday beating London Welsh 45-14. They stay in fifth place, four points behind Otley. With bottom two Orrell and Henley to follow Rotherham, they will still have their eyes set on finishing fourth. They have played 11 away games this season and won five.
These two sides met for the first time in league rugby in November and Penzance won the day 24-3. They are tipped to complete a league double on Saturday.
Prediction: Penzance & Newlyn to win by 6 points
Sedgley Park v Nottingham
These two sides, both promoted from National Two last season, will be very satisfied with the way they have come to terms with life in National One. Sedgley Park will definitely be playing in the division next season, while Nottingham could do with one more win to make sure.
Sedgley Park lost the difficult away game at Exeter on Saturday going down 44-23. This was their first defeat in the last three and they stay in 10th position, four points behind Pertemps Bees. They have played 11 home games this season, winning five.
Nottingham completed their first league double in National One when they beat Pertemps Bees 33-14 at Ireland Avenue on Saturday. They really needed the league points and are now seven points clear of London Welsh. With London Welsh and Orrell to play after Sedgley Park, they could actually leapfrog the Manchester club. They have played 11 away matches this season and only won one game, at Pertemps Bees.
Sedgley Park have only beaten Nottingham once in their last five meetings, but they have won two of the three at Park Lane. Home advantage may see Sedgley Park through on Saturday.
Prediction: Sedgley Park to win by 5 points |
