Check out our weekly previews and predictions.
NATIONAL ONE
Saturday 23rd April
Bedford Blues v Bristol Shoguns
Two games left in National One and Bristol are confirmed as champions and Orrell are relegated. The only issue still to be decided is whether Henley or London Welsh will be joining Orrell in National Two next season.
A double celebration at Goldington Road on Saturday as newly crowned champions Bristol travel to Bedford, who will be parading the Powergen Challenge Shield in front of their home support.
Bedford beat Plymouth Albion 14-13 at Twickenham on Saturday to win the Powergen Challenge Shield for the first time. They have won their last three league matches and hold sixth place in the league, trailing both fourth and fifth Otley and Penzance by only three points. They have played 12 matches at home this season , winning seven and drawing one.
Bristol wrapped up the title with a resounding 53-5 victory at relegated Orrell a fortnight ago. They opened up a 10 point gap between themselves and Exeter and will be looking to finish the season with away wins at Bedford and Otley. They have played 11 matches away from home this season, winning 10, and losing 23-12 at Exeter.
Bedford have only beaten Bristol once before from five previous league meetings. Bristol should win again on Saturday.
Prediction: Bristol Shoguns to win by 12 points
Exeter Chiefs v Pertemps Bees
After pushing Bristol very close this season, Exeter’s dream of Premiership rugby is over for another year, but they will be determined to hang on to runners-up spot and maintain their marvellous record at the County Ground this season.
Having lost three of their last four matches, Exeter’s challenge finally petered out at the Butts Arena in their last match when they went down 27-22 to Coventry. In second place behind Bristol, they are now only three points ahead of Devon rivals Plymouth. They have played 12 matches at the County Ground this season , winning 11, and losing by one point to Plymouth.
Pertemps Bees will be glad to see the back of this season and lost for the eighth successive match when beaten 29-18 at home to Bedford in their last game. Amazingly, they have held on to ninth place, but both Sedgley Park and Nottingham are now breathing down their necks and they entertain Sedgley Park in their last match next week. They have played 12 matches away from home this season and won at the homes of the bottom three.
Past league meetings between these clubs have been pretty level with Exeter winning five, Bees three and one drawn. Exeter will probably add another victory to this tally on Saturday.
Prediction: Exeter to win by 16 points
Henley Hawks v Rotherham Titans
The first of two massive home games for Henley as they entertain a Rotherham side who will have to settle for an eighth place finish this season.
Henley put up a good fight before going down 37-25 at Plymouth last time out. They stay next to bottom but are now five points behind London Welsh and have an inferior points difference. They need at least one win and a bonus point to have any chance of maintaining their position in National One next season. They have played 11 times at home this season and beaten Sedgley Park, London Welsh, Nottingham and Orrell.
Rotherham are finishing the season poorly and lost at Clifton Lane again in their last match, 34-25 to Penzance. They have now lost five of their last six matches including the last three, and are eighth in the league, eight points behind Coventry and 16 ahead of Pertemps Bees. They have played 12 away games to date and beaten Bedford, London Welsh, Orrell and Pertemps Bees.
The historical guide tells us that Henley have played Rotherham five times previously in leagur rugby and lost them all. Because Henley are desperate for points and Rotherham have little to play for, the home team may gain there first ever success against the Yorkshiremen.
Prediction: Henley Hawks to win by 4 points
Nottingham v London Welsh
Another crucial match at Ireland Avenue on Saturday as Nottingham take on a London Welsh side needing one more victory to ensure they will be playing National One rugby next season.
Nottingham won their second match in succession when they won away for only the second time in National One, at Sedgley Park. They stayed in 11th place as a result but moved to within five points of 10th placed Sedgley Park. They have won five of their 12 home games this season.
London Welsh pulled off a sensational victory at home to Otley in their last match to move five points clear of Henley. They have two away trips left, at Nottingham and Plymouth , and one win from the two will probably see them safe. They have only won away at Orrell and Bedford from their 11 matches on their travels this season.
London Welsh have beaten Nottingham in their three previous league meetings, culminating in a thrilling 34-30 win at Old Deer Park in December. Their desire to win this one may see them maintain their record and their National One status.
Prediction: London Welsh to win by 5 points
Otley v Plymouth Albion
Fourth plays third at Cross Green on Saturday and Otley will be looking to finish the season by taking the big scalps of Plymouth this week and Bristol next week.
Otley were finishing the season on a high winning seven of their last eight matches before they were surprisingly beaten at London Welsh in their last match. They held on to fourth place in the league but are now level on points with Penzance who have a much easier run in. They have played 11 matches at home this season and only Bedford have beaten them.
Plymouth Albion joined Bath as losing final favourites last Saturday at Twickenham, when they went down 14-13 to Bedford in the Powergen Challenge Shield. They beat Henley in their last league match and moved to within three points of second placed Exeter. They have played 12 away games this season, winning at both Bristol and Exeter, but losing at mid-table Bedford, Rotherham and Pertemps Bees.
Plymouth have won the two previous league meetings between the sides at Cross Green. Otley are tipped to maintain their excellent home record though with a win on Saturday.
Prediction: Otley to win by 6 points
Sedgley Park v Coventry
As a successful first season in National One draws to a close, Sedgley Park welcome Coventry to Park Lane for the first time, a team who will be eager to gain revenge for their 19-18 defeat against the division’s new boys in December.
Sedgley Park were disappointed to have lost their last match at home to Nottingham, and even more unhappy not to have scored a point. They stayed in 10th place in the league but are now only five points ahead of Nottingham. They have played 12 home matches this season and won five.
Coventry again demonstrated their improvement in 2005 with a 27-22 home victory against second placed Exeter. They are still seventh in the league and the best finish they can achieve is sixth. They have played 12 away matches this season , winning six. They have lost to every team above them in the league and beaten every team below them. As Sedgley Park are three places below Coventry then expect another away win here.
The game in December was the first time these two had met when Coventry were surprisingly beaten at the Butts Arena for the first time in a league match. They have made great strides since this defeat and should take their revenge on Saturday.
Prediction: Coventry to win by 8 points
Sunday 24th April
Penzance & Newlyn v Orrell
Penzance, with the bottom two still to play, will be going all out to take fourth spot for a best ever finish, so beware Orrell and Henley.
Penzance won at Rotherham a fortnight ago and are now level on points with fourth placed Otley. They now have a very good chance of finishing fourth which represents excellent progress after their best ever 10th in National One last season. They have played 12 matches at home this season and have only lost three, to Bristol, Plymouth and Otley.
Orrell will be playing in National Two next season and their return of only one win this season represents one of the poorest seasons in their history. They have now lost 15 successive matches and have only managed one draw, at Bedford, when playing away from home.
Penzance beat Orrell for he first time in December and should comfortably complete the league double on Sunday.
Prediction: Penzance & Newlyn to win by 20 points
|
