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NATIONAL ONE
Bedford Blues v Earth Titans
Second placed Bedford Blues entertain sixth placed Earth Titans looking for a fourth home success of the season.
The way the fixtures have gone has seen the Blues open with four home matches in their first six league matches and so far they have won all three home matches convincingly.
The Titans have made a reasonable start with a completely new side and picked up three wins in their opening five fixtures.
On the road they have lost two out of three going down at top four sides Nottingham and the Cornish Pirates and picking up a win at Coventry. .
Last season it was honours even between these two sides although they both won the away fixture. The Titans were 17-12 winners at Goldington Road whilst the Blues won 26-24 at Rotherham.
Prediction: Home win by 12 points.
Coventry v NEC Harlequins
Top of the table NEC Harlequins travel to the Butts Arena to take on Coventry for the first time in a league match since the inaugural season back in 19887-88 when Coventry were in the top flight.
10th placed Coventry have managed just the one win so far this season and have already lost twice at home this season against Sedgley Park and Rotherham whilst their only success has come against Otley.
Quins have won all five matches but have been given a few rough rides along the way before finally managing to pull clear at take the points. Away from home they have picked up wins at Otley, Nottingham and Pertemps Bees.
When these sides met in the 1987-88 season Quins were 15-12 winners at Coundon Road.
Prediction: Away win by 15 points.
Doncaster v Plymouth Albion
Seventh placed Plymouth Albion, travel to bottom of the table Doncaster with both sides coming off the back of defeats.
This is Doncaster’s fourth home fixture of the season and after losing the first two they were winners last time out beating Coventry 31-29. Last weekend they put up a gallant fight at the Stoop holding Quins to 10-7 at the break.
Plymouth Albion were blown away in the first half last weekend against Newbury and found themselves 37-10 at the break as they slipped to their first home defeat of the season. They will see this as the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways having now lost back to back now something that never happened to them last season.
This will be the first ever league match between the two sides.
Prediction: Away win by six points.
Exeter Chiefs v Pertemps Bees
Ninth placed Exeter Chiefs entertain eighth placed Pertemps Bees at the County Ground looking to avoid a third successive defeat.
The Chiefs have made a poor start to the season and after defeats at home to the Cornish Pirates and away at Rotherham are in danger of a third straight defeat unless they can find some form.
The Bees have also had an indifferent start to the season. Last weekend they were 29-7 winners at home to Coventry having got a 33 all draw the week before at Sedgley Park. Their only other away match this season saw them beaten at London Welsh.
Last season the Chiefs won this fixture 35-17 as well as the game at Sharmans Cross Road which they were even more convincing in coming away with a 39-19 victory. .
Prediction: Home win by six points.
London Welsh v Otley
Two sides in need of points meet at Old Deer Park with second bottom London Welsh entertaining fourth bottom Otley.
The Welsh have managed just one win this season a home success over Pertemps Bees 24-15. Their only other home match this season was a 40-24 defeat against second placed Bedford Blues.
Otley after a hard fought draw on the opening day of the season then slipped to three straight defeats before picking up their first win of the season last Saturday at home to Sedgley Park.
At Old Deer Road last season the Welsh were 20-14 winners in this fixture whilst at Cross Green it was Otley who triumphed 24-3.
Prediction: Away win by seven points.
Newbury v Sedgley Park
Form side Newbury entertain third bottom Sedgley Park at Monks Lane looking for a third straight win in their first ever season of National One rugby.
Newbury have pulled off back to back wins over Otley, at home, and Plymouth Albion, away, and scored over 40 points in each match. At home they have won two out of three with a win over London Welsh and a narrow one point loss against Cornish Pirates. .
Sedgley Park after an opening day win away at Coventry have lost twice on the road since at Bedford Blues and last week at Otley.
When these sides met last in the 2003/04 season in National Two Newbury won 25-17 at home whilst Park were 19-10 at Park Lane.
Prediction: Home win by 12 points.
Cornish Pirates v Nottingham
Third placed Cornish Pirates play host to fourth placed Nottingham and Kenwyn Hill
A win for Nottingham with a bonus point could see them go above the Pirates but a win the other way would see the Cornish side 10 points ahead.
The is only the Pirates second home fixture of the new season with four matches played away from home where they have picked up three wins and were unbeaten till last weeks loss at Bedford. In their only home match to date this season they were convincing winners over Rotherham 43-13.
Nottingham have won on the road this season beating Sedgley Park 29-12. In their other away match this season they pushed Plymouth Albion all the way going down to a narrow 23-22 defeat.
Last season the Pirates won this fixture 38-25 and having already won 42-21 at Nottingham did the double over them.
Prediction: Home success by 10 points.
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