Check out our weekly previews and predictions ahead of the weekends games.
NATIONAL THREE NORTH
Blaydon v Fylde
At Crow Tees third placed Blaydon entertain ninth placed Fylde looking to make up some ground on the top two who meet at Lightfoot Green.
Blaydon are looking for a fourth successive home win as they look to take advantage of the top two playing each other. They are the second highest scorers in the division behind free scoring Preston with 23 compared to 30.
Fylde have lost both their road trips to date this season conceding over 30 points in each match at Preston and Bradford & Bingley. On the road they have managed just two tries to date, the second lowest total in the division.
Blaydon were winners at Crow Trees last season 25-15 but it was honours even as Fylde were 32-3 winners at Woodlands.
Prediction: Home win by 10 points.
Bradford & Bingley v Kendal
Fourth placed Bradford & Bingley will be keen to get last weeks defeat at Macclesfield out of their system and bottom of the table Kendal could suffer the consequences.
The Bees have won two out of two at Wagon Lane this season as they look to make it three out of three and bounce back from last Saturdays defeat at Macclesfield.
Kendal, have lost all five matches so far this season and a trip to Wagon Lane in not really what you want as you look for that first elusive win.
Last season the Bees comprehensively beat Kendal 42-10 at Wagon Lane but did not do the double over them as at Mint Bridge the home side triumphed 22-14.
Prediction: Home win by 14 points.
Cleckheaton v Macclesfield
Eighth placed Macclesfield will be looking to build on last weeks excellent home win over Bradford & Bingley with victory at 12th placed Cleckheaton.
Cleckheaton have won one out of three at home this season beating Darlington Mowden park 29-5, whilst losing to Bradford & Bingley and Leicester Lions.
They have scored nine of their ten tries at home this season.
Macclesfield have lost both their away matches this season losing in the North East both times to Darlington and Tynedale. They have though conceded too many tries conceding 19 to date, the third worst record in the division.
Macclesfield were convincing winners in this fixture last season31-6 and with a 13-9 home win did the double over the Yorkshire side.
Prediction: Away win by seven points.
Darlington v Hull Ionians
Both these two sides will be looking to return to winning ways as 11th placed Hull Ionians travel to Blackwell Meadows to take on sixth placed Darlington.
Darlington are going for a third consecutive home win in National Three North as they look to continue their excellent start to the season. After Preston, 30 tries, they are the joint highest try scorers in the division with 23 tries along with Blaydon.
Ionians have lost all three of their away matches this season but have picked up the losing bonus point in two of their three matches. They have scored 12 tries and conceded 12 tries to date this season.
They have not met since the 2001/02 in North One.
Prediction: Home win by nine points.
Darlington Mowden Park v Leicester Lions
10th placed Darlington Mowden Park will be keen to mark sure they do not lose again at home as they entertain 5th placed Leicester Lions who returned to winning ways last Saturday.
DMP have yet to win at home this season losing twice and drawing 28 all against free scoring Preston Grasshoppers. They are not the best try scorers in the division with just nine one more than New Brighton who have the lowest total in the division.
Leicester Lions returned to winning ways last week at home to Hull Ionians. They were winners at Cleckheaton and Leicester Lions before coming unstuck at Blaydon, they then lost at Nuneaton before last Saturdays win.
These two sides will be meeting for the first time in League rugby.
Prediction: Home win by four points.
Preston Grasshoppers v Nuneaton
A top of the table clash as leaders Nuneaton travel to Lightfoot Green to take on a free scoring Preston Grasshoppers side, who are in second place in the league table.
Something has to give in this match as both sides are unbeaten. Hoppers have won both matches at Lightfoot Green scoring over 40 points in each. They have scored 30 tries so far this season seven more than any other side and 10 more than Nuneaton.
Nuneaton have won all five matches to date including three away wins already. They have the meanest defence in the division conceding just five tries in five matches and just two of those away from home and none in the opening quarter of matches.
These two sides last met in the 2002/03 season when Nuneaton did the double over Hoppers including winning 34-22 at Lightfoot Green.
Prediction: Tough call but will go home win by five points.
Tynedale v New Brighton
Seventh placed Tynedale take on second bottom New Brighton looking to make it four wins form six matches whilst New Brighton will be looking for just their second win of the season.
Tynedale have won one and lost one at home this season as they go in search of win number two against struggling New Brighton. Defensively they have done well conceding just 10 tries so far this season the third best record in the division after Nuneaton and Blaydon.
New Brighton have managed just the one win all season at home to Hull Ionians. On the road they have lost all three matches managing a bonus point at Darlington going down 20-15.
New Brighton won at Tynedale Park last season 26-19 and with a 28-7 win at Reeds Lane did the double over the North East side.
Prediction: Home win by seven points.
|