Check out our weekly previews and predictions ahead of the weekends matches.
NATIONAL THREE SOUTH
Bracknell v Old Patesians
Bottom of the table Bracknell entertain third bottom Old Patesians with both sides desperate for the win to try and climb the table.
Bracknell were well beaten last week at North Walsham having picked up losing bonus points in their other two away matches. At home they have won one out of two so far this season beating Havant narrowly but losing heavily to second placed Lydney.
Old Patesians have lost four in a row since their day win at Everest Road over Rosslyn Park. On the road they have lost twice to date at Southend and Westcombe Park.
Not sure but don’t think these two sides have met before in the league, I may well be wrong so if someone can put me right I would appreciate it. .
Prediction: Home win by five points.
Bridgwater & Albion v Reading
Second bottom Reading travel to Bath Road to take on Bridgwater & Albion who will be buoyed by their win at Old Patesians last week where they ran in five tries.
Bridgwater & Albion have yet to win at home this season losing both matches but away from home they have won two out of three with wins at Havant and Old Patesians.
Reading have already played three matches away from home and have yet to win although they did pick up a losing bonus point at Cinderford. There only win this season has come at Holme Park against Southend.
In four meeting over the 2002/03 and 2003/04 seasons Reading won all four encounters. In the 2003/04 season they were 37-11 winners at Bath Road and 32-15 winners at Holme Park.
Prediction: Home win by seven points.
Cinderford v Southend
Both these two sides were beaten on their travels last week as 11th placed Cinderford entertain 10th placed Southend knowing a win will take them above them in the league table.
In two home fixtures this season Cinderford have manage a win and a defeat, the loss was against the runaway league leaders North Walsham whilst the win was a 21-16 success over Reading.
Southend suffered heavy defeats in their first two away matches of the season but last week at Cambridge were in the match till the end before going down to a 12-3 defeat.
First ever league meeting between the two sides.
Prediction: Tough call but home win by four points.
Dings Crusaders v North Walsham
Leaders North Walsham are going for a sixth full house as the travel to Dings Crusaders looking to extend their seven point lead at the top of the table.
Dings have had two wins out of three at home with their only defeat a narrow 20-18 reverse against Cambridge. Last time out they thrashed Hertford 42-15 in an impressive display which they will be hoping to continue against the league leaders.
North Walsham have already won twice in the west country beating the two promoted sides Bridgwater and Cinderford, picking up the four try bonus point in each.
North Walsham were 15-3 winners at Dings last season and completed the double over them with a 32-12 home success.
Prediction: Away win by nine points.
Havant v Lydney
The big game of the day in National Three South as second, Havant, entertain third, Lydney, at Hooks Lane knowing a win will take them into second place in the table.
Havant have won both their home matches since an opening day reverse at the hands on newly promoted Bridgwater & Albion with good wins over Dings Crusaders and Cambridge. .
Lydney have made a terrific start to the season with four wins out of five and a place in the 5th round of the Powergen National Trophy. Their only defeat to date has come away from home when they were surprisingly beaten at Westcombe Park.
Lydney were winners at Hooks Lane last season 36-16 and with a 35-7 victory at Regentsholme completed the double over them on their return to the National Leagues.
Prediction: Away win by four points.
Hertford v Cambridge
Fourth placed Cambridge travel to fifth placed Hertford looking for their second away win of the season and knowing a win will move them up the table with Havant playing Lydney.
Hertford won their first two home fixtures this season but were beaten at Highfields last time out by Havant so will be keen to get back to wining ways at home. They have lost their last two in the league with a heavy loss at Dings after the Havant defeat.
Cambridge were heavily beaten on their last road trip going down 46-21 at Havant which followed on form a surprise Cup exit at Fylde before that. They did though return to winning ways last Saturday against Southend and will be looking to build on that.
I think you have to go back to the 1995/96 season to find the last time these two sides clashed in the league, I don’t know the result so if somebody could tell me I would appreciate it. .
Prediction: Away win by five points.
Westcombe Park v Rosslyn Park
Sixth placed Westcombe Park entertain seventh placed Rosslyn Park with both sides looking to continue with wins after last Saturdays successes.
Combe will be looking to make it three out of three at Goddington Dene having already eaten Lydney and Old Patesians. They will be in good heart after picking up their first away win of the season at Reading last Saturday.
Rosslyn Park were big winners last Saturday at home to Cinderford and will be hoping they have found a new reliable goal kicker in Richard McKeown who kicked all nine of his attempts last Saturday, six conversions and three penalty goals. They will have to break their away duck though having lost all three road trips this season although they have picked up losing bonus points in two of them, Cambridge and Southend.
These two sides met for the only time in the 2002/03 season when Rosslyn Park did the double over Combe. At Goddington Dene they were 45-23 winners whilst at home they thrashed them 82-17.
Prediction: Away win by seven points.
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