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Terrace talk - National One

Check out our weekly previews and predictions ahead of the weekend action.

National One

 

Bedford Blues v Exeter Chiefs

 

This game has been postponed with Exeter travelling to Yorkshire to play their Powergen National Trophy match against Bradford & Bingley which was called off last Saturday due to a waterlogged pitch.  

 

 

Pertemps Bees v Earth Titans

 

Second bottom Pertemps Bees entertain sixth placed Earth Titans knowing a win could move them up two or three places in the National One league table.

 

The Bees were comfortable winners at Cleckheaton in the Cup last Saturday as they ended a three match losing run. They are at home this week where they were beaten last time out by the Cornish Pirates but have won twice at Sharmans Cross Road this season over Coventry and Plymouth Albion.

 

Earth Titans progressed to the next round of the Powergen National Trophy last Saturday with a comfortable home win over Yorkshire rivals Halifax 70-12.  

On the road this season they have managed just the one win when they triumphed at the Butts Arena over Coventry, they have lost at Nottingham, Cornish Pirates and Bedford Blues.

 

Last season when these two sides met the Titans won this fixture comfortably 35-6 and with a 30-12 home win did the double over the Bees.  

 

Prediction: Titans to win by eight points. .    

 

 

Doncaster v Newbury

 

Second bottom of the table Doncaster entertain fifth placed Newbury at Castle Park knowing a win could see them rise up to 10th place in the National One League table.

 

Doncaster were dumped out of the Cup last Saturday at Redruth. They will be going for a third consecutive home win in the league after victories over Coventry and Plymouth Albion in their last two matches at Castle Park. They also picked up points at London Welsh in their last match in a 27 all draw.

 

Newbury are looking to bounce back after three successive defeats including back to back homes losses against Coventry in the league and the Cup. In three away matches this season they have managed just the one win, at Plymouth Albion, whilst going down to defeats at Harlequins and Earth Titans.  

 

Last season in this fixture the home side triumphed in a high scoring match which went down to the wire 33-29. They did the double over Newbury winning 24-15 earlier in the season at Monks Lane.

 

Prediction: Tough call but will go Newbury by six points.    

 

 

London Welsh v Plymouth Albion

 

Bottom of the table London Welsh take on four placed Plymouth Albion at Old Deer Park knowing a would could see them move up three or four places in the league table.

 

The Welsh were comfortable 71-8 winners over London One side Canterbury last Saturday in the Powergen National Trophy at Old Deer Park running in 11 tries. At home this season the Welsh have managed just a win, Pertemps Bees, and a draw, Doncaster, from their four matches.

 

Albion progressed to the next round of the Powergen National Trophy with a 37-0 win at National Three North side Fylde last Saturday. On the road this season Albion lost their first three matches before breaking their duck against Coventry at the Butts Arena in a narrow 13-9 success.

 

Plymouth Albion were winners in this fixture last season 40-34 and with a 28-12 win at Brickfields did the double over the Welsh.

 

Prediction: Albion to sneak it by seven points.    

 

 

Nottingham v Coventry

 

10th placed Coventry travel to eighth placed Nottingham looking for a third consecutive win and the chance of moving into the top half of the table.  

 

Nottingham moved into the next round of the Powergen National Trophy with a 55-3 win over National Three South side Lydney last Saturday at Ireland Road.

In the league this season at home they have won two out of four with the two defeats coming against the top two in the league Harlequins and Bedford Blues. They are looking to end a three match losing streak in the league since beating London Welsh 22-16 on October 1st.

 

Coventry after back to back wins over Newbury at Monks Lane in the League and Cup will be hoping to make it a hat trick of wins. Their win at Newbury last time out was their first on the road this season in the league after suffering defeats at Doncaster and the Pertemps Bees.   

 

Coventry were 18-16 winners in this fixture last season and with a 40-10 home victory did the double over Nottingham.

 

Prediction: Home win by eight points.    

 

 

Cornish Pirates v Otley

 

Third placed Cornish Pirates will move into second place with a win over ninth placed Otley at Kenwyn Hill as they look to make it four league wins in a row.  

 

The Pirates moved into the next round of the Powergen National Trophy last Saturday with a comfortable win over National Two side Wharfedale. They have won all three league matches at home this season and twice scored over 40 points in beating Rotherham and Sedgley Park.

 

Otley were winners away at London Scottish in the Powergen National Trophy last Saturday 46-3.  The Yorkshire side have already lost three times on the road this season with their only success coming at London Welsh whilst suffering defeats at Coventry, Newbury and Plymouth.  

 

Otley were winners in the fixture last season 20-17 and with a 24-13 win at Cross Green did the double over the Pirates.

 

Prediction: Cornish Pirates to win by 12 points.     

 

 

Sedgley Park v NEC Harlequins

 

Leaders NEC Harlequins travel to Park Lane for the second consecutive weekend looking to do the double over Sedgley Park after dumping them out on the Powergen National Trophy last Sunday.  

 

Park have managed just one win at home this season in the league when they beat fellow strugglers London Welsh 32-28 last time out at Park Lane in the league. They managed a draw against the Pertemps Bees and were beaten in their first home match of the season against Nottingham.  

 

Quins are looking for a ninth successive league win and their sixth on the road having played just three times at the Stoop so far in the league this season. Otley remain the only side to take a point off them this season when picking up a losing bonus point at Cross Green when they held Quins to an 18-15 scoreline.

 

These two sides met for the first time last Sunday in the Powergen National Trophy with Quins coming out comfortable winners.   

 

Prediction: Quins to win by 14 points.    

 

 
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