Check out our weekend previews and predictions.
National Two
Esher v Manchester
Unbeaten league leaders Esher take their 100% record into this home fixture against seventh placed Manchester.
Leaders Esher are looking for an eighth straight league win and maintain top spot in National Two. Last weekend they were given a tough time at National Three North side Macclesfield before coming through.
Manchester had a free week last weekend having gone out of the Cup the round before. Away from home this season they have picked up just the one win in four matches with a 30-226 success at Stourbridge. They three defeats on the road have been against the better sides, Moseley, Barking and Waterloo.
Last season this match was a high scoring thriller going down to the wire before Esher triumphed 41-39 whilst the match at Grove Lane ended 65-15 in favour of Manchester.
Prediction: Home win by nine points.
Harrogate v Launceston
Bottom against third bottom at Claro Road as Harrogate take on Launceston still looking for their first win of the season.
Harrogate are still looking for their first win of the season suffering seven straight league defeats to date. They have though picked up four bonus points for losing by seven points or less, no one in the division has picked up more, and two more for scoring four tries or more, which is more than nine sides in the division.
Launceston have yet to pick up a four try bonus point. After losing their first two away matches of the season at Barking and Manchester the Cornish All Blacks got a win at Blackheath and then a 22 all draw at Wharfedale.
This match ended in a 27 all draw last season whilst at Polson Bridge Harrogate left with the win 21-12.
Prediction: Tough call but away win by three points.
Henley Hawks v Halifax
Sixth placed Henley Hawks entertain 10th placed Halifax at Dry Leas knowing a win for the Yorkshire side could see them move above them in the league table.
Henley Hawks have won three of their last four league matches with a one point defeat against Barking at Dry Leas the only blemish. At home in the league this season they have managed just the one win a 16-10 success over Redruth. The other three defeats have all been narrow losses three points to Waterloo, six points to Esher and a point to Barking.
Halifax started the season with four defeats and a draw but have now made it successive wins in the league with a narrow one point win away at Harrogate and a home win over Redruth. They were thumped last week in the Cup but will see a league this week as far more important.
They have lost just one on the road this season going down at Blackheath and since then getting a draw at Wharfedale before opening their account at Harrogate.
This will be the first ever league meeting between the two sides.
Prediction: Home win by seven points.
Orrell v Barking
Second bottom Orrell entertain fourth placed Barking with both sides back in action after a week off last weekend after previously being knocked out of the Powergen National Trophy.
Orrell are the second lowest scorers in the division and have conceded more points than any other side. A home win could see them move up the table several places as they look for a third home win of the season having already beaten Wharfedale and Harrogate at Edge Hall Road.
Barking need to win these sort of matches if they are to try and keep pace with the top three who are seven clear of them at present. They have already won two out of three on the road with wins at Harrogate and Henley although they were beaten at Redruth in between.
These two sides have never previously met in the league.
Prediction: Away win by eight points.
Redruth v Moseley
Fifth placed Redruth entertain second placed Moseley needing a win to try and catch the top three who have broken away from the rest. Both sides go into the match after progressing to the next round of the Powergen National Trophy last Saturday.
Redruth have won all four of the home matches in the league this season but last time out only just managed to get past struggling Orrell 13-10, whilst on the road they have lost all three matches.
Moseley have won two out of three on the road with their only loss this season coming at table toppers Esher, they have already won at Stourbridge and Waterloo.
They are the second highest try scorers in the division with 26 one fewer than Waterloo and only Esher with 4 have conceded fewer tries than Moseley’s 10.
This is the first ever league meeting between the two sides.
Prediction: Tough call but go away win by five points.
Waterloo v Blackheath
Third placed Waterloo will be looking to keep the pressure on the top two with a win in this home match against 11th placed Blackheath at Blundellsands.
Waterloo will be looking to get back to winning ways after going out of the Powergen National Trophy at the hands of National Three North side Blaydon last Saturday.
At Blundellsands they have wins against Orrell and Manchester but were beaten by second placed Moseley 37-31.
Blackheath after going into the season full of promise have failed to deliver yet with some disappointing results. They opened the season with two consecutive wins but since then have lost five in a row to drop right down the National Two league table. On the road they were opening day winners at Orrell but since then have come unstuck at Moseley, Manchester and Barking.
Blackheath left Blundellsands with a 16-10 victory last season and with a 17-10 home success did the double over the Lancashire side.
Prediction: Home win by 12 points.
Wharfedale v Stourbridge
Ninth placed Wharfedale take on eighth placed Stourbridge at Threshfields knowing a win will move them above them in the league as both sides try and bounce back from going out of the Powergen National Trophy last Saturday.
Wharfedale were knocked out of the Powergen National Trophy last Saturday by the Cornish Pirates. In the league they have drawn their last two matches against Manchester 28 all away from home and 22 all at home to Launceston. Overall at Threshfields this season they have yet to lose after beating Henley Hawks they have drawn their last two both 22 all against Halifax and Launceston.
Stourbridge have an excellent away record this season with three wins in four road trips. They have won at Halifax, Barking and Blackheath with their only defeat coming at Launceston back in mid September.
Last season Stourbridge took the points in this fixture with a 27-18 win but in the other match Wharfedale left with the points in a 22-10 victory.
Prediction: Home success by eight points. |
