NATIONAL TWO
Halifax v Barking
Second bottom Halifax entertain fourth placed Barking looking to return to winning ways after losing heavily at Henley Hawks last time out.
Halifax had a free weekend last week with their home fixture against Orrell being a victim of the weather. Prior to the defeat against Henley Hawks they had managed back to back wins to keep them in touch with the sides above them in the National Two table.
Barking are looking to return to winning ways after losing their last two league matches and have lost four of their last six matches in the league. Although lying in fourth place they are 15 points behind third placed Moseley.
On the road this season they have picked up two wins in four matches at Harrogate and Henley Hawks.
This will be the first ever league meeting between the two sides.
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PREDICTION: Home win by four points.
Harrogate v Stourbridge
Bottom of the table Harrogate take on ninth placed Stourbridge at Claro Road still looking for their first win of the season after nine successive defeats.
Harrogate picked up another losing bonus point at Manchester last Saturday and now have five from nine matches as they continue to lose close matches.
Stourbridge have a tremendous away record this season with four wins form five matches on the road losing only at Launceston to date whilst at home they have yet to win.
Last season Stourbridge won this fixture 39-36 in a high scoring match. At Stourbridge it went the other way with Harrogate winning a high scoring match 35-32.
PREDICTION: Stourbridge to win by three points.
Henley Hawks v Launceston
Fifth placed Henley Hawks entertain seventh placed Launceston at Dry Leas on Saturday looking to return to winning ways after pushing Moseley all the way last Saturday before going down 22-19.
Henley Hawks have improved of late with four wins in their last six matches to climb the National Two league table.
At home they have picked up two wins form five matches and in all three defeats at home they have managed a losing bonus point.
Launceston are looking for a third successive win after their 20-17 success in the Cornish derby last Saturday. After losing their opening two league matches away form home the Cornish All Blacks have picked up two wins and a draw in their last three.
These two sides last met in the 2002/03 season in this division with the Hawks doing the double over Launceston. At Dry Leas they were convincing winners 43-13 whilst winning narrowly 21-17 at Polson Bridge.
PREDICTION: Henley to win by eight points.
Wharfedale v Waterloo
Second placed Waterloo travel to eighth placed Wharfedale knowing they can go top with Esher out of action in the league as they are still in the Powergen National Trophy.
Wharfedale were away winners last week at Blackheath and picked up the four try bonus point to climb the table. That win was only their second of the season and you have to go back to week two of the season to find the other, their only home win of the season over Henley Hawks 34-10.
Waterloo are two points behind the leaders so a win at Threshfields would see them top the table and give them a sixth successive win in the league since losing to Moseley at Blundellsands.
They are unbeaten on the road this season with five wins but in four of them the home side has picked up a losing bonus point.
Last season Waterloo were 26-10 winners at Threshfields and 49-15 winners at Blundellsands as they did the double over the Yorkshire side.
PREDICTION: Waterloo to win by seven points. |
