NATIONAL THREE NORTH
Bradford & Bingley v Darlington
Fifth placed Bradford & Bingley entertain fourth placed knowing a win could see them move above Darlington in the National Three League table.
Bradford & Bingley have lost just once in seven matches in the league but have games in hand on the sides above them in the league table although with just two bonus points they have the lowest total of any of the top nine sides in the league. At home they are unbeaten will all three matches including inflicting Blaydon their only defeat of the season.
Darlington picked up an excellent win last week against an in form Tynedale side who led at the break at Blackwell Meadows. They picked up a seventh four try bonus point out of a possible nine, the highest total in the division.
Last season the Bees were home winners in this fixture convincingly 42-12 and with a 33-15 win at Blackwell Meadows did the double over the North East side.
PREDICTION: Bees to win by nine points.
Cleckheaton v Hull Ionians
During the week Cleckheaton dropped into the drop zone after getting five points deducted for fielding an ineligible player in the home win over New Brighton.
12th Cleckheaton entertain 10th placed Hull Ionians looking to make it three wins in their last four matches and move above Hull in the league table.
At home this season Cleckheaton got off to a bad start losing their opening two fixtures but since then have put together a three match winning run.
Hull Ionians have failed to find any real form yet this season with just two wins in nine matches and just one in the last six as they sit 12th in the Form Guide.
They have lost all five matches on the road this season but have managed losing bonus points in three of them.
These two last met in the 2003/04 season when it was honours even with a win apiece although it was an away win. Hull won this fixture 32-27 whilst Cleckheaton won at Ionians 34-18.
PREDICTION: Home win by seven points.
Darlington Mowden Park v New Brighton
Eighth placed Darlington Mowden Park entertain second bottom New Brighton at Mowden Park looking for a third consecutive league win.
DMP have played just seven games in the league this season and if they continue their improved form of late should move up the National Three North league table. At home they lost two of their first three but since have put together wins over Leicester Lions and Macclesfield.
New Brighton have managed just one win all season when beating Hull Ionians 18-15 but since have lost all five matches and need to turn their season round soon as they are already eight points form safety.
Last season New Brighton were winners in this fixture 32-22 but at Reeds Lane DMP were 13-10 winners as it was honours even over the season.
PREDICTION: DMP to win by 11 points.
Fylde v Kendal
Ninth placed Fylde entertain bottom of the table Kendal looking for back to back wins for the first time this season.
Fylde have won two of their last three as they look to have turned the corner as they look to climb the National Three North league table. .
They have won three out of four at home with only Tynedale leaving with a win and are one of only two sides in the division to stop Darlington picking up the four try bonus point when beating them 34-15 on the opening day of the season.
Kendal remain rooted to the bottom of the table after seven successive league defeats and have failed to pick up even a single bonus point and are the only side in the National Leagues yet to pick up a point.
In their three away matches so far this season they have conceded over 40 points in each of them.
Last season it was stalemate at Woodlands as they fought out a low scoring draw 8 all. It was also close at Mint Bridge with Fylde just edging it 27-25.
PREDICTION: Fylde to win by 12 points.
Tynedale v Preston Grasshoppers
Third placed Preston travel to sixth placed Tynedale needing a point to go top of the table as they are currently locked in a three way tie on 33 points with Blaydon and Nuneaton.
Tynedale were disappointed last weekend losing at Darlington after leading at the break as they slipped to a second defeat in three matches.
At home this season they got off to a bad start losing to North East rivals Darlington Mowden Park but since they have won three on the bounce at Tynedale Park.
Hoppers were last minute winners away at Leicester Lions in another tight match 35-3 4. They sit in fourth spot in the Form Guide with four wins and a draw from their last six matches and remain the divisions top try scorers along with Darlington on 40 with 25 of them coming away from home easily the biggest total in the division. .
These two sides last met in the 2003/04 season when Tynedale did the double over Hoppers who were relegated into North One. Although in the previous season it was honours even with each side winning the away fixture.
PREDICTION: Tough call but will go Hoppers by four points.
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