NATIONAL THREE SOUTH
Cambridge v Bridgwater & Albion
Second placed Cambridge will be looking to get right back to winning ways with the visit of Bridgwater & Albion on Saturday.
Cambridge lost top spot in National Three South last Saturday after being beaten by North Walsham at Scottow which ended their five match winning run in the division.
Cambridge have won all their home matches in the league this season and will be confident of making it six out f six.
After the visit of the mighty Quins last Saturday in the Powergen National Trophy it is back to bread and butter rugby this week for Albion with the trip to Cambridge.
Bridgwater were beaten in the league last time at rivals Cinderford which ended a three match winning run which had helped them climb to sixth in the National Three South League table before last weeks results.
These two sides have never met before in league rugby.
PREDICTION: Home victory by eight points.
Cinderford v Dings Crusaders
11th placed Cinderford entertain Dings Crusaders looking to maintain their good current run knowing a win could move them up another couple of placers after last weeks two place rise.
Cinderford are going for a hat trick of wins after winning against Bridgwater & Albion and then at Bracknell last week when they also picked up their second four try bonus point of the season. They have won two and lost two at home suffering big defeats against North Walsham and Southend whilst securing wins over Reading and Bridgwater.
Dings Crusaders are looking to return to winning ways after a draw last week at home to Southend and an away defeat at Rosslyn Park the week before. On the road this season they have a poor record losing all four matches although they have picked up a losing bonus point in three of them.
PREDICTION: Home success by four points.
Old Patesians v North Walsham
Leaders North Walsham travel to 12th placed Old Patesians looking improve on their away form.
Old Patesians are looking to avoid a fourth successive defeat but have an uphill task taking on the leaders at Everest Road.
At home they have managed two wins in five matches and in two of the three defeats have picked up a losing bonus point.
North Walsham will be looking to avoid a third successive away defeat after losing at Dings Crusaders and Hertford their only defeats of the season. They will be looking to build on last weeks excellent win over an in form Cambridge as they go in search of a seventh four try bonus point in 11 matches.
North Walsham were convincing winners in the fixture last season 47-17 and with a 26-18 win did the double over Old Patesians.
PREDICTION: Away victory by nine points.
Reading v Lydney
Second bottom Reading entertain sixth placed Lydney at Holme Park looking for a third win in their last five matches.
Reading have won their last two at Holme Park with wins over Bracknell and high flying Havant and overall have won three out of four at home with only Westcombe Park leaving with a win all season.
Lydney are still getting over the loss of their free scoring full back Adam Westall who is out for the season after picking up an horrendous injury in last weeks home win over Old Patesians. The win last week broke a run of three successive defeats against the top three sides in the division on recent weeks.
What Reading would do to repeat last seasons score in this fixture, a home win 50-28 whilst at Regentsholme Lydney were 50-20 winners.
PREDICTION: Home win by four points.
Rosslyn Park v Hertford
Fifth placed Rosslyn Park entertain 4th placed Hertford knowing a win will take them above them in the table with Hertford only having the edge now on the most wins rule.
Park will be really disappointed at losing to Havant last week and seeing their four match winning run coming to an end.
They have only played three times at home this season and they have won all matches to date.
Hertford have now put together a three match winning run to climb back up the table after a run of disappointing results.
They are the only side in the division not to have picked up a four try bonus point so far this season.
On the road they were winner’s first time out at Bridgwater & Albion but have lost both matches since on their travels.
PREDICTION: Home win by six points.
Southend v Havant
9th placed Southend entertain third placed Havant looking to maintain their excellent recent form which sees them sitting in 5th place in the Form Guide.
Southend have three wins and a draw in their last six matches and a win in this match could well see them move into the top half of the National Three South league table. They have only played three games at home this season and have won all of them.
Havant are 4th in the Form Guide with four wins in their last six matches. On the road they have not done too well this season managing just one win in four road trips to date. The win was at Hertford and they were disappointed last time out away form home losing to struggling Reading.
Southend were big winners in this fixture last season 45-14 whilst Havant were winners at Hooks Lane, 37-26.
PREDICTION: Tough call but will go home win by four points.
Westcombe Park v Bracknell
10th placed Westcombe Park play host to bottom of the table Bracknell after a week of last week with Bridgwater’s involvement in the Powergen National Trophy.
Combe have won three out of four at Goddington Dene with only Rosslyn Park leaving with a victory and they picked up a losing bonus point in that match.
Bracknell are in real trouble at the bottom of the table and are now eight points behind the side above them in the table and 10 points from safety with just one win form their 10 matches to date.
On the road they have lost all five matches but have managed to pick up losing bonus points in two of those games.
PREDICTION: Home victory by 10 points.
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