NATIONAL THREE NORTH
Darlington v Cleckheaton
Fifth placed Darlington entertain 12th placed Cleckheaton looking to return to winning ways after last Saturdays defeat.
Darlington were beaten at Bradford & Bingley last Saturday with the Yorkshire side running away with it in the second half although Darlington did manage their 8th four try bonus point of the season from 10 games the best record in the division.
They are unbeaten at home this season winning all four of their matches.
Bad week all round for Cleckheaton last week with the home loss to Hull Ionians following the five points they were deducted for fielding an ineligible player.
On the road this season Cleckheaton have lost all three matches and managed to score just 13 points.
Darlington were convincing winners in this fixture last season 40-12 whilst Cleckheaton were narrow 1715 winners at home with honours even over the season.
PREDICTION: Home victory by seven points.
Hull Ionians v Blaydon
10th placed Hull Ionians play host to second placed Blaydon who were busy last week in Powergen National Trophy action against National One side Nottingham and acquitted themselves really well.
Ionians were winners at Cleckheaton last weekend to end a two match losing run as they picked up their first away win of the season. At home this season they have won two and lost two with the two defeats coming against top four sides Nuneaton and Bradford & Bingley.
Blaydon have lost just once all season in the league and have put together six match winning run since losing at Bradford & Bingley in the second week of the season.
PREDICTION: Away victory by six points.
Kendal v Macclesfield
Bottom of the table Kendal entertain 11th placed Macclesfield with both sides in need of points.
Kendal have lost all eight of their league matches to date and are 13 points form safety and are still looking to register their first point of the season.
They have played just three times at home this season and lost all three and came within a point of their first point of the season in a 23-15 loss to Tynedale at Mint Bridge.
Macclesfield are looking to avoid a third consecutive defeat as they look to find some of their form from last season which saw them challenging at the top end of the table.
They have yet to win on their travels losing all four matches away form home this season so far.
Macclesfield were 19-10 winners in this fixture last season and with a 37-6 home win did the double over the Mint Bridge outfit.
PREDICTION: Away win by eight points.
Leicester Lions v Tynedale
Eighth placed Leicester Lions take on sixth placed Tynedale as they look to get back into the top half of the table after dropping out for the first time this season last week.
The Lions had a free week last week having already played Macclesfield earlier in the season on a free Saturday. They have slipped after a positive start and managed just one win in their last six matches and look to avoid a third consecutive defeat.
Tynedale were winners over Preston Grasshoppers last Saturday in a close match and sit in 4th spot in the Form Guide with four wins in their last six matches.
On the road this season the North East side have managed two wins form their five matches and would like to improve that record although they have all been against sides in the top five.
These two will be meeting for the first time ever in league rugby.
PREDICTION: Away victory by six points.
New Brighton v Fylde
Second bottom New Brighton entertain 9th placed Fylde looking to get some form going at Reeds Lane if they are to have a chance of avoiding the drop.
New Brighton have managed just the one win all season when beating Hull Ionians back in September overall at home this season they have played just three times losing the other two matches.
Fylde have improved off late as they go in search of a third successive league win and a fourth, in five matches.
They have though yet to win away form home losing all three away matches so far this season.
Last season this fixture ended in a 19 all draw whilst at Woodlands Fylde were narrow 20-19 winners.
PREDICTION: Away success by 10 points.
Nuneaton v Darlington Mowden Park
Unbeaten Nuneaton sitting in third placed entertain Darlington Mowden Park at Liberty Way after a week of last week with Blaydon’s involvement in the Powergen National Trophy.
Nuneaton are looking for a fifth consecutive home win although they will be looking to improve on their 6-0 win over Cleckheaton last time out.
They have managed just three four try bonus points in their eight matches so far and would like to see that ratio increase to stay in touch with the other title chasing sides.
Darlington Mowden Park are one of the form sides in the division as they look to make it four in a row with a victory in this match. This is their first away match after a run of four at home on the bounce. They have only played twice away this season so far, winning a North derby against Tynedale but coming unstuck at Cleckheaton in their last away fixture.
PREDICTION: Home win by nine points.
Preston Grasshoppers v Bradford & Bingley
Top of the table Preston Grasshoppers entertain fourth placed Bradford & Bingley in the knowledge they were well beaten by the Yorkshire side in the Powergen National Trophy earlier in the season.
Hoppers were disappointed to lose narrowly to Tynedale last Saturday in the sort of fixture they need to be winning to have a realistic chance of staying in the title race as the three sides just below them in the table have two games in hand on them.
The Bees were comfortable winners in the end last Saturday against Darlington at Wagon Lane as they made in three in a row since they lost at Macclesfield.
On the road that defeat at Macclesfield was their only loss of the season winning their other three matches on their travels.
PREDICTION: Away win by five points.
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