NATIONAL ONE
Coventry v Exeter Chiefs
Ninth placed Coventry entertain seventh placed Exeter Chiefs at the Butts Arena looking to return to winning ways after last Sundays defeat against the Cornish Pirates.
Prior to that defeat last Sunday they have put together a three match winning run to climb the table.
Coventry do not have the best of home records this season with just two wins in six league matches. They have beaten London Welsh and Otley but lost to Sedgley Park, Earth Titans, Plymouth and Quins.
The Chiefs were beaten at the County Ground last Saturday by Otley just their second away win of the season. It was a disappointing result having won three of their previous four as they looked to overcome a poor start to the season.
They have won just once on the road this season when beating Doncaster 23-17, they have lost their other three away matches.
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Coventry were 27-22 winners last season in the fixture at the Butts Arena But at the County Ground the Chiefs were 40-3 winners.
PREDICTION: Home win by eight points
Doncaster v Pertemps Bees
12th placed Doncaster, play host to the side one place above them in the table, Pertemps Bees this Saturday at Castle Park.
Doncaster slipped to back to back defeats with their loss last Friday at Nottingham 12-0. At home they are looking t make it four in a row after starting with two successive home defeats. Doncaster know a win would see them move above the Bees in the table as they look to overcome a poor start to the season and climb the table.
They drew at home last Saturday to The Bees have managed just one win on the road this season when last time out they were 22-19 winners at Otley and they did manage a 33 all draw at Sedgley Park but have lost their other three games away form Sharmans Cross Road.
PREDICTION: Doncaster to win by five points.
London Welsh v Cornish Pirates
Second bottom London Welsh take on second placed Cornish Pirates at Old Deer Park looking for back to back wins.
The Welsh were 13-7 winners at Old Deer Park last Saturday and moved off the bottom of the National One league table as a consequence.
At home they have managed two wins and a draw from their six matches beating the Pertemps Bees and drawing with Doncaster as well as last Saturdays success.
The Pirates were home winners last Sunday but were given a tough game by Coventry and only came through 15-10 as they failed to secure the four try bonus point for the first time this season.
On the road this season they have done well with four wins form six matches with only Quins and Bedford defeating them on the road.
The Pirates were winners at Old Deer Park winning 32-15 and did the double over the Welsh with a 45-14 win down in Cornwall.
PREDICTION: Pirates by eight points.
Newbury v Bedford Blues
Third placed Bedford Blues travel to sixth place Newbury looking to get back to winning ways after their defeat against leaders Harlequins last Saturday at Goldington Road.
After losing three on the bounce Newbury followed up their home win with Nottingham with a draw at Pertemps Bees last Saturday although they did have a conversion in injury time but could not hit the target as Blair Feeney ended a run of 20 successful kicks in a row.
At Monks Lane, Newbury have won four out of six with only Coventry and the Cornish Pirates leaving with wins.
The Blues were beaten by Quins last Saturday but did pick up a bonus point and hold them to just two tries with Andrew Mehrtens goal kicking being the difference. .
On the road this season the Blues two wins and a draw from four matches with their only defeat being in their last away match at Plymouth Albion where they went down 28-23.
PREDICTION: Blues by six points.
Otley v Nottingham
10th placed Otley play host to eighth placed Nottingham knowing a win could well move them above the visitors in the league table.
Otley were winners at Exeter Chiefs last Saturday just their second away success of the season after their win at London Welsh. The win at Exeter ended a three match losing run including losing their last home match to the Pertemps Bees 22-19.
Nottingham were 12-0 winners last Friday night against Doncaster at home as they ended a five match losing run and kept a clean sheet in the process.
On the road this season they have won just their once in their first away match of the season at Sedgley Park 29-12.
Otley were convincing winners in this fixture last season with a 37-5 victory and did the double when winning 38-25 at Nottingham.
PREDICTION: Otley to win by seven points.
Plymouth Albion v Harlequins
Leaders Harlequins travel to Brickfields to take on Graham Dawe’s in form Plymouth Albion in front of a full house. .
Albion are in fourth now and hot on the heels of third placed Bedford Blues on the back of five successive wins after a mediocre start to the season.
At home they have won four out of five with Newbury the only side to leave with a win this season.
Quins were given a tough game last week at Bedford Blues but again came through for the win to make it 11 out of 11. On the road they have already played seven matches and come through unscathed although they have been given some tough physical matches along the way.
PREDICTION: Quins by 12 points.
Earth Titans v Sedgley Park
Fifth placed Titans entertain bottom of the table Sedgley Park at Clifton Lane looking to return to wining ways after last Saturday’s disappointing defeat at Old Deer Park at the hands of London Welsh.
The Titans have won four out of five at home this season with only leaders Harlequins leaving with a win. The defeat last week ended a run of three wins in four matches as they climbed the National One league table after an indifferent start to the season.
Sedgley Park have now lost four in a row after last Saturday’s defeat at home to Plymouth Albion 25-8.
On the road this season they early season winners at the Butts Arena against Coventry but since then have lost four in a row ion their travels.
The Titans win this fixture last season 42-22 but did not do the double over Sedgley Park who won 14-13 at Park Lane.
PREDICTION: Titans by 10 points.
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