NATIONAL THREE NORTH
Blaydon v Darlington
Fifth placed Blaydon will be looking to get last Saturday’s surprise loss at Hull Ionians out of their system with a home win over third placed Darlington.
Blaydon were going well till last Saturday when they came unstuck at Hull Ionians suffering just their second league defeat of the season. At home they are unbeaten with five wins out of five will be hoping to make that six on Saturday in a tough match against an in form Darlington side.
Darlington are up into third spot after they home win over Cleckheaton last Saturday although they have played a couple more games than most of the sides around them on the table.
Darlington will be looking to repeat last seasons 26-7 win at Crow Trees Although in the mach at Blackwell Meadows Blaydon were 33-7 winners.
PREDICTION: Tough call but Blaydon need to win and will by seven points.
Bradford & Bingley v Tynedale
Second placed Bradford & Bingley entertain 6th placed Tynedale looking to make it five wins in a row.
The Bees were impressive winners at Lightfoot Green last Saturday with a 55-34 win over Preston Grasshoppers.
They are unbeaten at home this season with three wins out of three and have passed the 50 point mark in two of those wins.
Tynedale were winners away last weekend at Leicester Lions for their third away win of the season form six matches.
Tynedale were surprise winners at Wagon Lane with a 45-28 victory and with a 16-13 home success did the double over the Yorkshire side.
PREDICTION: Another tough call but Bees the form side at moment to win by nine points.
Cleckheaton v Preston Grasshoppers
12th placed Cleckheaton entertain 4th placed Preston Grasshoppers looking to close the gap on the side above them who are six points clear of the relegation zone.
Cleckheaton are looking to avoid a fourth successive league defeat and the match before that they won they lost the points form. They were beaten at Darlington last Saturday but with home advantage they will be looking for a fourth win form seven matches at Moorend.
Hoppers were involved in a high scoring match last Saturday at Lightfoot Green but came out on the losing side 55-34 at Bradford & Bingley as they look to avoid a third successive league defeat.
On the road this season they have won two, drawn two and lost two, at Tynedale and Hull Ionians.
PREDICTION: Hoppers to return to winning ways with eight point win.
Darlington Mowden Park v Hull Ionians
9th placed Darlington Mowden Park entertain 10th placed Hull Ionians looking to return to winning ways.
Prior to their defeat last Saturday at leaders Nuneaton DMP had put together a three match winning run and will be confident of making it four out of five with home advantage.
At home this season they have won three and drawn one of their six matches with only Blaydon and Bradford & Bingley leaving with wins.
Hull Ionians were surprise winners over Blaydon last Saturday at home to record back to back wins for the first time this season as they go in search of a hat trick of wins at DMP. Their way form has been poor they lost their first five on the road but won last time out at Cleckheaton.
PREDICTION: After last week have to go Ionians to win by five points.
Fylde v Nuneaton
8th placed Fylde entertain leaders Nuneaton at Woodlands looking to maintain their improved form of late.
Fylde have won their last three matches and four of their last five after a poor start to the new season. Last Saturday they won away at New Brighton their first away success of the season. At Woodlands they have won four out of five this season with only Tynedale leaving with a win.
Nuneaton were home winners over Darlington Mowden Park last Saturday as they maintained their unbeaten start to the season. They have now won eight and drawn one. On the road they have won three and drawn one of their four matches so far.
PREDICTION: Nuneaton to win at Woodlands by eight points.
Kendal v Leicester Lions
Bottom of the table Kendal entertain seventh placed Leicester Lions still looking for that first elusive point of the season.
Kendal have yet to pick up a win or a bonus point from their nine matches. At Mint Bridge they have lost all four and conceded over 40 points in three of those defeats.
The Lions lost at home last Saturday narrowly to Tynedale and slipped to a third consecutive defeat. They have won twice on the road this season, at Cleckheaton and Macclesfield, from their five matches.
First ever league meeting between the two sides.
PREDICTION: Lions to win at Mint Bridge by four although would not be surprised if Kendal got off the mark.
Macclesfield v New Brighton
11th placed Macclesfield entertain second bottom New Brighton with both sides in need of the points.
Macclesfield were winners last Saturday at Kendal running in six tries as they picked up their third four try bonus point of the season. At home they have played just four times winning twice drawing once and losing just once, to Leicester Lions.
New Brighton have managed just the one win all season when winning earlier in the season at home to Hull Ionians. On the road this season they have played six lost six picking up a losing bonus point at Darlington. They along with Kendal have yet to pick up a four try bonus point this season.
Macc were convincing winners in this fixture last season 46-15 and with an 18-13 win at Reeds Lane did the double over New Brighton.
PREDICTION: Macclesfield to win at home by nine points.
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