NATIONAL THREE SOUTH
Bracknell v Bridgwater & Albion
11th placed Bridgwater travel to bottom of the table Bracknell looking to avoid a third straight league defeat.
Bracknell are bottom of National Three South with just one win all season in the league.
They have won just once at home in five matches a narrow one point success over Havant early in the season.
Bridgwater were narrow losers last Saturday at Cambridge going down by a single point and they lost the match before that in the league at Cinderford so are looking to avoid a third straight loss on the road.
On the road they have won twice in five matches at Havant and Old Patesians. They have picked up seven bonus points in total a figure only beaten by Havant who have nine.
PREDICTION: Bridgwater to take the win by eight points.
Dings Crusaders v Westcombe Park
Eighth placed Westcombe Park travel to ninth placed Dings Crusaders knowing the home side will go above them if they lose at Lockleaze.
Dings are out of form at present with just one win in their last five league matches and were beaten at Cinderford last Saturday. At home this season they have done well with four wins and a draw from their six matches.
Westcombe Park are one of the Form sides in the division with four wins in their last six matches including a home win over Bracknell last Saturday.
On the road they have managed just the one win when winning 28-21 at Reading.
Dings Crusaders were 25-17 at Lockleaze last season but were hammered at Goddington Dene 40-12.
PREDICTION: Dings to win at home by 10 points.
Havant v Cinderford
After having five points deducted Havant have dropped a place to fourth spot and this week entertain 10th placed Cinderford at Hooks Lane. .
Havant were beaten last Saturday at Southend in a high scoring affair which included 12 tries, split evenly, as the home side edged it 40-36.
They have won five in a row at home since losing on the opening day of the season to Bridgwater although the five points they lost were form the Cambridge win when the fielded three overseas players.
Cinderford are on a good run at present and win on Saturday will make it four in a row as they look to continue to climb the National Three South League table.
On the road they have managed two wins in six matches at Bracknell and Old Patesians.
PREDICTION: Havant to win at Hooks Lane by seven points over an improving Cinderford side. .
Hertford v Southend
Fifth placed Hertford entertain sixth placed Southend with the home side looking to return to winning ways after last Saturday.
Hertford were beaten at Rosslyn Park last Saturday after winning three on the bounce. At home this season they have won four out of six including a win over table toppers North Walsham 5-3.
Southend were winners last Saturday in a high scoring match over Havant 40-36 in a 12 try thriller which could have gone either way.
On the road this season Southend have won one and drawn one of their six matches with the only win coming at Cinderford in a 47-14 victory.
Hertford were 27-21 winners at home to Southend last season and did the double over them with a 21-16 victory at Warners Bridge.
PREDICTION: Sticking my neck out with this one, Southend to sneak rare away win by six points.
Lydney v Rosslyn Park
Seventh placed Lydney are at home to Rosslyn Park who are up to third after Havant had five points deducted for fielding three overseas players.
Lydney were losers last Saturday going down narrowly to Reading in a game they have targeted to win on the road. They are at the wrong end of the form guide with just two wins in their last six matches. At home they have won four out of five with only second placed Cambridge leaving Regentsholme with a win this season.
Park are at the other end of the Form Guide with five wins in their last five matches as they have recovered from a poor start.
On the road they have managed just two wins form six matches and need to improve that form if they are to challenge the top two. They trail second placed Cambridge by 10 points but do have a game in hand.
PREDICTION: Tough call but will go Park by three points.
North Walsham v Reading
Leaders North Walsham entertain 12th placed Reading at Scottow looking to maintain their 100% home record in the league.
After a couple of blips North Walsham have put together two wins in a row and are four points clear at the top of the National Three South league table after briefly losing top spot to Cambridge. .
Reading have lost all six of their matches on the road and twice conceded over 50 points in the process. They have just one bonus point on the road when going down 21-16 to Cinderford.
North Walsham were 31-12 winners at Scottow last season and with a 19-14 win at Holme Park did the double over the Berkshire side.
PREDICTION: North Walsham to continue home form with 12 point win.
Old Patesians v Cambridge
Second placed Cambridge travel to second bottom Old Patesians this Saturday looking to keep the pressure on the leaders, North Walsham.
Old Pats have now lost their last four matches and have slipped down to 13th in the table. They will have been buoyed by their first half performance against leaders North Walsham whom they led 17-6 at the break.
They have won twice at Everest Road this season in six matches with wins over Dings and Rosslyn Park.
Cambridge returned to winning ways last Saturday after their loss at North Walsham the week before but were only just winners over Bridgwater 21-20.
They have lost twice on the road this season going down to defeats at North Walsham and Havant.
First ever league meeting between the two sides.
PREDICTION: Cambridge to leave with 10 point win. |
