NATIONAL TWO
Barking v Esher
Leaders Esher travel to Gorsebrook to face fifth placed Barking looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Barking will be looking to get last weeks thrashing at Moseley out of their system with a home fixture this Saturday but unfortunately they play the unbeaten leaders Esher at Gorsebrook. After a bright start they have fell of the pace and now lost four of their last five matches in the league.
Esher have won ten out of 11 in the league and drawn there other match, away at Waterloo. Apart from the draw at Waterloo they have won their other five matches on the road this season.
PREDICTION: Esher by eight points.
Blackheath v Henley Hawks
11th placed Blackheath entertain sixth placed Henley Hawks looking to close the gap on the sides above them in the table which now stands at five points.
Blackheath are going through a poor spell and one just once in their last nine matches and that was a home win over winless Harrogate a couple of weeks ago.
Henley ended a run of back to back defeats last Saturday and will be confident of an away success at Blackheath this week to make it four wins in their last six matches.
PREDICTION: Hawks by five.
Launceston v Moseley
Ninth placed Launceston entertain second placed Moseley at Polson Bridge on Saturday looking to return to winning ways.
Launceston’s three match winning run came to an end last Saturday at Halifax and they face a tough battle to avoid a second successive defeat with the visit of Moseley.
Moseley were back amongst the tries last week at home to Barking and will look to continue in that vain this week at Launceston. With it so tight at the top a four try point is important so they will be looking for their seventh of the season at Polson Bridge.
PREDICTION: Moseley to leave with an eight point win. .
Manchester v Halifax
Seventh placed Manchester play host to 12th placed Halifax knowing a win could see them move up to fourth spot in the league table.
Manchester are one of the form sides in the division and a home win on Saturday will make it four wins in a row and they could end the day in fourth spot.
Halifax got an important win last Saturday at home to Launceston and will be keen to make it two in a row as they look to try and climb the National Two league table. They have improved of late and have now won three of their last six matches after failing to win any of their opening five.
PREDICTION: Manchester to win by four points. .
Stourbridge v Orrell
10th placed Stourbridge entertain second bottom Orrell at Stourton on Saturday looking to improve their dreadful home record.
Stourbridge will be looking to improve their dreadful home form this Saturday against a struggling Orrell side who are the lowest scorers in the division. At home they have lost all five of their league matches and last time out at Stourton lost 25-6 to Redruth.
Orrell were narrow losers at home to Manchester last Saturday in the sort of game they needed to win if they are to climb the National Two league table and have now lost four of their last five league matches. On the road this season they have lost all four matches picking up just one point when losing 13-10 at Redruth.
PREDICTION: Home win by nine points.
Waterloo v Redruth
Third placed Waterloo entertain fourth placed Redruth at Blundellsands on Saturday looking to take all five points on offer.
After back to back draws Waterloo returned to winning ways last Saturday and will be looking to take all five points as although they are level on points with the top two they have played a match more.
At home they have lost once, to Moseley, and drawn with leaders Esher whilst winning the rest of their matches at Blundellsands.
After a three match losing run Redruth have won their last two including a 25-6 away win at Stourbridge in their last away match to help them into fourth spot in the table. .
PREDICTION: .Waterloo to win by 10 points.
Wharfedale v Harrogate
A Yorkshire derby at Threshfields as Wharfedale, entertain Harrogate, looking for a win which could move them up a couple of places in the National Two league table.
Wharfedale need to be careful in this fixture as sometimes derbies can throw up stranger results and with Harrogate still looking for that first win of the season you never know!!
Harrogate, prop up the National Two league table with just nine bonus points as they have yet to win a match losing all 12 to date. Nobody has picked up more bonus points than the Yorkshire side this season, seven have been for losing by seven or less and two for scoring four tries or more.
Last season at Threshfields the home side came out on top 26-17 but at Claro Road it was Harrogate who were the winners 21-15.
PREDICTION: Home win by five points. |
