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Terrace Talk - National Three South

Check out our weekly previews and predictions ahead of the weekend action.

NATIONAL THREE SOUTH

 

Cambridge v Dings Crusaders

 

Leaders Cambridge entertain 10th placed Dings Crusaders looking to maintain top spot over North Walsham who are level with them on 49 points.    

 

Cambridge are going for a fourth successive win since losing at North Walsham back in November. At home they are unbeaten having won all seven matches to date including two wins where they have passed the 50 point mark. Although they have not had things all their own way at home with both Bridgwater and Rosslyn Park losing by just a single point.  

 

Dings are down in 10th spot in the Form Guide as well with just two wins in their last six matches. On the road this season they have lost all six matches picking up three losing bonus points along the way.

 

Cambridge are looking to do the double over Dings having already won 20-18 at Landseer Road earlier in the season.

 

PREDICTION: Home win by 12 points as Cambridge keep the pressure on second placed North Walsham.      

 

 

Havant v Bracknell

 

Seventh placed Havant are at home to bottom of the table Bracknell this weekend at Hooks Lane.    

 

Havant have lost their last three in a row and four out of their last five after rising to third in the table during early November. At home they have a good record with five wins from seven matches including a 46-21 win over

 

Bracknell are in serious trouble with just eight points to their name, they are nine points adrift at the bottom of the table and 20 points from safety.

On the road they have lost all seven of their matches so far this season picking up just two losing bonus points along the way at Hertford and Dings.  

 

Bracknell were winners over Havant earlier in the season winning a close match narrowly 11-10.

 

PREDICTION: Havant to win by 10 points as they challenge for a top three spot. .     

 

 

Hertford v Bridgwater & Albion

 

Ninth placed Hertford take on fourth placed Bridgwater & Albion at Highfields on Saturday hoping they have turned the corner and returned to form.   

 

Hertford were excellent winners just before Christmas at in form Cinderford winning 21-17 away from home to end the home sides four match winning run. At home this season they have won four of their seven matches but have had some strange results. They beat promotion chasing North Walsham 5-3 but were then thrashed 48-10 by Southend so you never know what to get although they did have a number of players out injured.

 

Bridgwater & Albion have climbed the table in recent weeks and are now in fourth spot with four wins in their last six matches. On the road this season they have played six matches and picked up three wins and were unlucky going down 21-20 to leaders Cambridge.

 

Bridgwater & Albion and Havant have yet to meet this season in the league.

 

PREDICTION:  Tough call this one but will go home win by five.     

 

 

Lydney v Westcombe Park

 

Sixth placed Lydney are at home to eighth placed Westcombe Park with just a point separating the two sides.    

 

Lydney are down in 11th place in the Form Guide over the last six matches with just two wins in those games. At Regentsholme this season they have done well winning five out of six with only leaders Cambridge leaving with a win.

 

Combe sit eighth in the Form Guide with three wins and three defeats in their last six matches. They have only played five on the rod so far this season and managed just the one win when beating Reading 28-21.

 

Lydney are looking to reverse an early season defeat against Westcombe Park when they were beaten 30-24 at Goddington Dene.

 

PREDICTION: Lydney to beat Combe by eight points.     

 

 

North Walsham v Cinderford

 

Second placed North Walsham are at home this Saturday to 11th placed Cinderford with both sides looking to return to winning ways.    

 

North Walsham lost just before Christmas at Rosslyn Park to end a four match winning run as their away form caught up with them again. At Scottow they are unbeaten this season winning all seven matches and picking up bonus points in most of them along the way.  

 

Cinderford also saw their four match winning run end just before Christmas losing 21-17 at home to Hertford. On the road this season they have picked up three wins form seven matches at Havant, Old Patesians and Bracknell.

 

North Walsham are looking to do the double over the West Country side having already beaten them 34-0 at the Recreation ground. 

 

PREDICTION:  North Walsham to maintain 100% home record with 12 point win.     

 

 

Old Patesians v Southend

 

Second bottom Old Patesians take on fifth placed Southend at Everest Road needing to turn the form guide upside down.    

 

Old Patesians are at the wrong end of the Form Guide with no wins in their last six matches and are 11 points form safety at the moment.

At home this season they have managed just two wins in seven matches beating Dings Crusaders and Rosslyn Park.

 

Southend are unbeaten in their last five with three wins and two draws in those five matches. On the road this season they have played seven matches winning two and drawing one.

 

Southend, travel to Everest Road looking to do the double over Old Patesians, having already won 30-10 at Warners Bridge earlier in the season.

 

PREDICTION:  Southend to take the away win by eight points to maintain good recent run.    

 

 

Reading v Rosslyn Park

 

Third placed Rosslyn Park travel to 12th placed Reading this Saturday looking to maintain their good recent form which has seen them climb the league table.

 

Reading have reasonable recent form, three wins in their last six matches, but it has all been at Holme Park. They have won five out of six at home this season with only Westcombe Park leaving with a win.   

 

Park have won four of their last six matches to climb the National Three South league table. It has been thanks to their home form though as away they have done poorly. They have managed just two wins in seven matches on the road so far whilst remaining unbeaten at home.

 

Park travel to Holme Park looking to complete the double over the Berkshire side having already beaten them 26-15 earlier in the season.

 

PREDICTION: Park to maintain third place with an away win by six points at Reading.     

 

 

 
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