Check out our weekly previews and predictions ahead of the weekend action.
NATIONAL THREE NORTH
Blaydon v Bradford & Bingley
Second placed Bradford & Bingley go to the North East to take on fourth placed Blaydon for whom this is a must win match if they are to keep pace with the top two.
Blaydon have already lost three times and a fourth defeat would seriously dent their chances of catching the top two. They have lost two of their last three matches and a defeat here would see them probably 12 points adrift of the leading two.
They are unbeaten at home winning all six matches at Crow Trees.
Bradford & Bingley know a win here would be a he boost for their promotion chances. The Bees top the Form Guide on the back of six straight wins and are just a point behind leaders Nuneaton.
On the road they have won five out of six with just a defeat at Macclesfield blotting the copybook.
When these two sides met earlier in the season the Bees were 24-11 winners.
PREDICTION: Tough call but will go with the Bees by six points.
Darlington Mowden Park v Tynedale
Sixth placed Tynedale travel to North East rivals Darlington Mowden Park who are in 9th spot in the National Three North table.
Darlington Mowden Park are at the right end of the Form Guide with four wins in their last six matches which has seen them move up the table 13 points away form the relegation zone. They have played seven times at home this season winning three and drawing one and losing the other three.
Tynedale have played seven times on the road this season and managed to pick up three wins along the way at Fylde, Kendal and Leicester Lions.
In the Form Guide they are half way with three wins and three defeats in their last six matches. They are the fourth highest scorers in the division.
Darlington Mowden Park are looking to do the double over Tynedale having won at Tynedale Park 16-14.
PREDICTION: Tough call but will go Tynedale to win by four points.
Fylde v Preston Grasshoppers
Third placed Preston Grasshoppers travel to 10th placed Fylde looking for the win to try and stay in touch with the top two who are in danger of pulling away.
Fylde after a three match winning run ended the year by losing two in a row and will be hopeful of getting back to winning ways with home advantage. At Woodlands this season they have played six times and picked up four wins whilst losing to Nuneaton and Tynedale.
Free scoring Preston are looking for a third consecutive win after losing two in a row against Bradford & Bingley and Tynedale. On the road this season they have played seven times and they have won three and drawn two losing against Tynedale and Hull Ionians.
Hoppers were comprehensive winners at Lightfoot Green earlier in the season 47-13.
PREDICTION: Hoppers to win by eight points.
Kendal v Hull Ionians
Bottom of the table Kendal have a tough task this week as they entertain Hull Ionians who have climbed to seventh in recent weeks.
Kendal still looking for their first point never mind win have lost all 11 matches so far and failed to claim even a bonus point so they will be hoping for a change of fortune in the New Year.
They have played just five times at home this season and have only come close to claiming a bonus point once when going down by eight points to Tynedale 23-15.
Hull Ionians are one of the form sides in the division and Coach Mick Watson has just picked up the NCA Coach of the Month award. His side won all three of their league matches in December and have now won four in a row.
They have played seven times on the road this season and managed to pick up just two wins at Cleckheaton and Darlington Mowden Park.
Ionians were comfortable winners when the sides met earlier in the season 42-21.
PREDICTION: Ionians continue good recent form and win by eight points.
Leicester Lions v Cleckheaton
Eighth placed Leicester Lions are at home this Saturday to 12th placed Cleckheaton with both sides looking to return to winning ways.
The Lions have had a poor recent spell with just one win in their last five matches as they have slipped out of the top half of the table.
At home this season they have played seven times winning twice and drawing once whilst getting beaten four times.
Cleckheaton are 10 points from safety going into the New Year and need to be targeting games like this to win as they look to try and narrow the gap on the sides above them in the league table. Recent form is poor with just two wins in their last six matches as they look to avoid a fifth successive defeat.
Leicester Lions were winners at Cleckheaton earlier in the season as they look to do the double over the Yorkshire side 17-10.
PREDICTION: Lions to win by seven points.
Macclesfield v Darlington
Fifth placed Darlington travel down to Cheshire to take on 11th placed Macclesfield looking to return to winning ways.
Macclesfield have played five times at home this season and only Leicester Lions have left with a win. They drew with Preston and have won their other three home fixtures.
Darlington are looking to avoid a third successive defeat this Saturday having lost against Mowden Park and Blaydon in their last two matches before the break. On the road this season they have played seven times winning just once at Kendal and getting a draw against Leicester Lions 27 all.
Darlington thrashed Macclesfield earlier in the season at Blackwell Meadows 53-18 as they look to do the double over the Cheshire side.
PREDICTION: Macclesfield to take the honours with five point win.
New Brighton v Nuneaton
Leaders Nuneaton travel to second bottom New Brighton looking for the win which could see them go clear at the top of the table with Bradford & Bingley having a tough match at Blaydon.
New Brighton picked up just their second win of the season just before the break when they beat bottom of the table Kendal at Reeds Lane. They have played five times at home this season winning twice as they also beat Hull Ionians early in the campaign
Leaders Nuneaton are looking for a sixth consecutive league win since drawing at Preston earlier in the season. They are still unbeaten with the draw at Hoppers the only blemish on their record. They have played four other matches on the road and won all of them not giving up a bonus point along the way with comfortable wins. .
Nuneaton were given a run for their money by New Brighton earlier in the season with the visitors playing with 14 men for most of the match before going down to a 28-20 defeat.
PREDICTION: Nuneaton to get away win by 14 points.
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