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NATIONAL THREE NORTH
Bradford & Bingley v Darlington Mowden Park
Second placed Bradford & Bingley entertain 11th placed Darlington Mowden Park looking for maximum points as the chase leaders Nuneaton in the battle for the National Three North title.
Second placed Bradford & Bingley are top of the Form Guide with Nuneaton with both sides winning their last six matches. At Wagon Lane this season they are unbeaten winning all five matches to date.
Darlington Mowden Park are mid way in the Form Guide but have only managed one win in their last four as their form had dipped. On the road they have played just four matches so far this season picking up two wins at local rivals Darlington and Tynedale.
The Bees did not have it all their own way in the fixture earlier in the season but came through 25-18 winners in the end.
PREDICTION: Bees to win by 12 points to keep the pressure on Nuneaton.
Cleckheaton v Blaydon
Fourth placed Blaydon travel to 12th placed Cleckheaton looking to pick their season up after suffering a narrow home defeat last Saturday to Bradford & Bingley which left them 11 points of the pace of second spot.
Cleckheaton picked up a valuable and much need win last Saturday away at Leicester Lions by the slenderest of margins, 26-25 but still find themselves 10 points adrift of the next sides above them in the table. It was an excellent win and proved me wrong.
At home this season they have already played seven times winning three times against Darlington, Macclesfield and New Brighton.
Blaydon really had to win last week in an effort to catch the top two and it will be interesting to see how they respond, so Cleckheaton beware!!.
On the road this season they have played just five times and have lost three of those to Bradford & Bingley, Hull Ionians and Preston Grasshoppers.
When the sides met earlier in the season at Crow Trees Blaydon thrashed Cleckheaton 74-10 the highest score in the division this season.
PREDICTION: Blaydon to bounce back from last week’s home defeat with 10 point away win.
Darlington v Kendal
Bottom of the table Kendal travel to sixth placed Darlington still looking for that first illusive point of the season.
Darlington were narrow winners last Saturday at Macclesfield and have now lost three in a row and four of their last five.
In their six matches at Blackwell Meadows this season they have an excellent record with five wins, only local rival DMP have left with a win this season.
With Darlington’s form slipping of late can Kendal finally pick up a point or even a win! The Cumbrian side have lost all 12 matches so far this season and not managed a single bonus point either. They have lost all five on the road this season conceding over 40 points in four of those defeats.
When the sides met at Mint Bridge earlier in the season the home side were well beaten with Darlington running out comfortable winners 46-16.
PREDICTION: Darlington to win at Blackwell Meadows by 10 points.
Hull Ionians v New Brighton
7th laced Hull Ionians will be looking to continue their excellent recent form with the visit to of second bottom New Brighton.
Ionians are third in the Form Guide with five consecutive wins and climbed into the top half of the table last Saturday after their win at Kendal. At home this season they have played six matches winning four of them with excellent wins over top four sides Blaydon and Preston Grasshoppers.
New Brighton were beaten again last Saturday by leaders Nuneaton after leading 10-3 at the break. They are at the wrong end of the Form Guide with just one win in their last six matches. Away form home they have not managed a win yet losing all six matches and picking up just one bonus point along the way at Darlington.
New Brighton were winners when the two sides met at Reeds Lane earlier in the season when both sides were struggling to find any form.
PREDICTION: Ionians to continue good recent run with nine point win.
Nuneaton v Leicester Lions
Leaders Nuneaton are at home this Saturday to eighth placed Leicester Lions.
Leaders Nuneaton are two points clear at the top of the table after picking up all five points on offer last Saturday at New Brighton but had to come back from a 10-3 deficit at the break. At home this season they are unbeaten with five wins.
Leicester Lions are at the wrong end of the Form Guide lying in 12th spot with just one win in their last six matches. On the road this season they have a reasonable record with three wins and three defeats form their six matches.
When the sides met for the first time ever in league rugby earlier in the season Nuneaton ran out 29-9 winners.
PREDICTION: Leaders to march on with 11 point win at Liberty Way.
Preston Grasshoppers v Macclesfield
Third placed Hoppers play host to 10th placed Macclesfield looking to bounce back from last Saturdays disappointing result.
Hoppers were beaten at Fylde last Saturday 12-3 in a match they would have expect to win if they were to keep pace with the top two. With just two wins in their last five matches they have fell off the pace and find themselves seven points behind second placed Bradford & Bingley but having played two more matches.
Macclesfield got another much needed win last Saturday with a narrow home win over Darlington and have now won three of their last four league matches. On the road this season they have managed just the one win in six games when they were 40-3 winners over bottom of the table Kendal.
When these two sides met earlier in the season they were involved in a cracking match which ended as a 36 all draw.
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PREDICTION: Hoppers to return to winning ways after loss at Fylde last week with six point win.
Tynedale v Fylde
Fifth placed Tynedale are at home to ninth placed Fylde this Saturday looking to keep the pressure on fourth placed Blaydon.
Tynedale were winners in a North East derby last week winning a low scoring match at Mowden Park. In the Form Guide they are fifth and have won four of their last five matches. At home this season they have played just five matches winning four of them. The only side to leave with a win was Darlington Mowden Park early in the season.
Fylde will be buoyed by their excellent win last Saturday in their big game of the season against Lancashire rival Preston Grasshoppers and they stopped them crossing the home line in a match in which all the points came from the boot including three second half drop goals form Mike Scott. .
On the road this season they have played just five times and lost four of them the only win was 27-8 at New Brighton.
Tynedale recorded an excellent away win at Woodlands earlier in the season with an emphatic 46-10 victory.
PREDICTION: Tynedale to maintain good home form with eight point win. |
