Check out our weekly previews and predictions ahead of the weekend action.
NATIONAL TWO
Blackheath v Manchester
12th placed Blackheath are at home this Saturday to 8th placed Manchester looking to end a poor recent run.
Blackheath have lost their last three matches and dropped into the bottom three last week after their loss at Launceston and with Halifax winning. At the Rectory Field they have won three of their seven matches this season.
Manchester ended a two match losing run last Saturday with a home success over Stourbridge. On the road this season they have a poor record with just two wins in seven matches with victories over Orrell and Stourbridge but have yet to pick up an away bonus point a record they share with Stourbridge. In fact Manchester with two have picked up the fewest bonus points in the division.
When the sides met at Grove Prk early in the season Manchester came out on top in a low scoring match 10-3
PREDICTION: Fourth home win of the season for Blackheath by six points.
Esher v Halifax
Third placed Esher take on 11th placed Halifax knowing they need to pick up all five points in their battle to catch the top two.
Esher made it two in a row last Saturday with an away success at Orrell and with Waterloo losing at Moseley are just four points behind the leaders with a game in hand. At home this season they are unbeaten with six straight wins, although they have only picked up the four try bonus point in three of those wins.
Halifax moved out of the bottom three last Saturday with their win over Wharfedale in a Yorkshire derby and have now won three of their last five matches.
On the road they have managed a win and a draw in their seven away trips winning at Harrogate and getting a draw at Wharfedale.
Esher were 20-0 winner at Halifax when the sides met for the first time ever in league rugby earlier in the season.
PREDICTION: Esher by 10 points despite Halifax’s improved form of late.
Harrogate v Orrell
Battle of the bottom two, as second bottom Harrogate take on bottom of the table Orrell at Claro Road knowing if they lose they will return to the bottom of the table.
Harrogate finally got their first win of the season last Saturday at the 16th attempt and moved off the bottom of the table in the process. At Claro Road this season they are still to win suffering eight successive defeats but picking up six bonus points along the way.
Orrell are bottom of the Form Guide with no wins in their last six matches. On their travels this season they have lost all six league matches and picked up just one bonus point, when they were narrow losers at Redruth. They are easily the lowest scorers in the division and have the second worst defensive record.
Orrell were narrow winners at Edge Hall Road earlier in the season winning 32-29 with the visitors picking up two bonus points.
PREDICTION: Harrogate to make it back to back wins with nine point win over Orrell.
Redruth v Henley Hawks
Seventh placed Redruth are at home to ninth placed Henley Hawks looking for a win to challenge the two sides above them in the table.
Despite losing last Saturday Redruth are fourth in the Form Guide with four wins in their last six matches and a win here could see them move up to fifth with the two sides immediately above them in the league table facing tough fixtures this weekend.
At home this season they have an excellent record with only second placed Moseley leaving with a win after a 25-19 victory.
The Hawks slipped to a fourth consecutive defeat last Saturday to the previously winless Harrogate and are joint second bottom of the Form Guide with just one win in their last six matches. On the road this season they have managed two victories with successes at the bottom two, Harrogate and Orrell.
Henley Hawks were winners when the sides met earlier in the season at Dry Leas coming through 16-10 winners in a close match.
PREDICTION: Redruth to keep up good home form with 10 point victory.
Stourbridge v Barking
Out of form Stourbridge, down in 10th spot, entertain fourth placed Barking looking for something to turn their season round at home.
Stourbridge are looking to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat and if they were to lose could drop to fourth bottom. They are at the wrong end of the Form Guide with just one win in their last six matches. At Stourton this season they have managed just the one win beating bottom of the table Orrell 37-9.
Barking are on of the form sides in the division and are looking to make it five wins in a row on Saturday as they consolidate fourth place in the league table, they are six points clear of fifth placed Launceston but 13 points behind third placed Esher.
On the road this season they have managed to pick up four wins in seven matches.
Stourbridge were winners at Barking earlier in the season when the sides met for the first time ever in a league match in a closely fought match14-9.
PREDICTION: Barking to maintain fourth spot with eight point win at Stourbridge.
Waterloo v Launceston
Leaders Waterloo will be keen to get back to winning ways this Saturday as they take on an in form Launceston side at Blundellsands.
Waterloo saw their four match winning run come to an end last Saturday as they lost to second placed Moseley. At home this season they have won five out of seven losing to Moseley and drawing with Esher.
Launceston are second in the Form Guide and are looking for a fifth consecutive league win as they look to close the gap on fourth placed Barking. On the road this season they have a good record with three wins and a draw in their seven matches to date.
When the sides met earlier in the season Waterloo were away winners coming through 18-12 although the home side did manage a losing bonus point.
PREDICTION: Waterloo to win by six because they have too with Moseley and Esher breathing down their necks with a game in hand.
Wharfedale v Moseley
Second placed Moseley travel to face sixth placed Wharfedale at Threshfields
Wharfedale saw their four match winning run come to an end last Saturday losing a Yorkshire derby 16-9 to Halifax.
At Threshfields this season they have lost just once but have drawn three and won three of the other six matches.
Great win for Moseley last Saturday when they beat leaders Waterloo at home. They top the Form Guide with five wins in their last six matches and a win at Wharfedale will make it five in a row.
On the road this season they have only played six matches winning four and coming unstuck twice at Esher and Launceston.
Moseley were comfortable winners when the sides met earlier in the season winning 39-3 and picking up all five points on offer.
PREDICTION: Got to go with Moseley by five points as they look to keep the pressure on leaders Waterloo.
|
