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Terrace Talk - National Three South

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

NATIONAL THREE SOUTH

 

Bracknell v North Walsham

 

Bottom of the table Bracknell take on second placed North Walsham looking for just their second win of the season.

 

Bracknell are bottom of the Form Guide and are the only side without a win in their last six matches in the division. They have managed just the one win all season, a home success over Havant early in the season. They have lost 14 in a row since that defeat picking up just three bonus points along the way.

 

North Walsham are looking to repair their away form which has cost them dear so far this season slipping to four defeat in seven road trips which has seen the drop five points behind leaders Cambridge in the table.      

 

North Walsham thrashed Bracknell when they met at Scottow earlier in the season 72-13 the highest score in the division so far this season.

 

PREDICTION: North Walsham to get back to winning ways on the road with 14 point win.      

 

 

Bridgwater & Albion v Old Patesians

 

Eighth placed Bridgwater & Albion take on second bottom Old Patesians knowing a win could see them just up to fourth spot in the table.   

 

Albion after a three match winning run to climb to third have lost their last two and slipped down the table. At home this season they have an average record with three wins and three defeats in their six matches, although two of the defeats have been against the sides currently second and third in the table, North Walsham and Lydney.  

 

Old Patesians are second bottom and 12 points from safety but the leagues looking like they may be reorganised they could well get off this season. On the road this season they have managed two wins with successes at Bracknell and Cinderford.  

 

When the sides met at Everest Road earlier in the season Bridgwater & Albion won a high scoring match 37-24.

 

PREDICTION: B&A to win at home by 15 points.       

 

 

Cinderford v Rosslyn Park

 

Fifth placed Rosslyn Park travel to 11th placed Cinderford knowing a defeat could see them drop down the table as only four points separate six sides.

 

Cinderford saw a three match losing run end last Saturday as they ran out convincing 51-26 winners at Reading, their fourth away win of the season and have the third best record in the division.

At home this season they have managed just three wins and only the bottom two have a worse record.  

 

Park picked up an excellent home win over Southend last Saturday in a low scoring closely fought match. On the road they have managed just three wins in eight matches and need to improve if they are going to come out of the pack and finish third. They do though need to improve their try scoring strike rate they have managed just two four try bonus points all season and only bottom of the table Bracknell have a worse record.

 

Rosslyn Park thumped Cinderford when the sides met earlier in the season 51-8.    

 

PREDICTION: Tough call but will go Cinderford by six points.       

 

 

Dings Crusaders v Lydney

 

Third placed Lydney travel to 10th placed Dings Crusaders looking to consolidate their league position. 

 

Dings Crusaders were losers last week at Hertford in a high scoring match and will be gutted to score six tries away from home and lose and they also just missed out one a second bonus point when a late conversion was missed.

They are at the wrong end of the Form Guide with just two wins in their last six matches. At home this season they have one of the best records in the division with six wins and a draw in their eight matches and the one loss coming early in the season to leaders Cambridge 20-18.

 

Lydney were home winners over Bracknell last Saturday and with Southend coming unstuck at Roslyn Park moved into third spot in the table.

In the Form Guide they are second with three consecutive wins and are unbeaten in their last five.

They could do with improving their away record which shows just two wins in seven matches although they have also managed a draw as well.

 

When these two sides met at Regentsholme earlier in the season it was a low scoring affair with Lydney just edging it 14-9.

 

PREDICTION: Another tough call but will go with Dings Crusaders by five points.       

 

 

Havant v Hertford

 

Ninth placed Havant entertain seventh placed Hertford at Hooks Lane this Saturday looking to return to winning ways.   

 

Havant have lost their last two and managed just one win in their last six but are still just five points of fourth place. At home this season they have a good record with six wins in eight matches losing to the South West pair Bridgwater and Cinderford.   

 

Hertford have won their last two and three of their last four to start moving up the league table again. They have now signed Mark Mapletoft whose kicking in the last two weeks has been instrumental in their victories. On the road they have a good record with four wins in six matches.  

 

Havant are going for the double over Hertford having won 27-21 at Hertford earlier in the season.

 

PREDICTION:  Havant to sneak it but not sure about the Mapletoft factor yet.       

 

 

Southend v Cambridge

 

Leaders Cambridge travel to Southend looking to maintain their five point lead at the top of the National Three South league table. . 

 

Southend were losers last Saturday at Rosslyn Park in a low scoring affair going down 13-10 and slipped a place in the table. At home this season they are unbeaten with five wins and a draw from their six matches. The draw was against Lydney 8 all. They have passed the 40 point mark in three of the matches and three times given up losing bonus points to the opposition.   

 

Cambridge top the Form Guide with six consecutive wins since their defeat at North Walsham.

On the road they have won five out of seven and apart from the North Walsham loss also lost at Havant. They are the top scorers in the division but three teams have better defensive records than them.   

 

Cambridge go to Southend looking to do the double over them having won 12-3 at home earlier in the season in a try less match.

 

PREDICTION: Cambridge seem unstoppable at present and to win by 10 points.       

 

Westcombe Park v Reading

 

Sixth placed Westcombe Park are at home to 12th placed Reading at Goddington Dene on Saturday looking to maintain their excellent recent form.

 

Combe have risen up the table in recent weeks with four wins in their last six matches and a win over Reading would make it three in a row. At home this season they have an excellent record with six wins from seven matches and only Rosslyn Park leaving with a victory 19-12.  

 

Reading are looking to avoid a fourth straight defeat on Saturday but have no form away from home. They have lost all eight matches on the road this season picking up just three bonus points along the way, one for losing by seven or less and two for scoring four tries or more.  

 

Combe are looking to do the double over Reading having already won 28-21 at Holme Park earlier in the season, the first side to defeat them at home this season.   

 

PREDICTION: Combe in good form at present and to win again at home by 12 points.      

 

 

 

 
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