Check out our weekly previews and predictions ahead of the weekend action.
NATIONAL ONE
Bedford Blues v London Welsh
Second placed Bedford Blues entertain 12th placed London Welsh at Goldington Road looking to maintain their long winning run
The Blues have now won six in a row since losing 26-20 to Harlequins back in early December. That defeat is their only home defeat of the season as they have won the other seven matches picking up the four try bonus point in five of them.
The Welsh after back to back wins slipped up at Pertemps Bees last Saturday if a match they went into with some confidence. On the road this season they have a poor record and have yet to pick up a victory in seven matches managing just four bonus points along the way, two for losing by seven or less and two for scoring four tries or more.
At Old Deer Park earlier in the season the Blues triumphed 40-24.
PREDICTION: Blues to maintain second spot with 15 point win.
Pertemps Bees v Sedgley Park
Big game for both sides as bottom of the table Sedgley Park travel to second bottom Pertemps Bees knowing a win could move them of the bottom of the table whilst for the Bees a win would see them move clear of Park and possibly above the Welsh, out of the bottom two.
The Bees got an important win last week over the Welsh otherwise they could have found themselves joint bottom with Sedgley Park. At Sharmans Cross this season they have three wins and a draw from their seven matches and scored four tries just the once.
Park were disappointed not to build on a 26-3 lead over Bedford Blues last Saturday before getting over run in the second half to go down 45-29.
On the road this season they have managed just the one win when beating Coventry early in the season by a single point 27-26.
When these two sides met at Park Lane earlier in the season it ended a high scoring draw, 33 all.
PREDICTION: Bees to triumph by eight points at Sharmans Cross.
Coventry v Doncaster
Ninth placed Coventry are at home this Saturday to 12th placed Doncaster at the Butts Arena.
Coventry picked up an excellent away win last Saturday at Otley which ended a five match losing run.
At home this season they have a poor record with just two wins in eight matches beating London Welsh and Otley.
Doncaster were beaten at Exeter Chiefs last Saturday as they have another away fixture this week. On the road this season they have a poor record with just one draw and seven defeats from their eight road trips, the draw was 27 all at London Welsh.
The Dons are looking to end a three match losing run and if they are to get that first away win of the season this could be the place.
Doncaster were narrow 31-29 winners when the sides met earlier in the season for the first time ever in league rugby.
PREDICTION: Coventry to build on last weeks win with 10 point win over Doncaster.
NEC Harlequins v Nottingham
Leaders NEC Harlequins are going for a 7th consecutive league win as they entertain seventh placed Nottingham at the Stoop.
Quins have won all seven at home and picked up the four try bonus point each time. They have failed to reach 40 points just once at home when Doncaster held them to 27-7.
Nottingham are fifth in the Form Guide with three successive win and four wins in their last five and have climbed into the top half of the National One table.
On the road this season they have managed just the one win from six matches a 29-12 win at Sedgley Park early in the season.
Quins ran out 32-10 winners when the sides met earlier in the season in Nottingham.
PREDICTION: Quins to maintain 100% record with 25 point win.
Otley v Newbury
Two sides at the wrong end of the Form Guide meet at Cross Green as 10th placed Otley entertain eighth placed Newbury.
Otley have lost their last four and were beaten at home last Saturday by Coventry in a tight match. Overall at home this season they have managed three win and a draw from their eight matches and suffering four defeats.
Newbury have lost their last three and slipped of the pace of late and will see this as a chance to get back to winning ways with both sides searching for some form.
On the road this season they have managed a win and a draw form their seven matches, the win was at Plymouth Albion and they got a draw against the Pertemps Bees.
Newbury were 42-27 winners when the sides met at Monks Lane earlier in the season.
PREDICTION: Two sides out of sorts at present will go with a home win by three points but could go either way.
Plymouth Albion v Earth Titans
Fifth placed Plymouth Albion are at home to Earth Titans who moved above them last Saturday into fourth spot.
Albion were beaten at Nottingham last Saturday after leading 10-0 at the break to make it three defeats in their last five matches. At Brickfields this season they have won five out of eight losing to Quins, Cornish Pirates and Newbury.
The Titans moved above Albion after a great home win over second placed Cornish Pirates and are above Albion on most wins with them both locked on 47 points.
On the road this season they have picked up three wins in seven matches and after last weeks result might well fancy making it win number four.
The Titans were narrow 35-30 winners at Clifton Lane in a high scoring mach earlier in the season.
PREDICTION: Should be a home win by eight points but after last weeks results not to sure!!
Cornish Pirates v Exeter Chiefs
Third placed Cornish Pirates entertain sixth placed Exeter Chiefs looking to maintain the pressure on second placed Bedford Blues in the battle for runners up spot.
The Pirates were well beaten last Saturday by the Earth Titans and will be keen to get back to winning ways as quickly as possible. At home this season they are unbeaten winning all seven matches and picking up the four try bonus point in six of them, only Coventry stopping them from making it a full house.
The Chiefs were comfortable home winners last Saturday against Doncaster taking all five points as they ended a four match losing run which saw them part company with Director of Rugby Ian Bremner.
On the road this season they have managed just two wins in eight matches with wins at Coventry and Doncaster.
The Cornish Pirates were comfortable winners at the County Ground when the sides met earlier in the season 43-16, the Chiefs worst ever home defeat in league rugby.
PREDICTION: Pirates to return to winning ways with eight point win over Chiefs. |
