NATIONAL TWO
Barking v Henley Hawks
Fourth placed Barking take on 9th placed Henley Hawks who are in need of some wins to move up the table and away from the relegation zone.
Barking are in good form and unbeaten in their last five, they drew last time out at Stourbridge but prior to that had won four in a row to hold of Launceston who have narrowed the gap on them in the table to just a point.
In nine matches at home this season in the league they have picked up six wins losing just three times to date against Stourbridge, Waterloo and Wharfedale.
The Hawks are at the wrong end of the Form Guide, no wins in their last six matches, which explains why they have been dragged into the relegation battle.
On the road they managed two pick up two wins in eight matches with success at the bottom two Orrell and Harrogate.
When the sides met at Dry Leas earlier in the season Barking were narrow 14-13 winners.
PREDICTION: Barking to win by eight points.
Halifax v Harrogate
The big match at the wrong end of the table sees third bottom Halifax entertain second bottom Harrogate with both sides knowing a win will get them close to the three sides immediately above them in the table.
Halifax sit half way up the Form Guide with three wins in their last six matches. At home they have now managed four wins in their eight matches need to win their home games in the run in till the end of the season. After this match they still have to play Henley, Orrell and Manchester along with leaders Moseley.
Harrogate can all of a sudden see some light at the end of the tunnel with back to back victories and they know a win here would be a huge boost and leave them within striking distance of the other teams down in the bottom six.
On the road they have managed just one win in eight when they were one point winners at Henley Hawks in their last on the road trip a few weeks back when they registered their first win of the season after 15 successive defeats.
When the sides met at Claro Road earlier in the season Halifax came away with the narrowest of wins in a low scoring match, 8-7.
PREDICTION: Tough call in this important match but will go with home advantage, Halifax by four points.
Launceston v Wharfedale
Fifth placed Launceston take on eighth placed Wharfedale looking to keep the pressure on Barking who they trail by just a point after their win at Henley Hawks last Saturday.
Launceston are one of the form sides in the league with five wins in their last six matches which is on par with Moseley and Esher. In eight matches at Polson Bridge this season they have six win with just Esher and Waterloo leaving with victories.
Wharfedale after a three match winning run have slipped to successive defeats and will be hard pressed to avoid a third. On the road this season they have three wins and a draw from their nine matches. The wins have come at Barking, Blackheath and Henley Hawks whilst they managed a 28 all draw at Manchester.
When the sides met at Threshfields earlier in the season the game ended in a 22 all draw.
PREDICTION: Launceston to continue good form with eight point win.
Manchester v Waterloo
Third placed Waterloo travel to seventh placed Manchester knowing a win will put them back into a top two spot with the top two meeting at Moseley.
Manchester will be buoyed after a win last Saturday n the road all the way down in Redruth who have a good home record and leading the way was Jonathan Lowden with a hat trick of tries. At home this season Manchester have played eight times already and an excellent record with six wins and a draw, only Barking have left with a win all season. After this they still have to play the top two at Grove Park.
Waterloo will know a win here is important as well as picking up a bonus point as it looks like it will go all the way for the top two positions in the drive for promotion. On the road they have won seven out of nine with a defeat at Moseley and a draw at Wharfedale blotting their copybook.
At Blundellsands earlier in the season Waterloo ran out 35-12 winners and took all five points on offer.
PREDICTION: Waterloo to win by 10 points as they look to pick up maximum points and get back on terms with the top two.
Moseley v Esher
The match of the day sees the top two meeting at Moseley who entertain Esher with Waterloo looking to move into the top two again by the end of the afternoon.
Moseley have won their last five and know this is a must win match as the top three battle it out for the two promotion spots.
They are unbeaten at home winning all nine matches and in five of those they have passed the 30 point mark.
Esher after suffering back to backs wins have recovered well and put together a four match winning run and after their home win last Saturday moved back into the top two. In nine matches on the road this season they have won six, they were beaten at Barking and Redruth and drew 16 all at Waterloo.
Esher were winners at home when the sides met earlier in the season in a closely fought match coming out on top 26-22.
PREDICTION: Tough call but will go with Esher to do the double over Moseley but only just by three points.
Orrell v Redruth
Sixth placed Redruth, travel to bottom of the table Orrell, looking to put pressure on the two sides just above them in the league table, Launceston and Barking.
Orrell find themselves 13 points from safety and relegation to National Three North looks odds on unless they have a dramatic turnaround in form. At home they have managed to pick up three wins with successes over Barking, Harrogate and Wharfedale.
Redruth have won three of their last six and sit mid way in the Form Guide. In eight matches on the road this season they have picked up just two wins at Harrogate and Stourbridge. They have lost eight times in the league and picked up losing bonus points in five of those matches.
Orrell turned in their best away performance at Redruth earlier in the season going down to a narrow 13-10 away win for their only bonus point on the road this season.
PREDICTION: Redruth to improve away form with nine point win at Edge Hall Road.
Stourbridge v Blackheath
Huge match for both sides with 10th placed Stourbridge playing host to 11th placed Blackheath with both clubs to near the relegation zone for comfort.
In theory Stourbridge could drop into the bottom three if they were to lose here and Halifax were to win at home to Harrogate. They have a poor home record this season and have managed one win and a draw in eight matches, the win was against Orrell and the draw against Barking last time out.
With just one win in their last five matches Blackheath need to find some form over the next few weeks. They could drop back into the bottom three if they lose and Halifax beat Harrogate.
On the road they have a poor record losing eight in a row since winning at Orrell in their first away match of the season.
When the sides met earlier in the season, Stourbridge left the Rectory Field with a 23-20 away win.
PREDICTION: Blackheath to sneak it by four points. |
