NATIONAL THREE NORTH
Fylde v Blaydon
Third placed Blaydon travel to eighth placed Fylde looking to avoid going the way of second placed Bradford & Bingley a few weeks back at Woodlands when Fylde turned them over.
Fylde are looking for a fourth consecutive win in the league as they move well away from the relegation zone. In nine matches at Woodlands this season they have shown good form with seven wins and only Nuneaton and Tynedale leaving with victories.
They could move into the top half of the table for the first time this season if they were to win and Hull Ionians slipped up against Darlington.
Blaydon are up into third spot now and won four in a row since suffering back to back defeats although they remain seven points behind second placed Bradford & Bingley.
On the road this season they have slipped up in matches they would be expecting to win if heir promotion aspirations were serious, losing at Hull Ionians and Preston Grasshoppers.
At Crow Trees earlier in the season Blaydon ran out 27-13 winners.
PREDICTION: Blaydon to sneak it by four points.
Hull Ionians v Darlington
Seventh placed Hull Ionians look to continue their good recent form against the side immediately above them on the table Darlington, who they trail by five points. .
Ionians are one of the form sides in the division with just one defeat in their last six matches as they look to try and catch Darlington.
At home this season they have played eight matches and won six of them with only the top two, Bradford & Bingley and Nuneaton leaving with victories.
Darlington have slipped down the Form Guide and managed just two wins in their last six matches.
In nine matches on the road they have wins at Kendal and New Brighton and a draw at Leicester Lions with the other six matches ending in defeat.
When the sides met at Blackwell Meadows earlier in the season Hull gave Darlington a game before going down to a 29-23 defeat.
PREDICTION: Ionians to win by seven points.
Kendal v Bradford & Bingley
Bottom of the table Kendal entertain promotion chasing Bradford & Bingley still awaiting their first point of the season.
After 16 straight losses, don’t expect anything to change this week with the Bees on a mission at Mint Bridge to keep the pressure on leaders, Nuneaton.
Kendal have played already played eight time at home this season and their best result was losing by eight to Tynedale early in the season.
Bradford & Bingley are looking for a third straight win since they were beaten at Fylde a few weeks back. They are a point behind leaders Nuneaton but have played a game more. They have played nine times on the road this season and slipping up a Fylde and Macclesfield whilst having good wins at Blaydon and Preston.
At Wagon Lane earlier in the season the Bees were comfortable winners over Kendal 59-12.
PREDICTION: Bradford & Bingley to win by 15 points.
Leicester Lions v Darlington Mowden Park
12th placed Darlington Mowden Park travel to 9th placed Leicester Lions with both sides needing the points in the battle to avoid the drop.
Leicester Lions have slipped down the table in recent weeks with a dreadful run of five successive defeats after spending most of the first half of the season in the top half of the table.
At home the Lions have played nine matches and won just three, drawn one and lost five.
Darlington Mowden Park have also lost their last five matches and now find themselves in a relegation place after last Saturdays results.
On the road they have won twice in seven matches with victories at Darlington and Tynedale.
What DMP would give for the same result when the sides met at Mowden Park earlier in the summer when they were comfortable 36-10 winners.
PREDICTION: Lions to win by seven points at Westleigh Park.
Macclesfield v Cleckheaton
Huge game with both these two sides locked on 29 points as the battle to avoid that third relegation spot hots up, as 10th placed Cleckheaton travel to 11th placed Macclesfield. .
Macclesfield need to try and find some form after suffering their fourth straight defeat last Saturday in the home match against Blaydon 19-13. They are now just two points off the relegation zone
In eight matches at home this season Macclesfield have won four matches drawn one and lost three.
Cleckheaton have moved out of the relegation zone on the back of three wins in their last five matches. On the road this season in seven matches they have picked up three wins Darlington MP, Kendal and Leicester Lions.
When the sides met at Moorend earlier in the season the Yorkshire side were 10-0 winners in a low scoring match.
PREDICTION: Tough call but will go Cleckheaton by three but could go either way.
New Brighton v Tynedale
Second bottom New Brighton entertain fifth placed Tynedale looking to break their losing run.
New Brighton are looking to avoid a sixth consecutive defeat with a win on Saturday at home where they have managed two wins in eight matches with victories over Kendal and Hull Ionians.
Tynedale are on a good run looking for a fifth successive win as they look to challenge Preston Grasshoppers for fourth spot.
On the road this season they have played nine times already and winning five and losing four.
Tynedale thumped New Brighton 61-5 when the sides met at Tynedale earlier in the season.
PREDICTION: Away for Tynedale by 12 points.
Nuneaton v Preston Grasshoppers
Leaders Nuneaton entertain fourth placed Preston Grasshoppers, the only side to stop them from winning this season in the league.
Leaders Nuneaton are defending their unbeaten start to the season against the side which has come closest to beating them, Preston. At home this season they are 100% with eight wins out of eight.
Hoppers are going for a fourth consecutive league win and fifth in six matches as they look to keep pace with the top three in the league table.
On the road they have played nine matches they have picked up four wins and two draws whilst going down to three defeats at Fylde, Hull Ionians and Tynedale.
When the sides met a Lightfoot Green earlier in the season the match ended all square at 13 all.
PREDICTION: Tough game for Nuneaton but will go for six point win. |
