NATIONAL TWO
Blackheath v Barking
10th placed Blackheath entertain fifth placed Barking looking to build on last weeks win and move away from the relegation zone.
Blackheath picked up an excellent and much needed away last Saturday at Stourbridge and a home win this week could see them move even further away from the relegation zone with Halifax and Stourbridge facing tough away matches.
At home this season they have managed to pick up four wins in eight matches.
Barking were beaten last Saturday at home and lost fourth spot in the table to Launceston. On the road this season they have a reasonable record with four wins and a draw in their eight matches.
When the side met earlier in the season Barking were comfortable 27-8 winners. They have a good record at the Rectory Field having already left with wins in two of the four encounters between the two sides.
PREDICTION: Blackheath two win again is their bid to climb the table by five points.
Esher v Launceston
Esher, who dropped to third in the table last Saturday, entertain fourth placed Launceston knowing they need to get back to winning ways immediately.
Esher need to win to stay in touch with the top as after their defeat at Moseley last Saturday they have slipped to third spot three points behind second placed Waterloo, who have yet to travel to Esher.
At home they have won all eight matches this season scoring over 30 points in six of those matches.
Launceston moved into fourth spot last Saturday after their late narrow win over Wharfedale and are two points clear of fifth placed Barking. They are on e of the form sides in the division and could on a good day spring a shock at Esher. They are one of the few sides in the division to have scored more tries away from home than at home, 24 too 22. In the Form Guide they are right up there with five wins in their last six matches.
When the sides met at Polson Bridge earlier in the season Esher ran out easy winners 35-10.
PREDICTION: No pushover but Esher need to win so will go home win seven points.
Harrogate v Moseley
Second bottom Harrogate have a tough task this week as leaders Moseley come to Claro Road looking to maintain top spot.
Second bottom Harrogate need to pick up some wins to try and close the eight point gap between them and the two sides above them in the league table. After back to back wins they were disappointed at the way they were well beaten by Halifax last Saturday in a match that if they had managed to win would have seen they go above their Yorkshire rivals in the table.
At Claro Road they have still managed just the one win whilst going down to eight defeats.
Leaders Moseley are four points clear at the top of the table after their win over Esher last Saturday and will be looking for all five points to keep ahead of the chasers in the title race.
On the road this season they have picked up six wins in eight matches coming unstuck at Esher and Launceston.
When the sides met earlier in the season Moseley were 35-19 winners.
PREDICTION: Moseley to win by 12 at Claro Road.
Henley v Orrell
Ninth placed Henley Hawks know a win here would be a great boost for their survival chances as they entertain bottom of the table Orrell at Dry Leas.
Henley Hawks will be looking for back to back wins as they look to distance themselves from the relegation battle and build on last Saturday’s excellent away win at fourth placed Barking.
Orrell are now seven points adrift at the bottom and 15 points from safety and sit bottom of the Form Guide and are the only side in the division without a win in their last six matches.
On the road they have lost all seven matches picking up just the one bonus point.
The Hawks are going for the double over Orrell having already won at Edge Hall Road earlier in the season 20-12.
PREDICTION: Hawks to beat Orrell by 10 points at Dry Leas.
Redruth v Halifax
Sixth placed Redruth, play host to Halifax, who are up to 11th in the table after their win last week at home to Harrogate.
Redruth have lost two of their last three fixtures and are now six points off fifth place in the table. At home this season they have an excellent record with seven wins and just two defeats at the hands of Manchester and Moseley.
Halifax picked up an important win last Saturday at home to Harrogate taking all five points on offer to move eight points clear of their Yorkshire rivals and join Stourbridge on 30 points.
On the road this season though they have a poor record with just a win and a draw from their eight matches, they were winners at Harrogate and got a draw at Wharfedale.
When the sides met for the first ever in a league match earlier in the season Halifax ran out 26-8 winners.
PREDICTION: Redruth to maintain excellent home record with 10 point win.
Waterloo v Stourbridge
Second placed Waterloo take on Stourbridge who dropped into the bottom three for the first time this season last Saturday whilst Waterloo returned to the top two.
Waterloo are looking for third successive win as they look to maintain their excellent home record at Blundellsands this season, only Moseley , with a win, and Esher, with a draw, have stopped them winning at home this season.
Stourbridge are going through a dreadful run and now find themselves in the relegation battle with just a win and a draw in their last six matches.
On the road they have done well this season five wins in nine matches but that was before their dramatic slide down the table.
When the sides met at Stourton earlier in the season Waterloo were comfortable winners coming through 43-3.
PREDICTION: Waterloo to win by 10 points.
Wharfedale v Manchester
Seventh placed Wharfedale entertain eighth placed Manchester at Threshfields knowing that a Manchester win would see them move above the Yorkshire side in the league table.
Wharfedale are looking to end a three match losing run and their slide down the table. At Threshfields this season they have three wins and three draws along with defeats against Moseley and Stourbridge.
Manchester are at the wrong end of the Form Guide with two wins in their last six matches but will know a win could see them move back into the top half of the league table again.
On the road this season they have picked up three wins in nine matches with wins at Orrell, Redruth and Stourbridge.
This match ended as a 28 all draw when the sides met at Manchester earlier in the season.
PREDICTION: Wharfedale to beat Manchester at Threshfields by eight points. |
