NATIONAL ONE
Bedford Blues v Nottingham
Second placed Bedford Blues entertain seventh placed Newbury looking to maintain their 10 point lead over third placed Cornish Pirates.
Bedford returned to winning ways last week with a 31-9 win over Earth Titans at Clifton Lane. At home they have lost just the once when going down to a 26-20 defeat to table toppers NEC Harlequins.
Nottingham ended a three match losing run last Saturday when beating third placed Cornish Pirates at home 18-16.
On the road they have a poor record with just one win in nine matches when beating Sedgley Park 29-12.
When the sides met at Nottingham earlier in the season the Blues ran out 25-10 winners.
PREDICTION: Bedford Blues to win by 10 at Goldington Road over Nottingham.
Doncaster v Otley
10th placed Otley travel to 13th placed Doncaster for this Yorkshire derby knowing a win could take them 15 points clear of them in the table.
Doncaster are at the wrong end of the Form Guide with six defeats and are six points behind third bottom Pertemps Bees as they look to stay get out of the relegation zone.
They have won five at home and will fancy their chances of making it six out of 10 after putting up a good performance at Plymouth Albion last Saturday before going down to an injury time penalty goal.
Otley saw their two match winning run come to an end at home last Saturday when they were beaten by London Welsh, their fifth home defeat of the season.
On the road have managed three wins but have yet to pick up a four try bonus point or a losing bonus point in their six defeats
When the sides met at Cross Green earlier in the season Otley ran out winners 24-16.
PREDICTION: Got to go with Doncaster to win this all Yorkshire affair by six points. .
Exeter Chiefs v NEC Harlequins
Leaders NEC Harlequins travel to the County Ground to take on sixth placed Exeter Chiefs looking to make it 20 successive wins.
The Chiefs were disappointed to lose last Saturday at the Pertemps Bees after putting together a three match winning run.
At home this season they have lost three of their nine matches losing to West Country rivals Plymouth and Cornish Pirates as well as going down to Otley.
Quins have a 10 out of 10 record on the road and picked up the five try bonus point in half of those matches. Last week with their eight tries they topped the 100 for the season and are averaging over five a match.
When the sides met at the Stoop earlier in the season Quins ran up their biggest score of the season thumping them 70-5.
PREDICTION: Can’t go against a Quins win by 12 at the County Ground.
London Welsh v Sedgley Park
11th placed London Welsh take on bottom of the table Sedgley Park looking to maintain their improved recent form.
The Welsh were winners again last week with an away success at Cross Green against Otley and picked up the four try bonus point as well. They are up in fourth spot in the Form Guide with four wins in their last six matches.
The Welsh have done reasonably well at home with five wins and a draw in 10 matches to date.
Sedgley Park managed a draw last Saturday against Newbury 35 all an picked up a bonus point as well as the two points for a draw, they are four points behind second bottom Doncaster and 10 points from third bottom Pertemps Bees.
On the road this season they have managed just the one win in 10 matches very early in the season at Coventry.
Sedgley Park were narrow winners in a high scoring match 32-28 when the sides met earlier in the season at Park Lane. .
PREDICTION: London Welsh to triumph at Old Deer Park by 10 over Sedgley Park.
Plymouth Albion v Coventry
Fourth placed Plymouth Albion entertain eighth placed Coventry looking to make it back to back wins.
Plymouth Albion were narrow and late winners last Saturday against struggling Doncaster picking up their seventh win at Brickfields this season in 10 league matches.
They are third in the Form Guide with four wins in their last six matches but are still 12 points behind third placed Cornish Pirates.
Coventry were beaten at Harlequins last Saturday which saw their three match winning run come to an end and saw them drop a place in the table with Nottingham surprise winners over the Cornish Pirates.
On the road this season Coventry have picked up three wins and seven bonus points, only Bedford with eight have picked up more, and have the fifth best away record in the division.
When the sides met at the Butts Arena earlier in the season Plymouth Albion left with the win in a low scoring match 13-7.
PREDICTION: Albion to beat Coventry at Brickfields by nine points. |
