Darlington v Preston Grasshoppers
Sixth placed Darlington are at home this Saturday to fourth placed Preston Grasshoppers looking to close the five point lead they have over them in the National Three North League table.
Darlington are looking to make it three on the bounce and have won four of their last six league matches. At Blackwell Meadows this season they have won seven out of nine with only Nuneaton and local rival Mowden Park leaving with victories.
Hoppers returned to winning ways last Saturday at home to Hull Ionians to make it four wins in their last five with a 40-24 victory.
On the road this season they have four wins and two draws from their 10 matches and picked up five bonus points along the way.
When the sides met at Lightfoot Green earlier in the season Hoppers were narrow one point winners 23-22 but the visitors were kicking themselves as they failed to convert any of their four tries and just one would have given them victory.
PREDICTION: Home win for Darlington by eight points.
Hull Ionians v Tynedale
Seventh placed Hull Ionians entertain fifth placed Tynedale looking to get back on track after three defeats in four matches.
Hull Ionians were beaten last time out at Preston Grasshoppers but did leave with a four try bonus point.
At home this season they have won six out of nine and have the eighth best record in the division. The four defeats have all been to sides above them in the table.
Tynedale are joint top of the Form Guide with six wins in their last six matches and come into the match after becoming the first sides in the division to defeat Nuneaton this season 19-10 last Saturday.
On the road this season they have won six out of 10, the third best record in the division and picked up five bonus points along the way.
Of all the sides in the top six they have managed the fewest four try bonus points to date with six, four of the sides are in double figures whilst Nuneaton have the next fewest with eight.
When the sides met at Tynedale earlier in the season the North East side came through 27-14 winners.
PREDICTION: Tough call but will go with Tynedale to sneak it with five point victory.
Kendal v Blaydon
Bottom of the table Kendal have another tough match this week as they entertain promotion chasing Blaydon at Mint Bridge.
Kendal have suffered 18 consecutive defeats and a loss here will see them set a new record for consecutive defeats beating the record they currently share with Stoke on Trent.
At Mint Bridge this season they have lost all nine matches scoring just 88 points in those games.
Blaydon will be looking for all five points as it could end up being very tight at the end of the season in National Three North with the top sides still to play each other.
On the road this season they have won six out of nine although in their three defeats they have failed to pick up a losing bonus point.
They do though top the Form Guide with Tynedale, both winning their last six matches.
When the sides met at Crow Trees earlier in the season Blaydon ran out comfortable winners, 45-7.
PREDICTION: Got to go with a Blaydon 20 point win in this match.
Leicester Lions v Fylde
Ninth placed Leicester Lions entertain eighth placed Fylde looking to end their losing run and pick up some valuable points to pull away from the relegation zone.
The Lions have suffered five straight defeats and are in real danger of being dragged into the relegation battle, they are just six points clear of third bottom Macclesfield who have two games in hand on them. After this match they only have two home fixtures left, against Kendal and Macclesfield, both must win games.
Fylde after a three match winning run have slipped to defeats in their last two and will be looking to return to winning ways.
They do not have the best of records on the road with just two wins in eight matches, at Cleckheaton and New Brighton.
Fylde were 30-10 winners when the sides met at Woodlands earlier in the season.
PREDICTION: Away win with Fylde coming through with a five point victory.
Macclesfield v Darlington Mowden Park
Huge eight pointer here as third bottom Macclesfield entertain fourth bottom Darlington Mowden Park.
Macclesfield are at the wrong end of the Form Guide suffering five successive defeats culminating in a defeat at Blaydon last Saturday after the North East side upped the tempo in the second half to pull away after leading just 14-11 at the break.
At home they have picked up four wins and a draw in eight matches and still have five home games including this one including games against Cleckheaton, Fylde and Kendal which will make or break their season. .
Mowden Park will be buoyed by last Saturdays win at home against Fylde which ended a dreadful losing run and saw them move out of the bottom three. They have though managed just two wins on the road this season and including this have five matches on the road before the end of the season two of which are against the bottom two, Kendal and New Brighton which are must win games.
When the sides met at Mowden Park earlier in the season it was DMP who were winners with a 28-12 victory.
PREDICTION: Massively important game for both sides but will go with home advantage and Macclesfield to win by eight points.
New Brighton v Cleckheaton
Second bottom New Brighton entertain 10th placed Cleckheaton looking to end their dreadful losing run
New Brighton have lost their last seven since beating Kendal 17-7 at home just before Christmas.
They have managed just one other win all season and that was also at home beating Hull Ionians 18-15 early in the season, losing the other seven. They have conceded more points than anyone else including a season’s high last week at Bradford & Bingley where they shipped 90 points. They did manage three tries with No 8 Kati Tuipulotu bagging a brace and he has double figures for the season.
Cleckheaton must win here and make it four wins on the road in eight matches and try and move clear of the relegation zone, they are just five points above it at present.
They are at the right end of the Form Guide with four wins in their last six matches and a win here would make it three in a row.
When the sides met at Moorend earlier in the season Cleckheaton were 37-18 winners.
PREDICTION: Cleckheaton to continue with another win by seven points at Reeds Lane over New Brighton.
Nuneaton v Bradford & Bingley
Leaders Bradford & Bingley will be looking to consolidate top spot when they travel to second placed Nuneaton this Saturday and moving above them last weekend.
Nuneaton suffered their first defeat of the season in the league last Saturday at Tynedale despite having led 10-0 early on. They now find themselves four points behind the Yorkshire side but they do have a game in hand.
At Liberty Way this season they have won all nine matches picking up six four try bonus points along the way. .
Bradford & Bingley were running up their highest score of the season last Saturday beating New Brighton 90-21 running in 14 tries and moved four points clear at the top of the table.
On the road the Bees have suffered two defeats in 10 matches going down at Macclesfield and Fylde!!
This will be the first ever league match between the two sides.
PREDICTION: Tough call but the Bees playing well and to come through and end Nuns 100% home record with three point win.
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