Barking v Orrell
Fifth placed Barking entertain bottom of the table with Redruth and Wharfedale breathing down their neck.
Barking will be looking at holding on tot fifth spot at least between now and the end of the season and a win at home to Orrell will be a good start. At home this season they have won six and lost four. They have not won in their last three matches with two successive defeats following a draw at Stourbridge.
Orrell looked doomed now as they sit 20 points from safety with eight games left.
They are bottom of the Form Guide as the only side to lose its last six matches in the division.
On the road this season they yet to win with nine straight defeats.
When these two sides met at Edge Hall Road earlier in the season Orrell were winners 19-10.
PREDICTION: Barking in by 14 at home to bottom of the table Orrell.
Blackheath v Waterloo
11th placed Blackheath entertain second placed Waterloo looking to get something from the game to keep ahead of third bottom Stourbridge.
Blackheath have won their last two and three of their last four which has put them six points clear of the relegation zone but this might just be a match too far.
At home this season they have won five out of nine.
Waterloo need to win to keep Esher at bay especially as they still have to go there later in the season. If they win all their other matches and lose at Esher they would still be in pole position depending on bonus points which could be crucial.
On the road this season they have an excellent record with eight wins and a draw in their 10 matches with just the one loss at Moseley.
When the sides met at Blundellsands earlier in the season the Lancashire side were 27-14 winners.
PREDICTION: Waterloo to maintain second place with 10 point win.
Halifax v Henley Hawks
10th placed Halifax entertain 9th placed Henley Hawks knowing a win could take them three wins clear of a relegation place depending on the other results.
Huge match for Halifax as they look to make it four wins in their last six matches. They were winners last Saturday in the division’s only match beating bottom of the table Orrell 29-3 and picking up the four try bonus point for just the second time this season.
At home this season they have now got six wins out of 10 with their home form helping them move out of the relegation zone.
The Hawks have won their last two matches otherwise they would have found themselves down on 30 points with Stourbridge who are third bottom.
On the road they have managed just the three wins in nine matches including a 22-20 win at Barking in their last away fixture.
Henley Hawks recorded their biggest win of the season when these two met at Dry Leas earlier in the season with a 47-5 victory.
PREDICTION: Halifax to even it up but only with six point win.
Launceston v Harrogate
Fourth placed Launceston entertain second bottom Harrogate at Polson Bridge looking to maintain there five point advantage over Barking.
Launceston are one of the form sides in the division with five wins in their last six matches which has helped them climb up to fourth in the table.
Their form at Polson Bridge has been terrific with seven wins in nine matches and only top three sides Waterloo and Esher leaving with victories.
Harrogate with seven games to go are 13 points from safety and need to get points on the board but this is not the place to start turning things round. On the road this season they have managed to win just once in nine matches when winning narrowly at Henley Hawks 32-31.
At Claro Road earlier in the season the Cornish All Blacks were comfortable winners 30-8.
PREDICTION: Launceston to beat Harrogate at Polson Bridge by 12 points.
Manchester v Esher
Eighth placed Manchester are at home to third placed Esher who have to win as they look to try and make up the seven point gap on second placed Waterloo.
Manchester are not in the best of form lately with just two wins in their last six matches. At Grove Lane they have done well this season with six wins and a draw in their nine matches and only Barking and Waterloo have left with wins.
Esher know this is a must win game for them and a four try bonus point would be useful as well as they look to close the gap on Waterloo. On the road this season they have slipped up at Barking, Moseley and Redruth as well as sharing the points at Waterloo.
At Esher earlier in the season the home side ran out comfortable 41-5 winners.
PREDICTION: Esher to leave with a 10 point win to get promotion battle back on track.
Moseley v Redruth
Leaders Moseley entertain sixth placed Redruth looking to maintain their four point lead at the top of the National Two League table.
Moseley top the Form Guide with six wins in their last six matches and they now find themselves 11 points clear of third placed Esher so must be strong favourites for promotion.
At home this season they have an excellent record with 10 straight wins with just Henley and Waterloo leaving with losing bonus points.
Redruth are in reasonably good form with four wins in their last six matches and if they can win their game in hand on Barking could well be up to fifth place in the table soon.
On the road they have a poor record though and have lost six of their eight matches with wins at Harrogate and Stourbridge so unless they improve this form they may find it difficult climbing any higher in the table.
Moseley won down at Redruth earlier in the season coming through with a 25-19 victory.
PREDICTION: Moseley to win by 14 points and maintain top spot.
Stourbridge v Wharfedale
Third bottom Stourbridge entertain seventh placed Wharfedale knowing they need a home win to try and keep pace with the sides above them in the table.
Stourbridge are at the wrong end of the Form Guide with just a draw and five defeats in their last six matches. Their home form has been dreadful with seven defeats in nine matches just the one win, against bottom of the table Orrell, and a draw.
They do though have games coming up against Halifax, Harrogate and Henley at Stourton they have their destiny in their own hands to some degree.
After three successive defeats Wharfedale returned to winning ways last time out with a narrow 19-18 win over Manchester.
On the road this season they have picked up three wins and a draw in 10 matches.
What Stourbridge would do for a similar result to the one when they travelled to Threshfields earlier in the season when they left with a 30-26 victory.
PREDICTION: Tough call but got to go with form and say Wharfedale to win by four points. |
