Pertemps Bees v Exeter Chiefs
The Bees pulled out a terrific result last week at Golding ton Road against Bedford Blues with a 29 all draw. They had a much changed side from last season and quickly found their form and will be hoping to carry that into week two of the season.
With 11 debutantes they settled quickly and picked up a four try bonus point including a double from Fijian flanker Akapusi Qera on his debut.
The Chiefs were away winners at Nottingham last week and a second win on the road would be a great start to the season. Not too many changes at the Chiefs as usual and they look to have a settled side. They will have been disappointed to let Nottingham cross their try line three times late on after building a 24-0 lead in the opening hour.
The Bees were 23-16 in this fixture last season after the Chiefs had won at the County Ground earlier in the season 38-22.
Prediction: Interesting game this one after last weeks results - will go home win by five points.
Coventry v Earth Titans
Coventry will be looking to start the season with back to back wins after last weekends win at Park Lane over Sedgley Park. They will have been pleased to run in six tries and pick up a bonus point with flanker Tom Johnson bagging a brace of tries.
The Titans were comfortable winners at new boys Moseley last Saturday coming back from a 13-0 deficit to score five unanswered tries and pick up all five points on offer.
The Titans were 22-13 winners at the Butts Arena last season and with a home win over Coventry, 44-29, they did the double over the Midlands side.
Prediction: Tough call will go with away win by six points.
Moseley v Bedford Blues
Moseley will be looking to get last weeks result out of their system with another home fixture this Saturday. They entertain Bedford Blues who are some peoples favourites for the title.
They have not had too many changes in their playing personnel from last season with only two new players in their 22 last weekend.
The Blues were disappointed to drop points at home last Saturday against the Pertemps Bees and will be looking to put that right this week with a win on the road.
To have any serious aspirations of the title this is a must win match for the Blues who need their new players to settle in.
The sides last met in the 2002/03 season when the Blues did the double over Moseley including a 51-31 win in this fixture having already beaten them at Goldington Road narrowly 21-15. The season before they were involved in an extraordinary match at Moseley, with the home side coming through, 46-45.
Prediction: Blues to get first win of season with eight point win.
Newbury v Leeds Tykes
Both these two sides will be looking to get a first win of the season at Monks Lane on Saturday as Newbury entertain Leeds Tykes.
The Blues had nine players making their debuts last weekend in the defeat at Doncaster including an all new back row and half back partnership.
The Tykes will be hugely disappointed with last Sunday’s home defeat at the hands of London Welsh and will be very keen to get that first win of the season under their belt.
These two sides will be meeting for the first time since the 1997/98 season when Leeds did the double over Newbury.
This fixture was won 21-16 before they went on to do the double over Newbury with a 37-14 home win.
Prediction: Another interesting match – will go with narrow away win.
Otley v Nottingham
Both these two sides were losers on the opening day of the new season and will be keen to get that first win of the season and not suffer back to back defeats.
Otley were beaten at the Cornish Pirates conceding five tries and failing to get on the scoreboard. They will be hoping to get off to a winning start at Cross Green this Saturday after a disappointing season at home last season where they had just five wins in 13 league matches.
Nottingham were beaten at home by Exeter Chiefs 24-19 although 12 of their points came in injury time at the end of the match after the visitors had gone into a 17-0 half time lead and then 24-0 before Nottingham got on the scoreboard.
At Cross Green last season Otley took the honours with a 29-20 win and on the last day of the season did the double over Nottingham with a 26-22 win.
Prediction: Another interesting match will go for a narrow home win by six points.
Plymouth Albion v London Welsh
Both these two sides got off to a winning start last weekend on the road.
Albion were comfortable winners away at Waterloo out scoring the home side seven tries to nil with wing Nicholas Sestaret running in a hat trick.
They put out a settled side with just three players making their debuts at Blundellsands including the second row pair of Ben Gulliver and Colin Stewart along with Dutch full back Wihan Neethling who took over the kicking duties.
The Welsh were narrow winners at Headingley as they pulled off a great away win over Leeds Tykes.
The Welsh had just two players making their debuts and put out an experienced side that have played a lot of rugby at this level.
In this fixture last season Albion were 31-10 winners and did the double over the Welsh with a 29-18 win at Old Deer Park.
Prediction: Albion to make it two out of two with nine point home win over the Welsh.
Sedgley Park v Doncaster Knights
Sedgley Park have another home fixture to try and get a first win of the season as they entertain Yorkshire side Doncaster Knights.
Park were disappointed with the result last week where they conceded six tries at home to Coventry.
Doncaster got of to a winning start to the season with a 27-11 home win over Newbury last Saturday and back to back wins would be a big improvement on their start to last season when they lost four out of five
The Knights had eight players making their debuts last week and will have been pleased they put together a winning performance with flanker Jason Forster bagging a brace on his debut and taking over the captaincy.
Park were 31-19 winners at Park Lane last season in this fixture but Doncaster won their home match 33-20.
Prediction: Go for the Knights to win at Park Lane by five points.
Waterloo v Cornish Pirates
These two sides had differing starts to the new season last weekend, the Pirates were comfortable home winners against Otley at Truro whilst Waterloo were well beaten at home by Plymouth Albion.
Waterloo will have been disappointed with the result last Saturday where they were well beaten conceding seven tries and more worryingly failing to break the Plymouth try line.
They brought in five new players, three in the pack and two in the backs, and will be hoping they can make a difference in the coming weeks.
The Pirates have again been busy recruiting and were quickly into their stride last Sunday with a five try win over Otley and keeping a clean sheet.
They also brought in five new players, four in the backs, including fly half Alberto Di Bernardo who kicked 14 points with six of his eight kicks hitting the target.
These two sides will be meeting for the first time ever in league rugby missing each other when Waterloo were relegated to National Three South in 2001/02 the season the Pirates were promoted to National Two.
Prediction: Got to go with away win for the Pirates at Blundellsands by nine points.
|
