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Terrace Talk - National Two

 

Barking v Stourbridge

These two sides had contrasting results on the opening day of the season with Stourbridge winning at home to Redruth and Barking going down to a defeat at Halifax.

 

Barking with five debutants, three in the backs and two in the forwards, were first on the scoreboard but after that were chasing the match and were 23-8 down by the break and never recovered.  

 

Stourbridge will be looking to maintain their away form from last season when they picked up six wins on the road one of the best records in the division.

 

Stourbridge were winners in this fixture last season 14-9 whilst the match at Stourton Park ended all square at 13all.  

 

Prediction: Go for a narrow home win by seven points.

 

 

 

Bradford & Bingley v Nuneaton

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On the opening day of the season last Saturday both these sides ended up with no points.

The Bees were losers at home to Manchester 18-10 in a disappointing start to the new season. They were relying on the players who got them the National Three North Championship with just one player making his debut. .

 

Nuneaton went to Blackheath and were all square at half time 6 all but in the second half it was the homes die who did all the scoring to run out 19-6 winners.

 

Both matches last season went the way of Bradford & Bingley but on each occasion Nuneaton picked up a losing bonus point. At Wagon Lane the Bees were 36-29 winners and at Liberty Way they came through 17-14.

 

Prediction: Both sides looking for their first win of the season and will go with five point home win.

 

 

 

Cambridge v Blackheath

These two sides had contrasting starts to the new season last Saturday. Cambridge after making a bright start to the match against Harrogate ended up losing to a late penalty goal whilst Blackheath were home winners over Nuneaton at the Rectory Field.

 

Cambridge will be hoping home advantage come prove vital as they look to get their first win of the season at home last season they were virtually unbeatable losing just once in 13 matches.

 

Blackheath were poor on the road last season with just two wins against Orrell and Stourbridge.

 

This is the first ever league meeting between these two sides.

 

Prediction: Interesting game will go with three point away win.

 

 

 

Henley Hawks v Harrogate

 

These two sides had contrasting starts to the new season with Henley Hawks going down to an away defeat and Harrogate picking up a morale boosting home win.

 

Henley went down to a defeat last Saturday at the Cornish All Black despite 15 points form the boot of Adam Slade who kept them in the match for quite a while before they went down 25-15.

 

Harrogate will have been delighted to pick up an opening day win over Cambridge especially after trailing 17-6 at the break. They have lost a number of key players over the summer so a win over National Three South Champions Cambridge was just what the doctor ordered.

 

Last season Harrogate picked up narrow 32-31 win at Dry Leas but earlier in the season the Hawks went to Claro Road and came away with a 39-25 win.

 

Prediction: Hawks to win at Dry Leas by eight points.  

 

 

 

Manchester v Halifax

Both these two sides started the new season with wins last Saturday, Halifax at home and Manchester on the road.

 

Manchester were 18-10 winners at Bradford & Bingley after building up a 15-0 lead in the first half and went on to a rare away success. Last season their away form let them down with just four wins  

 

Halifax had an excellent 33-18 win over Barking with Jervis Manupenu scoring 18 points on his debut, including a try, as the they took all five points on offer.

    

In the fixture at Grove Lane last season Manchester ran out 28-23 and with a 32-16 win at Halifax did the double over the Yorkshire side.

 

Prediction: Go with a home win by six points for Manchester. 

 

 

 

Redruth v Esher

Esher were opening day winners last Saturday whilst Redruth were beaten on the road. Esher were beaten just twice all season at home last season whilst Redruth managed just two away wins all season.  

 

Redruth went down to a defeat at Stourbridge 17-6 with all the scoring coming in the opening 40 minutes.

 

Esher were winners over Wharfedale at home last Saturday despite trailing at the break they came back to take all five points on offer.  

 

Redruth were winners in this fixture with a narrow 23-21 victory. The game at Esher saw the home side run out 27-8 winners.

 

Prediction: Esher to take the points with seven point win. 

 

 

 

Wharfedale v Cornish All Blacks

There were contrasting results for these two sides on the opening Saturday of the season.

 

Wharfedale went down to a 35-17 defeat at Esher despite leading at half time. They were the only side in the division not to give a starting debut to any players on the opening day of the season.     

 

The Cornish All Blacks were winners at Polson Bridge against Henley Hawks scoring the games only three tries. Debut boy Sam Young made a big impression and could well be a player to keep an eye on this season.   

 

Last season this match ended all square at Threshfields at 22 all whilst the came at Polson Bridge was also close with the Cornish All backs just edging it 24-22.

 

Prediction: Tough call but will go with narrow home win by five points.

 

 

 
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