Barking v Esher
Leaders Esher travel to second bottom Barking looking to make it 15 consecutive wins in the league.
Barking are looking to end a two match losing run and try and climb up the table to try and escape the relegation zone. This may not be the match to do it but a good performance could help build their confidence.
At home this season they have yet to win losing all six matches.
Esher just keep winning and overcame an in form Redruth side last time out and will be confident of another win on Saturday afternoon.
On the road they have won all six of their match scoring 30 or more points in four of them.
Earlier in the season at Esher the home side were 46-12 winners in this fixture.
Prediction: Esher to win by 12 points and maintain 100% start to the season.
Bradford & Bingley v Halifax
Third bottom Bradford & Bingley entertain eighth placed Halifax looking for an early Christmas present with a win to close the seven point gap to safety.
Bradford & Bingley are at home in a game they can win and need to win to try and keep up with the sides above them especially with Cambridge at home where they have a good record. At Wagon Lane this season they have managed just the one win in seven matches a 34-23 win over high flying Cornish All Blacks.
Halifax have lost their last two and are looking to avoid a hat trick of defeats. On the road this season they have a poor record with just the one win in six matches, a 6-3 win at Stourbridge.
Earlier in the season Halifax were narrow winners in this fixture when they hosted Bradford & Bingley 12-10.
Prediction: Away win for Halifax at Wagon Lane by seven points.
Cambridge v Nuneaton
11th placed Cambridge entertain seventh placed Nuneaton looking for a win to try and increase the distance between them and the relegation zone to more than the seven points it currently stands at.
Cambridge need to win some of their home matches to keep ahead of the bottom three and a win here could see them open up a double figure gap on the bottom three.
They have now lost their last five and need to start winning these type of home matches or they could find themselves in trouble.
At home this season they have won four out of six slipping to defeats against Cornish All Blacks and Stourbridge.
Nuneaton are one of the Form sides at present and go into the match on the back of four consecutive wins and will be quietly confident of making it five in a row.
On the road they have played seven matches picking up three wins against Bradford & Bingley, Harrogate and Stourbridge.
Nuneaton won a close encounter when these two sides met at Liberty Way earlier in the season 27-22.
Prediction: Cambridge to return to wining ways with five point win over the Nuns.
Henley Hawks v Blackheath
Third placed Henley Hawks entertain fifth placed Blackheath at Dry Leas looking to try and close the gap on second placed Cornish All Blacks who have a tough match against Cornish rivals Redruth.
Henley Hawks returned to winning ways last week after losing at Esher the week before with a 42-21 victory against Harrogate.
At home the Hawks have won four out of six with only Esher and Redruth leaving Dry Leas with victories.
Blackheath after a three match losing run have won their last two and a win here will make it three in a row.
On the road they have a reasonable record with three wins and three defeats in their six road trips.
The Hawks are looking for a double over Blackheath having already beaten them at the Rectory Field this season 21-16 in a tight match.
Prediction: Hawks to win at Dry Leas by six points over Blackheath.
Manchester v Stourbridge
10th placed Manchester entertain fourth placed Stourbridge looking to increase the gap between themselves and the relegation zone.
Manchester ended a long losing run last Saturday with an excellent away win at Halifax and will be looking to build on that this week against Stourbridge. At home this season they have won three and lost three with the three defeats coming against Barking, Esher and Wharfedale.
Stourbridge after back to back defeats returned to winning ways last Saturday win a high scoring win over Barking.
On the road this season they have done well winning four of their six matches coming unstuck at just Esher and Wharfedale.
Stourbridge were 31-24 winners in this fixture earlier in the season at Stourton Park.
Prediction: Manchester to make it back to back win s with four point win over Stourbridge.
Redruth v Cornish All Blacks
Second placed Cornish All Blacks travel to Redruth knowing a defeat against the sixth placed side could see them slip down the table with Henley Hawks ready to pounce and climb into a promotion spot.
Redruth saw their long winning run come to an end against league leaders Esher last week but did leave with a losing bonus point going down by just four points, having knocked them out of the National Trophy the week before.
The Cornish All Blacks will be looking to return to winning ways after their four match winning run was brought to an end by Wharfedale at Polson Bridge last Saturday in a closely fought match.
On the road this season they have won four of their six matches coming unstuck at Bradford & Bingley and Stourbridge losing both times by just a single point.
The Cornish All Blacks were 33-19 winners when the two sides met at Polson Bridge earlier in the season.
Prediction: Redruth to win this one by five points over their Cornish rivals.
Wharfedale v Harrogate
Ninth placed Wharfedale entertain bottom of the table Harrogate as they look to try and climb into the top half of the table after a disastrous start to the season.
Wharfedale are near the top of the Form Guide with five wins in their last six matches and a win here will see them make it three wins in a row.
At Threshfields they have a reasonable record with three wins and three defeats, against Blackheath, Henley Hawks and Cornish All Blacks, all top five sides.
Harrogate are six points adrift at the bottom of the table and 18 points form safety and in desperate trouble with just 12 matches left with the season entering the second half last week.
On the road they have lost all six matches and have conceded at 36 points in all the matches.
When these two sides met a Claro Road earlier in the season and it was Wharfedale who ran out winners 44-19.
Prediction: Home win for Wharfedale at home to Harrogate by 12 points in this Yorkshire derby.
|
