Check out our weekly previews and predictions for the weekends matches in National Three South.
Blackheath v Dings Crusaders
Blackheath go into the match top of the 6-match form guide after their excellent win last week at Launceston. They have won five of their last six and are top on points difference as they look for a third successive league win since losing at Westcombe Park.
With home advantage they should be comfortable winners against Dings Crusaders. Dings have improved of late and with wins over Tabard and Weston are looking for a third consecutive league success. Although down in 11th place in the league table they have the 7th best defensive record in the division, what has let them down is their scoring capacity where they have the second worst record after Old Colfeians, although in the last two weeks that has improved dramatically and they will hope that can continue.
They cannot afford to give penalties away with Blackheath’s Derek Coates in tremendous form this season and he has already slotted over 34 penalties, which is easily the highest total in the division.
These two sides are meeting for the first time in League rugby.
Team news:
Prediction: Home win by 14 points.
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Haywards Heath v Launceston
Tough game for Launceston as they look to get back to winning ways after suffering their first home defeat of the season in the league and second overall. Haywards Heath though will be no pushover with two successive wins behind them as they look for a hat trick.
Launceston have the meanest defence in the league and will hope their experience will hold up at Haywards Heath which is match they must win if they have serious aspirations to get back into National Two either through winning the title of through the play offs.
These two sides are meeting for the first time in league rugby.
Team news:
Prediction: Away win by less than seven.
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North Walsham v Basingstoke
Joint top of the table North Walsham are going for a sixth consecutive league win as they aim to improve their points difference which is why they are in second place behind Barking whose points difference is 42 points better.
Basingstoke have not done well away from Comb Down this season and have lost their last four league matches.
It would be a major surprise if the home side were not to run out comfortable winners in this fixture.
In two recent National League meetings at Scottow North Walsham have take the points with comfortable wins. The last time the sides met late last season it was Basingstoke who were winners at home 35-13.
Team news:
Prediction: Home win by 20 points.
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Old Patesians v Westcombe Park
Old Pats will be desperate to get a home win after a couple of good performances that yielded nothing. They did reasonable well against both North Walsham and Barking but came away with nothing; defeat here would be their sixth in a row as they look to get off the bottom of the table. A win could see them move off the bottom of the table with the sides immediately above them facing tougher tests.
Parks Good run of form has stuttered in their last two outings with a home loss to North Walsham and then an away defeat at Haywards Heath.
What Old Patesians would give for on of last season’s results against Westcombe Park whom they beat on both occasions. They have both home fixtures against Park since getting into the National Leagues and would love to make it three in a row.
Team news:
Prediction: Old Pats to break losing run.
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Redruth v Barking
Redruth have done well at home this season with four wins from five matches with only Weston leaving with the points. Barking are looking to make it four in a row after their defeat at North Walsham a few weeks back.
Barking are the leading points and try scorers in the division and Redruth will need to be at their best to keep them at bay and take the points to try and improve on their fifth place.
It is tight at the top of National Three South and Barking know they need to win these types of games to stay ahead of the pack in a bid for promotion.
These two met twice last season after Christmas when they were both on the up after dreadful starts to the season. In the match at Redruth the home side just nicked it with a two point win 18-16 whilst the match at Gorsebrook ended in a 22 all draw.
Redruth have won all three home matches against Barking in League rugby.
Team news:
Prediction: Narrow away win for Barking.
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Tabard v Old Colfeians
Tabard are having an excellent season are sit comfortably in 6th place with five wins under their belt. They returned to winning ways last weekend to end a two match losing run losing to Launceston and Dings.
Old Colfeians are looking to avoid a third successive defeat but away from home they have slipped to four defeats in five matches so will need a big turn of fortunes to get a result at Tabard. .
These two sides split the fixture last season with the away side winning on each occasion. In fact Old Colfeians are yet to lose at Tabard since they got into the National Leagues as in the 2001/02 season they came away with a 26 all draw.
Team news:
Prediction: Home win by 15 points.
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Weston v Southend
These two sides sit 8th and 9th in the table with Weston just ahead with a slightly better point’s difference. They have though slipped to successive defeats after a three match winning sequence, with losses against Launceston and Dings. .
If you want games with plenty of action Southend is the team to follow, they have the third highest points for total and second worst points against total!
They have run in 37 tries, which is 17 more than Weston but Weston do have the sixth best defensive record in the division.
First ever League meeting between these two sides.
Team news:
Prediction: Narrow home win by less than five points.
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