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NATIONAL THREE NORTH
Bradford & Bingley v Blaydon
Bradford & Bingley are up to eighth place now and are at home to 11th placed Blaydon this week.
The leagues most unpredictable side are now going for a third consecutive win as they try and get their season back on track after some really disappointing results in the opening weeks of the season. At home they have already lost two of their four matches and cannot afford to lose another.
Blaydon have lost three away matches already this season out of four and their only road win was at Darlington when they were 33-7 winners.
First ever National League meeting between the two sides, they last met in North One during the 2000/01 when Blaydon were promoted.
Prediction: Home win by 12 points.
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Cleckheaton v Dudley Kingswinford
Ninth placed Cleckheaton entertain 13th placed Dudley Kingswinford looking to get back to winning ways after suffering a heavy defeat at Darlington last Saturday.
Cleckheaton have won two out of three at home with only New Brighton leaving with the points so far this season. After a good start to the season winning their opening two matches they have picked up just one win in five and need to get on a winning run again and will see this as the perfect opportunity to do so.
DK have picked up of late after losing their first three matches and getting no points they have a win a draw and picked up a bonus point against second placed Macclesfield last weekend. On the road this season they have picked up just the one win beating Bedford Athletic.
First ever league meeting between the two sides.
Prediction: Home win by 10 points.
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Darlington MP v Rugby Lions
Fourth placed Rugby Lions travel to fifth placed Darlington Mowden Park looking to return to winning ways in what will be a tough match against a DMP side that has found some form of late.
Darlington Mowden Park made a poor start to the season losing their opening two matches but have lost just one of their last five and pulled of an excellent away win at New Brighton last Saturday in a tight match to climb to fifth in the table.
At home this season they have won three out of four with their only defeat coming at the hands of Cleckheaton on the opening day of the season.
Rugby Lions were beaten on Saturday at home by the erratic Bradford & Bingley going down to an injury time penalty goal.
They have now managed just one win in five after winning their opening two matches of the season and still find themselves in fourth place in the table having picked up four bonus points this season a figure only bettered by New Brighton.
Here are two more sides who will be meeting for the first time ever in league rugby.
Prediction: Home win by eight points.
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Fylde v New Brighton
A big match for both sides at Woodlands as sixth placed Fylde play host to seventh placed New Brighton with both looking to try and stay in touch with the leading sides in the division.
New Brighton need to return to winning ways after suffering back to back defeats in two really tight matches going down by two points at Bradford & Bingley and then by three points at home to Darlington Mowden Park last Saturday.
Away from home this season they have just the one win a 42-24 success at Cleckheaton whilst losing at both Halifax and Bradford & Bingley.
Fylde have had a stop start season and are two games behind most sides in the division having played just five matches, winning four and losing just the once away at Cleckheaton. They have picked up just one bonus point to date this season when they lost by two points at Cleckheaton. They have yet to secure a four try bonus point
These two sides met for the first time ever in league rugby last season and it was honours even but not the normal way with both sides winning the away match.
At Woodlands New Brighton left with a 23-16 win but later in the season Fylde went to New Brighton and left with an 18-15 victory.
Prediction: Fylde to win by less than six points.
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Kendal v Bedford Athletic
Bottom of the table Bedford Ath travel to 12th placed Kendal with both sides in desperate need of a win to try and climb the table and get out of a relegation place.
Bedford Athletic have failed to pick up a win since the opening day of the season and since then have managed just the one bonus point when losing at home to by a point to Darlington.
On the road they have lost all three matches so far this season.
Kendal have picked up two wins this season and they have both been at home to Bradford & Bingley and Cleckheaton. Last weekend they were busy in the Powergen Cup and gave National Two side Waterloo a run for their money before going down 22-16.
These two sides met in the 1999/2000 season with Kendal doing the double over Ath in their Championship winning season.
Prediction: Home win by eight points.
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Macclesfield v Halifax
Top of the table clash as Macclesfield entertain Halifax this Saturday knowing a win would see them move above the Yorkshire in the table.
Macclesfield have put together a six match winning run since losing at Fylde on the opening day of the season. But have only managed to pick up a couple of four try bonus points along the way.
Halifax are unbeaten in the league and will be confident of making it seven in a row on Saturday and open up a five point lead over second placed Macclesfield and they have a game in hand on their nearest rivals as well.
These two sides met in the National League for the first time ever last season and Halifax did the double over Macclesfield.
Prediction: Away win by six points.
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Tynedale v Darlington
Tynedale will be looking to keep their excellent start to the season going with home advantage over 10th placed Darlington on Saturday.
Tynedale are third in the table with four wins and a draw from their six matches this season with their only defeat being a 28-7 loss at New Brighton a couple of weeks ago. At home they have won two and drawn one and will be confident of a third home win on Saturday.
Darlington have picked up seven of their 13 points on the road this season with a win and a draw against Bedford Ath and Dudley Kingswinford respectively as well as picking up a bonus point away at second placed Macclesfield field after going down to a five point loss.
These two met for the first time in National League rugby and it was honours even with home advantage counting and Darlington winning this fixture 19-12 before losing 19-3 at Tynedale later in the season.
Prediction: Home win by 10 points.
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