Friday 19th November 7:45pm Leeds Tykes v Bath

Another close game is predicted at Headingley on Friday night as Leeds entertain Bath.

The Tykes lost for the first time in four league matches on Sunday at Newcastle but held the lead until shortly before the end. They have won their last two home matches and are looking to equal a feat they only managed once last season when they won their first three fixtures at Headingley.

Bath beat Sale Sharks on Saturday to stay in fifth place in the league but closed the gap behind Gloucester to only one point. They are going well away from home this season and haven’t been beaten away from the Rec since going down at Northampton on the opening day of the season.

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Bath completed a league double over Leeds last year but they have only won once at Headingley in three visits. In a very tight game, they should just come out on top on Friday.

Prediction: Bath to win by 5 points

Friday 19th November 7:45pm Sale Sharks v Harlequins

We said last week that the game against Saracens would see Harlequins record their first win of the season, but the enormous margin was certainly a surprise. Can they now achieve a first away win at Edgeley Park on Friday night?

A depleted Sale side lost for only the second time this season at Bath on Saturday and dropped to second place in the league. This was their first away defeat in the Premiership since 2nd May at Saracens. They rarely lose at home and only London Irish have come away with a victory this season. They will however be severely under strength again on Saturday.

Harlequins moved off the foot of the table after their comfortable win against Saracens. This was their first Premiership win since beating Bath on 2nd May, coincidentally the date of Sale’s last away defeat. The last time Harlequins recorded an away win in the Premiership was on 4th January at Newcastle and if they don’t beat Sale they have only one more opportunity to ensure they don’t go a whole year without winning away from the Stoop in a league match.

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Sale have an excellent record in this fixture. The last time the teams met at Edgeley Park resulted in a 27-27 draw but Sale have only lost one of the last 10 meetings. In normal circumstances, a home win would be predicted with confidence, but with Sale under strength and Harlequins only missing Will Greenwood, this is likely to be a very close contest.

Prediction: Sale to win by 5 points

Saturday 20th November 12:30pm Northampton Saints v Worcester

The only game being played on Saturday, and what an important one, as these two teams, with only one league win between them in the last 14 matches played, go head to head at Franklin’s Gardens.

Without doubt, Northampton have been the biggest disappointment of the season. They lost by a single point at home to London Irish on Saturday, their fourth defeat from five games at Franklin’s Gardens and their seventh consecutive loss in the Zurich Premiership.

After the home defeat by Leicester on Saturday, Worcester now find themselves at the bottom of the table. They have only beaten Harlequins at home from their nine starts this season and have lost all their four games away from Sixways.

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This is the first league meeting between these two sides. They will both be desperate for a victory and Northampton simply must win or they will be serious contenders for relegation.

Prediction: Northampton to win by 8 points

Sunday 21st November 3:00pm London Irish v Newcastle Falcons

Two inconsistent teams, sitting in mid table and separated by one point, face each other on Sunday at the Madejski Stadium.

London Irish just held on to beat Northampton by a point at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday with Mark Mapletoft, making his 100th career appearance in the Zurich Premiership, scoring all 21 of their points. They have won three of their five home games this season but they can be unreliable. They are looking to win three Premiership matches in succession and only achieved that once last season.

Newcastle won their first league game in the last six on Sunday against Leeds. They made very hard work of it though and did not get the upper hand until late in the game. This win moved them up to seventh in the league, one place and one point behind the Exiles. They won their opening two away fixtures, but it is now two months since they came away with any league points outside the North East.

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These two sides have been evenly matched over the years and they have each won 7 of the 14 games played in league rugby going back to 1997. London Irish have won three of the last four matches, but Newcastle did win at the Madejski exactly 12 months ago 19-15. In another close game, home advantage may see the Exiles home.

Prediction: London Irish to win by 5 points

Sunday 21st November 3:00pm London Wasps v Leicester Tigers

Match of the day, albeit with weakened sides on this occasion, sees third placed Wasps entertain top of the table Leicester at the Causeway Stadium. This is the first of three enormous games between these two clubs over the next four weeks. Neither of them have been beaten in the last 14 matches.

Wasps, although not yet hitting top form, are on a winning roll. Their win at Gloucester on Friday night made it seven league wins in succession and they have not been beaten in any competition since Sale beat them on 11th September, this was also their only home defeat of the season.

Leicester, missing a number of regulars, won with ease at Worcester on Saturday and moved back to the top of the table. They have not been beaten in the league since the opening day of the season at Sale and boast the best away record in the division accumulating 20 of their 36 league points on their travels. They have also scored the most and conceded the least points in the Zurich Premiership.

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Leicester have by far the better record in this fixture. Wasps have only won 2 of the last 11 league meetings between the sides and were comprehensively beaten last time at the Causeway at the end of last season. Wasps will not be as affected as Leicester by international call ups on Sunday though and should be too strong for the Tigers.

Prediction: Wasps to win by 7 points

Sunday 21st November 3:00pm Saracens v Gloucester

Saracens welcome Gloucester to Vicarage Road on Sunday and will be looking to take advantage of another team missing a number of first team players.

Saracens put in a very disappointing display on Friday night and were well beaten by Harlequins at the Stoop. They have now dropped to ninth position in the league. They have won three of their five home matches to date, but only lost once on their home ground at Watford.

An under strength Gloucester lost only their second home league game in the last 35 matches at Kingsholm on Friday night as Wasps came away with the points. They lie fourth in the table. They have won three of their five away encounters this season, losing to top of the table Leicester and bogey side Bath.

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Gloucester have won the majority of the previous league fixtures including the last five. Saracens have won 7 of the last 18 matches and they have all been at home. The number of players missing will make it a very even contest and Gloucester are tipped to just edge it.

Prediction: Gloucester to win by 3 points