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Saturday 20th November
Blackheath v Moseley
Eighth Moseley travel to nine placed Blackheath with just a point separating the sides as the Midlands side look to bounce back after losing their impressive 100% home record last weekend.
Moseley had been four our of four home until last Saturday when they were blitzed by Newbury in the second half after looking likely to make it five out of five at home.
Away, from home though it is a different story as they have lost all three matches.
Blackheath were away winners last weekend at Harrogate after making a dream start going 21-0 up in the opening 10 minutes as they secured their second away win of the season having previously won at Nuneaton.
These two sides have not met in the League since the 1998/99 season when Blackheath were relegated from National One and Moseley did the double over them for the second successive season. Blackheath last beat Moseley at the Rectory Field in September 1996 28-3.
Prediction: Home win by 10 points.
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Bracknell v Esher
Bottom of the table Bracknell entertain 11th placed Esher with both sides needing to win to try and move up the league table.
Esher suffered a home defeat last weekend against a much improved Wharfedale side and will be keen to return to winning ways although on the road this season they have suffered three straight defeats.
Bracknell were narrow losers at Rosslyn Park last weekend and will hope to build on that improved defensive performance which kept their try line intact.
Although they have lost all three matches at home this season they have picked up two bonus points for losses by less than seven points.
These two sides have met six times in National League rugby and it is honours even with three wins apiece. Last season though the sides won the away fixture as Bracknell lost at home to Esher 35-16 late in the season having won comfortable 52-28 at Esher early in the season. Before last season the four matches had all been won by the home side.
Prediction: Home win by less than five points.
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Doncaster v Rosslyn Park
Table toppers Doncaster play host to sixth paced Rosslyn Park looking to maintain top spot and pick up the four try bonus point with Stourbridge having an away match at Waterloo.
Doncaster will be keen to get back to winning ways after last weeks draw at Stourbridge courtesy of a try deep into injury time to preserve their unbeaten start to the season.
At home this season they have won all three matches but have yet to really thrash anyone, Park beware.
Park were narrow two point winners last weekend over bottom of the table Bracknell in a less than convincing performance.
They have already picked up one away win this season beating Esher 17-10 but were also thumped at Moseley 40-0 so it depends which Park side turns up.
These two sides met for the first time last season in League rugby and the Yorkshire side did the double over Rosslyn Park. In this fixture Doncaster were narrow 23-22 winners back in November 2003 before running out 25-12 winners at Rosslyn Park in January.
Prediction: Home win more than 10 points.
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Manchester v Nuneaton
Fifth place Manchester will be looking to return to winning ways against 13th placed Nuneaton at Grove Lane on Saturday.
Manchester lost a high scoring encounter at Launceston last weekend but at home have been impressive this season. They have won all three matches and averaged over 30 points a game.
Nuneaton picked up their first win of the season last Saturday thanks to last gasp penalty goal from Jody Peacock to beat Waterloo and move off the bottom of the table.
On the road this season they have lost all four matches and conceded 35 points plus in three of them.
Prediction: Home win by 12 points.
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Newbury v Launceston
Third placed Newbury win go in this home match against Launceston in confident mood after last weeks away success at Moseley.
They were the first team to win at Moseley this season and came back from a 13-3 deficit 13 minutes into the second half. At home this season they have won three out of four with only leaders Doncaster leaving with the win.
Launceston had an excellent home win over Manchester last Saturday and were leading 33-15 with a few minutes left before they let Manchester in for two late tries.
These two sides have met just twice two seasons ago when it was honours even and home advantage counted. At Newbury the home side were narrow 23-18 winners whilst at Polson Bridge the home side were comfortable 36-7 winners earlier in the season.
Prediction: Home win by ten points.
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Waterloo v Stourbridge
10th placed Waterloo host 12th placed Harrogate with both sides looking for a confidence boosting win and get out of their recent slumps.
Waterloo thought they had returned to winning ways last weekend at Nuneaton but a late penalty gave Nuneaton their first win of the season and sent Waterloo to their fifth consecutive loss of the season after winning their opening three matches.
Waterloo have lost their last two at home and will be keen not to make it a hat trick of defeats at Blundellsands.
Stourbridge were unlucky not to send Doncaster down to their first defeat of the season last weekend with the visitors drawing level nine minutes into injury time, although they were out scored three tries to one and relied on the boot of Ben Harvey, not for the first time.
On the road Stourbridge have a 100% record with all four matches won.
These two met for the only time in league rugby in the 2001/02 season when Stourbridge did the double over Waterloo who were relegated that season. At Blundellsands the visitors were 31-12 winners and later in the season won 18-14 at home to Waterloo.
Prediction: Home win less than five points.
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Wharfedale v Harrogate
This Yorkshire derby sees seventh placed Wharfedale entertain 12th placed Harrogate and on form it should be a comfortable home win but in these types of matches you never know.
Wharfedale were away winners last weekend as they continue their rise up the table after a dreadful start to the season. At home they have a 50/50 record with two wins and two losses but they are going for a hat trick of wins at Threshfields after losing their opening two matches there this season.
Harrogate were winners 36-30 at Nuneaton but in both their other two away fixtures this season they were heavily beaten at Moseley and Rosslyn Park. Last weekend they were beaten at home, going down to Blackheath never recovering after going 21-0 down inside the opening 10 minutes.
In the last four meeting this Yorkshire derby has gone to the away side, the last home victory was in September 2001 when Harrogate thumped Wharfedale 51-36.
Wharfedale’s last home win over Harrogate in the league was back in November 200 when they were 25-0 winners.
Prediction: Home win by 12 points.
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