Check out our weekly predictions as leaders Halifax face their toughest test yet.
NATIONAL THREE NORTH
Bedford Athletic v Cleckheaton
Bottom of the table Bedford Athletic will see this home match against 11th Cleckheaton as a must win match as they look to try and close the five point which has them cut off at the bottom of the table.
Ath go into the match on an eight match losing run and will again be looking for thinks to start going right for them. In their eight defeats they have picked up just one bonus point for losing by seven or less.
Cleckheaton have managed just one win in their last seven matches and defeat at Putnoe Bridge would send them down to a fourth consecutive defeat.
This will be the first ever league meeting between the two sides.
Prediction: Tough call but Bedford have to win so home win by seven points.
Disagree!! Have your say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Blaydon v Kendal
13th placed Blaydon entertain 10th placed Kendal with both sides looking for the points to avoid being involved in a relegation struggle later in the season.
Blaydon sit bottom of the Form Guide with no wins in their last six matches and overall this season, are the lowest points scorers in the division with just 123.
After winning their opening match against Dudley Kingswinford they have lost their next two at Crow Trees so will be looking to avoid a hat trick of home losses.
Kendal have lost three of their last four and will see this as an away than can win. Although so far this season they have lost all four of their road trips but last time out only lost to New Brighton away to a last minute penalty goal.
These two met for the first time in National League rugby last season and it was honours even with both sides winning their home match. This fixture was a convincing 37-3 win for the North East side in January but a month earlier Kendal were winners at Mint Bridge 20-18.
Prediction: Away win by six points.
Disagree!! Have your say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Darlington v Fylde
Third placed Fylde travel to ninth placed Darlington looking for a seventh straight win in the league this season.
This is Fylde’s fourth away fixture of the season, since losing their first one at Cleckheaton they have gone on to win at Bradford & Bingley and Rugby Lions. They have the meanest defence in the division conceding just over 10 points per game.
Darlington are looking to avoid a fourth consecutive league defeat and climb away from the clubs around the relegation area. They have lost seven times this season but in those defeat have four times picked up a bonus point for losing by seven points or less, the joint highest number of losing bonus points.
Last season saw Fylde do the double over Darlington as they met for the first time ever in League rugby. Both matches were close affair with five the biggest winning margin.
Prediction: Away win by eight points.
Disagree!! Have your say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Dudley Kingswinford v Darlington Mowden Park
Seventh placed Darlington Mowden Park travel to 12th placed Dudley Kingswinford looking for a fifth win in a row.
DMP have put together an excellent run of late but it has been largely based on their home form. They did though pick up an excellent away win last time out when they beat New Brighton 13-10.
Dudley have moved up to 12th place with two wins in their last six matches but need to be careful the teams above them don’t improve their three point cushion on the sides in the relegation zone. They are the only side in the league not to have picked up a four try bonus point yet.
Darlington Mowden Park did the double over Dudley Kingswinford last season and have now won the last three meetings between the two sides. Of the three matches at Heathbrook there has been a win for both sides and in January 2002 they drew 17 all.
Prediction: Away victory by less than seven points.
Disagree!! Have your say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Halifax v Bradford & Bingley
League leaders Halifax have their toughest match to date when they entertain Bradford & Bingley on Saturday.
The Bees have now won five in a row and risen up the table to fourth spot and are now the divisions top points scores with 282, 43 more than any other side after last weekend big home win over Dudley Kingswinford.
Halifax have won all eight of their matches this season and will start as favourites with home advantage where they have not been beaten in a league match since March 8th 2003 when Liverpool St Helens were 23-0 winners, a run of 20 matches.
A win would see them extend their unbeaten run in the league to 22 since losing at Waterloo last season.
These two sides will be meeting for the first time in the National Leagues. But they did meet in North One not to long ago and Halifax were winners in two close encounters winning 17-10 and 15-10
Prediction: A Home win by six points in what should be a cracking match.
Disagree!! Have your say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Macclesfield v Tynedale
Second placed Macclesfield have a tough home match this week against fifth placed Tynedale who will be keen to return to winning ways after last weeks home loss against leaders Halifax.
Macclesfield won their first three home matches of the season but they too were beaten by the leaders last time out at Priory Park. A win on Saturday could see them go top of the table with leaders Halifax having a tough match against a very much In Form side Bradford & S Bingley.
Tynedale have done remarkable well so fat this season and will be looking to make it three on the bounce on the road since losing to New Brighton late in October and four overall after their opening day win at Bradford & Bingley.
Last season saw Macclesfield do the double over Tynedale as they met in the National Leagues for the first time. They won 25-21 at Tynedale in November 2003 and when they met them at home they were 26-17 winners in January 2004.
Prediction: Tynedale to sneak it by less than five but could go either way.
Disagree!! Have your say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Rugby Lions v New Brighton
Sixth placed New Brighton travel to eighth placed Rugby Lions looking to make it three in a row knowing they could move up three places depending on the result of the sides immediately above them.
Rugby Lions ended a four match losing run last weekend with their away success at Kendal. They will though need to improve their home form which has seen them lose their last two and three out of five at Webb Ellis Road.
New Brighton have picked up a bonus point in four of their five losses for losing by seven or less including three successive defeats by a total of six points against Fylde, Bradford & Bingley and Darlington MP.
These two sides will be meeting for the first time ever in league rugby.
Prediction: Home win by less than six points.
Disagree!! Have your say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
|
