Check out our weekly previews and predictions for the games this weekend.
NATIONAL THREE SOUTH
Barking v Tabard
2nd placed Barking are going for a fifth successive win as they entertain seventh placed Tabard at Gorsebrook.
Barking are now the top points scorers in the division after their recent performances and last weekend became the first side to go over 300 points. At home only Redruth have stopped them winning when the sides drew early in the season.
Tabard returned to winning way Saturday beating Dings Crusaders after a five match losing run which undid a promising start to the new season. Three of their six defeats have been by seven points or less.
Last season Tabard did the double over Barking to reverse the results from the season before when Barking did the double over Tabard.
In fact the last three matches at Barking have all been really close and settled by four points, one point and three points with Tabard winning two of these.
Prediction: Home win by 12 points on recent form.
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Dings Crusaders v Weston super Mare
Fifth placed Dings Crusaders are at home to 12th placed Weston super Mare this weekend looking to avoid a third successive defeat in the league.
Dings made a great start to the season after their summer reprieve with six wins in their opening eight matches but have now slipped to successive defeats.
Weston returned to winning ways last week and needed to after a poor run of form which saw them lose five in a row and drop down the table after a reasonable start to the season with two wins from four matches. Weston do need to try and find some fire power with only Haywards Heath scoring fewer points than them.
Despite finishing in a relegation place last season Dings Crusaders did the double over Weston super Mare and won this fixture 26-8. Later in the season they won at Weston by a single point 16-15.
Prediction: Home win by eight points.
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Havant v Hertford
Eighth placed Havant entertain ninth placed Hertford with both sides looked on 19 points and the Hampshire side having better points difference by 14 points.
After winning four in a row after a poor start to the season Havant have now lost two in a row and will see this match with home advantage as the ideal one to return to winning ways in.
Havant have won two and lost two at home but the two defeats were against North Walsham and Lydney.
Hertford did win on their last away trip after loosing their first three, when they were 21-16 winners at Southend.
Hertford have the better defence conceding 44 fewer points more but Havant have scored 58 more points.
These two met last season in Powergen London One with both matches going to the away side. Havant were 23-16 winners at Highfields in April after losing at home earlier in the season 22-20.
Prediction: Home win by seven points.
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North Walsham v Lydney
Match of the day at Scottow as leaders North Walsham entertain third placed Lydney who were top until last weekend.
Lydney will be looking to get last weeks narrow defeat at home to Redruth out of their system and you could there is no better match to do it in than this, against the team that took their top spot. That was Lydney second defeat of the season and they have both been at home with a two point defeat by Barking being the other. On the road this season they are unbeaten with four straight wins and in the last three they have picked up the four try bonus point.
North Walsham are unbeaten at home this season with four wins out of four but were given a scare by Lydney’s conquerors from last week before coming through 15-14.
They have picked up more four try bonus points than any other side, seven.
When these sides last met two seasons ago Lydney did the double over North Walsham on their way to second place and a play off victory. At Scottow they were 25-15 winners over the Christmas period. When they met at Regentsholme later in the season Lydney were 27-7 winners.
Prediction: Home win by five points but could go either way.
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Reading v Haywards Heath
Both these sides are need of a win but Haywards Heath more than Reading as they have yet to win this season and are 11 points adrift at the bottom of the table.
All three of Reading wins have come at home with just the one loss at Holme Park, losing by five points to top of the table side North Walsham.
Haywards Heath have yet to win and managed just three bonus points picked up in close defeats, one of these was away when they lost 16-10 at Hertford.
These two sides met in the play off two seasons ago and it was Haywards Heath who triumphed with a 34-21 victory to get into the National League for the first time ever.
Prediction: Home win by eight points.
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Redruth v Old Patesians
Fourth placed Redruth have to keep winning to try and catch the top three and with a home match against 10th placed Old Patesians they would expect to.
Reading have now won four in a row after their last minute but deserved success at Lydney last weekend. At home this season they have a 100% record with four wins out of four. Where they do lag behind is on bonus points, they have the lowest total of any of the top five sides.
Old Patesians were back to winning ways last week as they ended a three match losing streak. On the road they have lost three out of four but have picked up bonus points in two of those losses for narrow defeats. A win could see then go as high as sixth if they keep up their good recent for at Redruth (See below)
Old Patesians have a great record against Redruth since they joined the National Leagues in the 2001/02 season. They have won five of the six matches with Redruth’s only success coming at home last season 19-7 with Old Patesians looking for a hat trick of wins at the Recreation Ground.
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Prediction: Home win by nine points.
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Westcombe Park v Southend
Sixth placed Westcombe Park host second bottom Southend on Saturday looking for a third consecutive win in the league.
Combe have improved of late and climbed the league table. At Goddington Dene they have won three in a row after an opening day defeat against Redruth.
Overall their four defeats have all been again sides in the top five.
Amazingly Southend have yet to pick up a four try bonus point, last season they were one of the heaviest try scoring teams in the division.
After an improvement which saw them win three out of four they have now lost three out of four and are second bottom of the table.
Last season this fixture went with the home side as they met in the National League for the first time. Both wins were big ones with this fixture going to Combe 40-13 but later in the season Southend were 49-10 winners over Combe.
Prediction: Home win by 12 points.
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