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National Two
Bracknell v Wharfedale
Second bottom Bracknell entertain seventh placed Wharfedale looking for just their second win of the season.
Wharfedale are fresh from their win over the division’s form side Newbury last week at Threshfields when Jonathan Davies out kicked Dave Harvey in a 9-6 win. Wharfedale have played just five away this season and have won three of those.
Bracknell after picking up their first win have lost their last three and are already eight points behind the fourth bottom side and safety.
In the try scoring stakes the home side have managed just 16 tries, the lowest total in the division, in 12 matches and five of those came in one game. Wharfedale on the other hand have notched up 30 tries although only nine of those have come away from hone.
Prediction: Away win by 10 points.
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Doncaster v Blackheath
Leaders Doncaster will be looking to get last weeks surprise defeat out of their system when they entertain ninth placed Blackheath.
Doncaster lost for the first time last weekend but with Newbury also losing they maintained their six point lead at the top of the National Two league table.
Doncaster are still leaders in scoring most points and conceding fewest.
Blackheath returned to winning ways last Saturday as they ended a three match losing streak with their home win over Bracknell.
Blackheath have picked up two wins on the road this season from their five road trips and this is a match to far to make it three.
Prediction: Home win by 14 points.
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Launceston v Esher
Third placed Launceston entertain 10th placed Esher with both sides going into the match on the back of wins last weekend.
Launceston moved into third spot last weekend with their win at Rosslyn Park and Manchester going down at Esher. They have actually been beaten twice at home this season and have a better away record losing just the once.
Despite the difference in league positions there is only five tries between them, the home side have notched up 39 so far this season and Esher 34. The big difference is defensively where Launceston have conceded 23 tries and Esher 42 including 18 in the final quarter the highest figure in the division.
Esher were involved in a high scoring thriller before coming through to beat Manchester 41-39 in a ten try encounter last Saturday as they ended a five match losing streak.
They are one of three sides in the division yet to win an away match this season. .
Prediction: Home win by 10 points.
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Manchester v Harrogate
Fourth placed Manchester host 12th placed Harrogate looking to get back to winning ways after their high scoring loss at Esher last weekend to end a three match winning record.
Harrogate were beaten at Claro Road last Saturday by Waterloo going down to a second successive defeat and their eighth overall this season. On the road this season the Yorkshire side have managed just the one win backing September at Nuneaton. Harrogate have no problem scoring points they are the 4th highest scorers in the division but they have suffered defensively with only Nuneaton conceding more points than them.
Manchester are one of only two sides to have a 100% home record this season along with leaders Doncaster. They are the leading try scorers in the division with 46 and 22 of those have come at home. They do well in the opening quarter and final quarter with 15 and 16 respectively in those periods.
Prediction: Home win by 15 points.
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Newbury v Stourbridge
Second place Newbury entertain Stourbridge who have dropped in recent weeks form second place to fifth in recent weeks as there form has fell away.
Newbury saw their seven match winning run come to an end last week going down at Threshfields as Wharfedale beat them 9-6. At home they have won five out of six with only leaders Doncaster leaving with the points.
There is not much to choose between them in attacking quarters with Newbury running in 35 tries and Stourbridge two fewer. In tries conceded though there is a huge gulf with Newbury conceding just 16 and Stourbridge 21 more at 37.
Stourbridge after their brilliant start to the season which saw them hot on the heels of Doncaster returned to winning ways last weekend after a run of no wins in four with two defeats and two draws in that period.
Away form home they have done well with four wins and a draw from six matches losing just the once when they were thumped at Launceston.
Prediction: Home win by eight points.
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Nuneaton v Rosslyn Park
Bottom of the table Nuneaton host 11th placed Rosslyn Park with both sides thinking they can pick up some valuable points with the win.
Nuneaton were beaten at Stourbridge last weekend but were in the match for the first hour until two late converted tries saw Stourbridge pull clear and send Nuneaton to a fourth consecutive defeat. Nuneaton have only played five matches at home and managed just one win and one draw to go with three defeats.
Nuneaton have also had the more penalties kicked against them than any other side with 29 four more than any other side.
Park were beaten at home last weekend by Launceston going down to a third straight defeat. Park have managed just the one away win this season in five trips winning at Esher.
Not much between the two sides in the try scoring stakes with Park just edging it 19-17. In the tries against there is a huge difference with Park conceding 30 and Nuneaton 48.
Prediction: Away win less than seven points.
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Waterloo v Moseley
Eighth placed Waterloo entertain sixth placed Moseley at Blundellsands on Saturday with both sides having picked up wins last Saturday.
Moseley sent unbeaten Doncaster to their first defeat of the season with a narrow 21-20 win at home. Moseley have now won two on the bounce away form home after losing their first three and will see this as a good chance to make it a hat trick.
Moseley lead the way in the division in penalties converted with 34 so far seven more than anyone else and 14 more than Waterloo have managed.
Waterloo are now unbeaten in three and won two on the bounce after their away win at Harrogate last Saturday. At home this season they have a 50% record two wins a draw and two defeats and will be looking to improve that at the weekend.
Waterloo have scored one try fewer than Moseley this season with 29 but only six of Moseley’s have come on the road.
Prediction: Home win by eight points or less.
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