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Sunday 2nd January
Pertemps Bees v Henley Hawks
Eighth placed Pertemps Bees entertain 13th placed Henley Hawks at Sharmans Cross on Sunday with the Bees looking to end their losing run which has seen them slip down the league table.
The Bees after a bright start to the season the Bees have suffered a total collapse of form losing the last five in the league and drop down the league table.
This is the Bees sixth home match in the league this season and so far they have won three and lost two, their last two to Exeter and Nottingham.
Henley Hawks were winner’s last time out winning 18-14 at home to London Welsh and they moved to within a point of the Welsh with this win.
On the road this season Henley have lost all seven matches picking up four bonus points though on their travels.
The Bees have dominated this fixture in recent times and have won the last five meetings between the two sides including 45-25 win at Dry Lees earlier in the season.
The Hawks have won at Sharmans Cross back in April 1999 when they were 22-8 victors.
Prediction: Bees to win by 8 points
Monday 3rd January
Plymouth Albion v Sedgley Park
Second placed Plymouth Albion entertain 11th placed Sedgley Park at Brickfields knowing a full house five points could see them top the National One league table with leaders Bristol not playing.
Plymouth are on a great run with six wins and a draw in their last eight league matches. Their last defeat was away at Pertemps Bees back in October.
At home this season they are unbeaten with five wins and a draw to date with only Otley stopping them getting a win at Brickfields.
Park have finally found their feet in National One after a shaky start and are looking for a fourth successive win and lost just once in their last six matches. On the road this season they have picked up two away wins but will be hard pushed to get close to a third against Albion.
The sides met for the first time on the opening day of the season at Park Lane and Albion left with the win after a 32-21 victory.
Prediction: Albion to win by 10 points at Brickfields.
Orrell v Otley
Bottom of the table Orrell entertain seventh placed Otley at Edge Hall Road looking for just their second win of the season.
Orrell are having a dreadful season with just one win in 13 matches and have lost their last four matches. Their only win was a 26-25 home win over Henley Hawks. They have only played five games at home this season and have lost the other four.
They have picked up the losing bonus point three times at home and will hope to turn it round with a home success to start the New Year.
Otley on the road have picked up two wins in six matches and a draw as well. After matches at Bristol and Plymouth recently where they put in excellent performances they will be confident of victory in this match. They got a draw at Plymouth Albion and after a poor start at Bristol held the Shoguns to 23-11
These two met on the opening day of the season at Cross Green ant Otley were 37-28 winners to end an Orrell three match winning run in this series of matches.
In the three meeting at Edge Hall Road Orrell have won the last two with the only Otley victory coming in January 2001 when the Yorkshire side won 23-20.
Prediction: Otley to win away by 12 points.
Rotherham v Bedford Blues
Six placed Rotherham entertain fifth placed Bedford Blues at Clifton Road as the clubs meet for the first time this season. They were originally due to meet on the opening day of the season but with all the confusion over the future of Rotherham saw the match postponed.
Rotherham have slipped of late and find themselves down to sixth spot on the back of a run which has seen them win just once in their last five matches. At home this season Rotherham have an excellent record with six wins and just one defeat with leaders Bristol winning there 16-15, it is their away record which has let them down.
Bedford have picked up again of late and have won three of their last four matches to climb up to fifth place in the table.
They have won twice in six matches on their travels this season and may find this a difficult match to make it three in a row. Their two wins have come at Otley and London Welsh earlier in the season and they have lost their last three on the road.
Rotherham have dominated this fixture in recent seasons and have won the last five matches after the Blues won the previous three fixtures in the series.
Bedford Blues last won at Clifton Road back in March 1997 when they were 32-11 winners. Since then Rotherham have won all three matches at Clifton Road and twice topped the 50 point mark.
Prediction: Rotherham to win by less than six points
Nottingham v Coventry
10th placed Nottingham play host to Midlands rivals Coventry looking to reverse an opening day defeat at the new Butts Arena, and on recent form they will fancy their chances.
Nottingham have climbed the table in recent weeks after a poor start to the season and have won four of their last six matches to move 10 points clear of the relegation zone.
Nottingham know that a win in this match could see them move above Coventry in the table
Nottingham have picked up three wins at home from seven matches and they were their last three against Henley, Sedgley Park and Orrell.
Coventry have lost their last three matches and four of the last five and if they lose the points form the home Rotherham match later in the season they will below Nottingham in the league table.
On the road this season they have managed just one win in six matches a 20-13 win at Orrell since then they have lost five in a row on their travels.
Coventry were convincing winners earlier in the season when the sides met for the first time in a long time on the opening day of the season. Prior to that match you had to go back to the 1996/97 season when Coventry did the double over Nottingham who were relegated that season.
Prediction: Nottingham to win by less than six points.
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