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NATIONAL THREE SOUTH
Haywards Heath v Reading
Bottom of the table Haywards Heath entertain third bottom Reading with both sides in need of a win although home matches like this are must win matches for the home side if they are going to have any chance of climbing up the table and avoiding the drop back into London One.
Last time out on December 18th saw Haywards Heath finally pick up their first win of the season with a 30-10 win away at Tabard.
They had come close on a number of occasions this season losing by just two points twice. They have yet to win at home but came close against Old Patesians and Southend.
Reading have lost there last two matches and in a tight league table have dropped to 12th although there are seven sides separated by just four points.
On the road this season they have lost all seven matches and all by 12 points or more and picking up just one point along the way when they scored four tries in a 50-32 loss at Barking.
When the sides met at Holme Park earlier in the season Reading were 33-26 winners. This was the second meeting between the two sides having met in the Play off between the runners up of London One and South West one the previous season. Haywards Heath with home advantage were winners 34-21 sending the up to National Three South.
Prediction: Home win by less than eight points.
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Hertford v Havant
Second bottom Hertford play host to sixth placed Havant with just nine points separating the clubs and knowing that a win could see them move up the table four or five places depending on the other results.
Hertford are bottom of the Form Guide with just the one win in their last six matches after a bright start to the season. At home they have managed three wins in seven matches and need to improve their fire power as defensively they have done reasonably well with eight sides having conceded more points than them.
Havant after a shaky start to the season have improved of late and opened up a bit of a gap on the sides below them with three wins in their last six matches. They have picked up just a couple of wins in seven matches on the road with successes at Haywards Heath and Tabard.
Havant were convincing winners earlier this season when the sides meet for the first time in National League rugby. Last season they met in London One and both fixtures went with the home side.
Prediction: Away win by less than five points.
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Lydney v North Walsham
Match of the day wit leaders North Walsham travelling to third placed Lydney with the home side in a must win situation if they are going to make inroads in the top two’s lead in the division.
Lydney have suffered a blip in form of late with three defeats in four matches to fall off the pace and let the top two open up a nine point lead at the top of the table. At home they have already lost twice with Barking and Redruth leaving with the points in two and one point defeats.
North Walsham have lost just once all season and on the road have won six out of seven matches, their only defeat was at the hands of Barking 23-7. They have picked up nine four try bonus points which is the most in the division, one more than Barking.
When the sides met before Christmas at Scottow North Walsham were narrow winners to record just their second win over North Walsham in five matches. At Regentsholme Lydney have won both the previous meeting as they go for a treble to get back into the promotion race.
Prediction: Home win less than seven points.
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Old Patesians v Redruth
Fourth placed Redruth travel to seventh placed Old Patesians knowing they need to win as they try and keep pace with the sides that have broken away at the top of the table.
Old Patesians have slipped a little lately with just two wins in their last six matches. At home this season they have picked up just three wins in seven matches although one of those was against second placed Barking.
Old Patesians need to find some more points form somewhere with just 193 points scored, only three sides have scored fewer points.
Redruth are on an excellent run with six successive wins. On the road Redruth have lost just twice in seven matches with four wins and a draw in the other five matches.
Redruth have the tightest defence in the division with just 142 points conceded in 13 matches.
Old Patesians have an excellent record against Redruth in National League rugby winning five of the seven meetings since they entered the National Leagues in the 2001/02 season. At Everest Road, Old Patesians have won all three meetings with the last two by just three and one points after thrashing Redruth 59-35 in their first meeting.
Prediction: Tough call home win by less than five points.
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Southend v Westcombe Park
Eighth placed Westcombe Park entertain ninth placed Southend at Goddington Dene. With both sides locked on 23 points a win would see Southend go above Combe and they could go up to seventh in the league table.
Although losing last time out Southend had managed back to back wins before that and climbed the table to get out of the relegation zone. This season they have not found their points scoring form of last season and managed just 214 points. At home this season Southend have the second worst record with just two wins and just two bonus points picked up only Haywards Heath have a worse record.
Westcombe Park have slipped of late and gone down to three successive defeats.
Combe have picked up two away wins on the road and have the ninth best record in away matches in the division with wins at Hertford and Weston.
Southend are looking to do the double over Combe having won 25-16 at Goddington Dene earlier in the season. When they met for the first time in the National Leagues last season the home side won both encounters comfortably.
Prediction: Southend by eight points.
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Tabard v Barking
Second placed Barking travel to Tabard looking to keep their winning record going and keep the pressure on leaders North Walsham.
Tabard have lost their last three league matches and have slipped down the table in recent weeks and this may not be the game to see them turn that run round.
At home this season Tabard have a 50/50 record including an excellent win over Dings Crusaders but last time out they gave Haywards Heath their first win of the season.
Barking have been scoring points for fun recently and will see this as another Win as they look to keep the pressure on the leaders.
On the road this season Barking have picked up fie wins in six matches coming unstuck at Old Patesians 14-13.
Barking have dominated this fixture in recent times with six wins in nine meetings since the start of the 200/01 season.
Barking have won three times at Cobden Hill but last season Tabard broke the run with a 20-13 win.
Last season Tabard did the double over Barking but this season it looks like Barking are going to do the double over Tabard.
Prediction: Away win by 15 points.
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Weston super Mare v Dings Crusaders
Fifth placed Dings Crusaders travel to 11th placed Weston super Mare looking to make it 10 wins in 14 matches this season which would be two more than in the whole of last season.
After a poor run Weston have gone two and two in their last four matches and moved up the table. At home they have a 50/50 record with three wins and three defeats.
Dings after a two game losing run have won their last three matches and will be confident of making four this Saturday.
On the road this season Dings have picked up three wins in seven matches
Despite finishing in the relegation zone last season Dings Crusaders liked playing Weston super Mare doing the double over them. They continued that good run with a win at home to them a few weeks ago 19-13.
Prediction: Away win by less than six points.
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