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National Two
Blackheath v Wharfedale
Seventh placed Wharfedale, travel to ninth placed Blackheath looking for the double over the Kent side this season and keep some daylight between the sides below them in the league table.
Blackheath need to improve their recent form after slipping to four defeats in their last five matches. They have won as many matches away from home this season as they have at home and need to make sure they get more home victories in the coming months.
Wharfedale have won four of their last six matches and sit comfortable in seventh place seven points clear of eighth placed Waterloo. On their travels this season they have a 50/50 record with three wins and three defeats. They have picked up just three bonus points this season including just two four try bonus points which is the joint lowest total in the division.
When the sides met earlier in the season Wharfedale came out on top in a tight match which went down to the wire before the came through 23-20. They met previously in the 1999/2000 season when it was honours even with home advantage counting in Blackheath’s relegation season.
Prediction: Home win by less than six points.
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Esher v Waterloo
Eighth placed Waterloo travel to 11th placed Esher looking for the double whilst Esher would see a home win maybe opening up some daylight between third bottom Harrogate who have a tough fixture at home to leaders Doncaster.
Esher were beaten at Launceston last time out but prior to that were winners over Manchester in a high scoring home fixture coming through 41-39.
At home this season Esher have done reasonably well with four wins form their seven matches.
Waterloo have had a mixed season but will hope that the second half of the season is better than the first. Two wins and a draw in their last four has seen them climb back up the table but they are seven points behind Wharfedale above them and need to win matches like this if they are to catch the Yorkshire side.
On the road this season they have a reasonable record with three wins from their six matches.
When, they met earlier in the season it was a close run affair with Waterloo just edging it 22-20. They met for the only other time in the 2001/02 season when Esher did the double over Waterloo and at home they were 33-26 winners having thrashed Waterloo at Blundellsands 50-15 earlier in the season.
Prediction: Home win by less than five points.
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Harrogate v Doncaster
Leaders Doncaster travel to Harrogate looking for the double and to put in a good performance after a couple of below par performances before the Christmas break.
Harrogate need to tighten up their defence otherwise they could well be losing their National Two status which they seem to have had forever. They have no problem scoring points as they are one of the six sides to have topped the 300 point mark for the season. At home they have managed just two wins in seven matches although they did also have a draw.
Doncaster were not at their best before Christmas losing at Moseley and then at home against Blackheath were they just came through in the end 22-19 and some would say they were lucky not to be beaten.
They have won four of their last five and will be confident of another win and with Newbury playing bottom side Nuneaton they will need to.
Doncaster have won the last four fixtures between the two in the league and all this after they were hammered by Harrogate the first time they met back in the 2002/03 season 49-12 at Claro Road.
Since then, Doncaster have won four in a row including a comprehensive win earlier this season 53-3.
Prediction: Away win by 15 points.
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Moseley v Bracknell
Fifth placed Moseley entertain second bottom Bracknell looking for a sixth consecutive win in the league.
Moseley became the first side to defeat leaders Doncaster this season just before the Christmas break and will be out for all five points in this match against Bracknell knowing they can catch the two sides above them if they slip up. Not the heaviest try scorers in the division with just three four try bonus points picked up so far which is the lowest total in the division. They have though got an excellent goal kicker and all round fly half in Ollie Thomas who picked up the NCA December Player of the Month award.
Bracknell have shown some signs of improving of late and were winners last time out 22-15 against Wharfedale which will give them confidence. At home this season they have picked up two wins in six matches and need to improve that form if they are to have any chance of getting out of the relegation zone.
These sides have met five times in League rugby and Moseley lead three games to one with one draw. Earlier this season, Moseley won at Bracknell 23-19 to make it two in a row at Bracknell as they were convincing 39-11 winners there last season.
At home Moseley were held to a 14 all draw last season. And the time before that it was a close run affair with Moseley just edging it 25-23 when they were in National One.
Prediction: Home win by 10 points.
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Nuneaton v Newbury
Tough match for bottom of the table Nuneaton who entertain second placed Newbury at Liberty Way.
Nuneaton have lost their last five matches and picked up just one win all season. At home they have a win and a draw in their six matches, the win was against Waterloo and the draw against Bracknell.
Nuneaton need something to turn their season round but this looks a fixture that could well be a matter of keeping the points against down.
Newbury have been the surprise side in the division this season and are five points back of leaders Doncaster but just two clear of the chasing group.
It looks like it is going to be an exciting second half of the season with Launceston, Moseley and Manchester all showing good form so this is a must win game for Newbury and an away victory looks odds on. .
Newbury were 51-3 winners when the sides met earlier in the season. They met for the first time in league rugby last season and it was Nuneaton who triumphed doing the double over Newbury although both matches were close, no more than five points between them in the two matches.
Prediction: Away win by 16 points.
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Rosslyn Park v Manchester
After losing on their last visit to London against Esher, Manchester visit Rosslyn Park looking to make amends and keep the pressure on the sides above them in the league table.
Rosslyn Park ended a three match losing run last time out and are looking for back to back wins for the second time this season knowing a win would put them well clear of the bottom three. At home this season Park have a 50/50 record with three wins and three defeats.
Manchester have four wins in their last five matches and will be looking to improve their away record. On the road this season they have picked up just two wins in seven matches and they know if they are to make a second half of the season surge up the table they need to be wining away matches like this.
Manchester have the best record in the division for four try bonus points with seven picked up in their 13 matches so far.
When the sides met earlier in the season Manchester ran out convincing 32-8 winners. They had met previously in the 1998/99 season when it was honours even as Manchester won promotion to National One. Park won their home game 12-0 having lost earlier in the season in a tense match settled in injury time with the home side coming out on top 26-25.
Prediction: Away win by seven points.
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Stourbridge v Launceston
Match of the day with Launceston travelling to Stourton Park looking for the double over Stourbridge and to keep the pressure on second placed Newbury.
Stourbridge after their great start to the season have won just one of their last six matches although there are a couple of draws in there.
Stourbridge at home have managed just three wins form six matches, drawing one and losing two along the way as well.
Launceston have won four in a row since losing at Newbury and know a win here is important as Newbury visit Polson Bridge soon and a home success over them could see them go above them in the table into second place.
Launceston have a great away record this season with just one defeat in seven along with four wins and two draws.
When the sides met earlier this season Launceston thrashed Stourbridge 59-13, the most convincing scoreline in the series of matches between the two sides. When they played at Stourton for the only time two seasons ago it was Launceston who were the winners 32-28 but later in the season Stourbridge got their revenge with a 33-28 win at Polson Bridge with the Cornish side getting relegated at the end of the season.
Prediction: Away win by eight points.
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