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NATIONAL ONE
Saturday 15th January
Bedford Blues v Otley
Match of the day in National One brings together two of the form teams in the division, level on 44 points, as Bedford entertain Otley at Goldington Road.
Bedford had an excellent win at Henley on Saturday scoring six tries in the first half to run up a 36-0 lead. They could not continue at that pace in the second half and the match finished 43-10. They have now won their last four matches and moved up to fourth place in the league. Bedford have won five of their six home games this season, and incredibly, their only dropped points were in the 14-14 draw against Orrell, however, they have yet to welcome the top three teams to the East Midlands.
Otley also won well on Saturday with a seven try 37-5 demolition of Nottingham. This was their third win on the trot and they are now fifth in the table. Difficult to beat at home, they have won three of their seven away games and drawn one.
Bedford are the only away side to have won at Otley this season when they triumphed 34-6 in September. Since 2000 the games have been evenly split with four wins each and one draw. Home advantage will make Bedford favourites on Saturday.
Prediction: Bedford to win by 5 points
Pertemps Bees v London Welsh
Two out of sorts teams with only two wins between them in the last 14 matches meet at Sharmans Cross Road on Saturday.
After winning their first match in six against Henley over the New Year period, Bees put up a reasonable performance in defeat at Penzance on Sunday. They are now ninth in the league and likely to finish in mid-table. They have won four from six matches played at home.
London Welsh are deep in the relegation battle and predictably lost heavily to Bristol at Old Deer Park on Saturday. They are still 12th in the league and lead Henley by one point and Orrell by five. Their only away win this season came at Orrell in October.
London Welsh have a very good track record against the Bees and have beaten them in seven of the last nine league matches going back to 2001. Despite this, and their poor record of late, Pertemps Bees should be too strong for the Welsh and are tipped to add another victory to their 49-13 win at Old Deer Park in September.
Prediction: Pertemps Bees to win by 8 points
Coventry v Penzance & Newlyn
A close game is predicted at the Butts Arena on Saturday as Coventry entertain an in-form Penzance & Newlyn side who have recently discovered how to win away from home.
Coventry have had a good start to 2005 and followed up their win at Nottingham by comfortably beating bottom club Orrell on Saturday, 46-13, after racing into a 39-3 half time lead. They remain eighth in the league and are another side who look destined for a mid-table finish, much better of course than the 12th position of last season. With all the top sides still to come, Coventry have won five of their six home games to date and this is probably their sternest test.
Penzance & Newlyn beat Pertemps Bees on Sunday and they have now won six of their last seven games. They dropped to sixth place in the league as a result of not picking up a bonus point and now trail Bedford and Otley by one point. They have won three from six away from home, all against teams in the bottom four.
These teams have only met each other three times previously and Penzance have won them all. They may just make it four on Saturday.
Prediction: Penzance & Newlyn to win by 8 points.
Exeter Chiefs v Henley Hawks
Third from top plays next to bottom at the County Ground on Saturday as Exeter, smarting from their first home defeat of the season, welcome Henley to Devon.
Exeter went down once more by one point to Plymouth on Saturday in an exciting derby clash in front of 4380 spectators. This was their first defeat at home from six outings this season and was a major blow to their hopes of promotion. They did however maintain their incredible record of gaining a bonus point in every game they have played this season.
Henley went down heavily to Bedford on Saturday and remain 13th in the league table, four points ahead of bottom club Orrell. They have played eight matches away from home this season and are still looking for their first win.
Exeter have won seven of the last nine league matches between these sides and they have won all of the games at the County Ground. They should win with ease again on Saturday.
Prediction: Exeter to win by 20 points.
Nottingham v Plymouth Albion
Another bottom versus top clash as Nottingham welcome second placed Plymouth Albion to Ireland Avenue.
Nottingham were beaten 37-5 at Otley on Saturday, their third defeat in succession. They remain in 11th position in the league and are 10 points ahead of third from bottom London Welsh. They have played eight games at home this season and won three, against Henley, Orrell and Sedgley Park.
Plymouth are having an excellent run at the moment and won in the dying minutes for the third game on the bounce when they pipped Exeter by a single point on Saturday. They dropped to second place, but are level with Bristol on 57 points. They have played eight games away from home and have now won six including the scalps of Bristol and Exeter.
Plymouth have won all three league games they have played against Nottingham and they should make it four on Saturday.
Prediction: Plymouth to win by 10 points
Orrell v Rotherham Titans
An interesting fixture at Edge Hall Road on Saturday as bottom of the table Orrell entertain a Rotherham side who have lost six of their last seven matches, including the last four.
Orrell lost 46-15 at Coventry on Saturday to stay four points adrift at the bottom of National One. They have only played 6 of their 15 matches on home soil and their sole victory came with a one point win against fellow strugglers Henley.
Rotherham have really gone off the boil recently and were beaten 14-13 on Saturday at Sedgley Park. They have now dropped to seventh position in the league. They have played six matches away from home and only have one win to their credit, a 29-12 victory at London Welsh in September.
Rotherham have a very good record against Orrell and have won seven of their nine league clashes since 1997, including the last six meetings. Orrell were thrashed at Rotherham 62-19 in September. Although it will be a lot closer on Saturday, the Yorkshiremen should still come out on top.
Prediction: Rotherham to win by 10 points
Sunday 16th January
Bristol Shoguns v Sedgley Park
High flying Bristol warm up for their trip to Gloucester next week with a tricky home game against much improved Sedgley Park.
Bristol are going for 10 league wins in succession. They beat London Welsh 43-3 at Old Deer Park on Saturday and have not been beaten since September, when Plymouth Albion inflicted their only defeat of the season upon them. They went back to the top of the league on Saturday courtesy of their bonus point, and as a result of Exeter losing, are looking strong favourites for promotion.
Sedgley Park continued their improvement on Saturday beating Rotherham 14-13, their fourth win in their last five games. They are now 10th in the league table on 28 points and should not be involved with the scramble at the bottom. They have played seven matches away from home and have won at Coventry and London Welsh.
These teams have only met once before, in September last year when Bristol won 43-20 at Park Lane. They are highly likely to complete the league double on Sunday.
Prediction: Bristol to win by 20 points
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