National Two
Blackheath v Harrogate
9th placed Blackheath takes on 12th placed Harrogate at the Rectory Field looking for a win to stay away from the relegation zone as a win for Harrogate could narrow the gap between the two sides to two or three points.
Blackheath have managed three wins at home this season from eight matches and need to improve on that form in the run in to keep out of the relegation zone.
They are looking to avoid a third straight loss and have picked up just two wins in their last six matches.
Harrogate has a huge incentive to win here as they could possibly move out of the relegation zone if they can build on last week’s home success in the Yorkshire derby over Wharfedale.
When these sides met earlier in the season Blackheath left Claro Road with a 26-14 win.
The only time they met before at the Rectory Field was back in September 1999 when Harrogate won 22-17 in Blackheath’s relegation season.
Prediction: Home win by eight points.
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Bracknell v Rosslyn Park
Huge game for both sides as 10th placed Bracknell, entertain 11th placed Rosslyn Park with both sides desperate for the points to keep out of the relegation zone.
Bracknell have turned their form round in recent weeks and climbed from second bottom in the table and find themselves four points clear of the relegation zone.
They have put together back to back wins and won three of the last four. Three of their four wins have come at home and if they are to take advantage of their good recent form this is a must win match for them.
Park have lost their last three matches and sit bottom of the form guide with just one win in their last six matches. On the road this season, Park have picked up just the one win in seven matches.
Earlier in the season Park were home winners in this fixture 9-7. Park have won twice in three visits since the 1999/2000 season.
Prediction: Bracknell to win by seven points.
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Doncaster v Stourbridge
Leaders Doncaster take on 6th placed Stourbridge looking to maintain their nine point lead at the top of the National Two table.
At home Doncaster have won all seven matches this season in the league and will be confident of making it eight in a row although they have been pushed a couple of times this season at home.
Stourbridge after a great start to the season have fell off the pace and in their last six matches have managed just the two victories one of those was an excellent win at Manchester to end their 100% home record.
This is the 10th meeting between these two sides and follows on from a 19 all draw early in the season. Doncaster are going for a fourth consecutive home win over Stourbridge in the league since losing the first meeting between the two.
Prediction: Doncaster to win by 10 points.
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Manchester v Launceston
Two sides meet at Grove Lane looking to get back on track after a couple of disappointing results. Fourth placed Launceston travel to 5th placed Manchester with both looking to return to winning ways after two matches without wins.
Manchester were held to a draw last week at bottom of the table Nuneaton with the home side kicking an injury time penalty goal to snatch a draw and the week before they lost their 100% home record to Stourbridge.
Launceston were defeat last week at home to Newbury missing the chance of going back above the Berkshire back into second place in a low scoring match which they lost 11-3.
The Cornish All Blacks have a great away record and have lost just the once this season on the road at Newbury and have five wins and two draws in their other seven road trips.
When the sides met for the first time ever in the league earlier this season Launceston were 35-27 winners.
Prediction: Manchester by less than six points.
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Newbury v Moseley
Interesting match at Monks Lane this week with two form sides meeting as second placed Newbury take on third placed Moseley.
Newbury picked up an important away win at Launceston last weekend and are looking for a hat trick of wins to keep ahead of the chasing pack in second place in the National Two table.
Moseley have won five of their last six matches to climb to third place and must still be kicking themselves for losing at Wharfedale especially in the light of the Yorkshire sides loss at Harrogate last week.
Moseley will need to improve on their away form which has been disappointing as highlighted in the defeat at Wharfedale and have managed three wins form seven matches.
Newbury are looking to do the double over Moseley after winning 31-16 there earlier in the season. Last season at home Newbury thrashed Moseley 45-7.
Prediction: Newbury by seven points.
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Waterloo v Nuneaton
Seventh placed Waterloo entertain a revitalised Nuneaton at Blundellsands with both sides putting in some good recent performances.
Waterloo are one of the form sides in the division with five wins in their last six matches and they have risen to seventh place and a win here could see them move up another place with Stourbridge having a tough match at Doncaster.
Nuneaton after looking down and out have put together two wins and a draw in their last three matches to close the gap and are now within striking distance of the two sides directly above them in the league table.
On the road though they have managed just one win in eight and despite their improvement Waterloo are now playing well and the revival may well have to be put on hold for a couple of weeks.
In, three matches between these two sides in the league Nuneaton have won all three games. Earlier this season Nuneaton were 11-10 whilst at Blundellsands last season Nuneaton were narrow 15-12 winners.
Prediction: Home win by less than eight points.
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Wharfedale v Esher
Second bottom Esher travel to Threshfields looking for an upturn in form as they find themselves in serious trouble at the wrong end of the table to take on eighth placed Wharfedale. .
Wharfedale are struggling to find any consistency, last week they were beaten at Harrogate although the week before they had ended Moseley excellent winning run.
At home Wharfedale have done well with six wins and two losses to date and will see this as chance to get back to winning ways after losing three of their last four matches.
Esher are the only side not to have won away from home this season, they have lost all seven matches picking up just a couple of bonus points along the way.
Esher have now lost four in a row and slipped down to 13th in the table four points off safety.
Wharfedale were winners at Esher earlier in the season winning 20-8. In four meetings at Threshfields Esher have picked up one win when they were 26-12 winners in the 2002/03 season.
Prediction: Home win by less than eight points.
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