NATIONAL ONE
Saturday 5th February 2pm
Exeter Chiefs v Bristol Shoguns
International matches apart, this is probably the most important fixture of the day, as the two promotion favourites face each other at the County Ground on Saturday.
Exeter came through a very tough game on Saturday with a 27-21 home victory against Penzance & Newlyn. This leaves them in third position, now five points behind Bristol and Plymouth, as a result of them failing to gain a bonus point for the first time this season. They have played eight matches at the County Ground in this campaign and won seven, their one point loss coming against neighbours Plymouth on 8th January.
Bristol had another comfortable home victory on Sunday running up 43 unanswered points against Nottingham. They went back to the top of the league on the same points as Plymouth, but both they and Exeter have two games in hand over Albion. They have only played six of their fifteen matches away from home and have won them all.
The result of this game could have a major impact on who is playing Premiership rugby next season. They have only met four times before in league rugby and Bristol have won three. Exeter won the last meeting at the County Ground in April 2004, and both sides have improved significantly since. In a match that is likely to test the ground capacity of 5,200, Bristol may come out on top and strengthen their position at the top of the league.
Prediction: Bristol to win by 6 points
Saturday 5th February 3pm
Coventry v Pertemps Bees
Postponed from Christmas, Coventry look to increase their run of victories to six, when they entertain Midlands rivals Pertemps Bees at the Butts Arena on Saturday.
Coventry recorded their fifth league win in succession on Saturday in a high scoring 43-33 match at London Welsh. They overtook Pertemps Bees as a result and are now eighth in the division, only six points behind fourth placed Otley with a game in hand.
They are unbeaten in 2005 and have still only lost one home league match, to Sedgley Park, at the Butts Arena.
Pertemps Bees lost 17-6 at Otley on Saturday, which was a reasonable result. They drop to ninth position, four points behind Coventry. They have lost their early season form recently and have only won three matches, all against the bottom three teams at home, from their last 10 matches played. They have played nine away matches this season and won three, again at the homes of bottom three Orrell, London Welsh and Henley.
Although Sedgley Park are the only team to win at Coventry in a league match this season, Pertemps Bees were actually the first team to inflict a defeat against them at the Butts Arena, doing so in the Powergen Cup. These teams have met eight times in the league since 2000 and Coventry won the first five and Pertemps Bees the last three. Coventry are the form team of the two at the moment, and should break the current run the Bees are enjoying against them.
Prediction: Coventry to win by 10 points |
