NATIONAL THREE NORTH
Bedford Athletic v Fylde
Bottom of the table Bedford Athletic play host to Fylde this weekend looking to get back to winning ways after back to back defeats at the hands of the leaders Halifax.
Prior to the defeats to Halifax they had won tow out of three and had snow some improved form which they took into the Halifax matches holding them close for an hour at Halifax and then last Saturday opening up a 23-7 lead in the opening 25 minutes.
Bedford have managed four wins form nine matches at home and a win here would take them to 50% at home this season.
Fylde do not have the best of away records in the division with just two wins and a draw from their seven matches and are 12th in the away table.
They are though four unbeaten with two wins and two draws in those matches after suffering back to back defeats before that.
When these two met at Woodlands earlier in the season Fylde came out on top 18-8.
Prediction: Home win by less than five points.
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Blaydon v Cleckheaton
9th placed Blaydon entertain 12th placed Cleckheaton knowing a win could put them 11 point clear of the Yorkshire side and a relegation place.
Blaydon suffered a bad home loss last weekend to their North East rivals Darlington Mowden Park so will be keen to get back to winning ways quickly and will see a home match against a side below them as the perfect opportunity to do so.
At home this season they only have a 50/50 record with four wins and four defeats so could be vulnerable.
Cleckheaton know a win could see them move out of the bottom three or at least get them closer to the sides above them in the table and safety. On their travels this season they have not done to well after a bright start and managed just two wins in eight.
When these to met at Cleckheaton the home side were 23 -3 winners.
Prediction: Blaydon to win by eight points.
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Darlington v Macclesfield
11th placed Darlington have a tough home match this week over second placed Macclesfield knowing they need to win their home matches to try and stay out of the relegation zone.
Darlington have won two of their last four matches and have a reasonable home record of four wins in their eight matches at Blackwell Meadows.
A win could see them move up the table quite a few places with five sides separated by just three points above them in the table.
Macclesfield have shown great consistency this season and on the road have managed five wins in eight matches which is the second best away record in the division after leaders Halifax.
When these to ides met earlier in the season it was a close run affair with Macclesfield taking the win although Darlington did manage a losing bonus point in an 18-13 defeat.
Prediction: Macclesfield by 10 points. .
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Dudley Kingswinford v Halifax
Leaders Halifax travel down to the Midlands to take on 13th placed Dudley Kingswinford looking to maintain their 13 point lead at the top of the table.
Dudley after putting together back to back wins for the first time this season have gone down to three successive defeats
At home they have the worst record in National Three North with just one win from eight matches although they have picked up a couple of draws as well with just 12 points to show six fewer than Cleckheaton.
Halifax have been give a couple of tough encounters recently by a much improved Bedford Athletic side before coming through strongly in the second half to take all five points both times. On their travels they have won eight out of eight and picked up the four try bonus point four times.
When these two sides met at Halifax earlier in the season the Yorkshire side were comfortable winners 44-17.
Prediction: Halifax to maintain title charge with 12 point win.
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Kendal v Darlington Mowden Park
Seventh placed Kendal entertain North East side Darlington Mowden Park with just a point separating these two sides with both sides looking to open up daylight between themselves and the relegation zone.
Kendal have gone two matches without a win so will be keen to return to winning ways and improve their already good home record of five wins in seven matches with only Halifax and Rugby Lions leaving Mint Bridge with victories this season.
DMP returned to winning ways with an impressive away win at their in form North East rivals Blaydon last Saturday and a win here would see them go above Kendal into seventh place in the table.
When these two sides met at Mowden Park earlier in the season the North East side came out on top 29-20.
Prediction: Kendal to win by seven points.
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New Brighton v Bradford & Bingley
Third placed Bradford & Bingley travel to New Brighton knowing they need the win to keep the pressure on second placed Macclesfield and a defeat could leave them too much to do in their quest to catch the Cheshire side and get a play off place.
New Brighton after a three match losing streak got a draw against Fylde and were winners last time out and hope to continue their good run at home where they have a 50/50 record with four wins and a draw in nine matches.
The Bees are second in the Form Guide behind Halifax with five wins and one defeat in their last six matches as they look to claw back their eight point deficit on Macclesfield.
On the road this season the Yorkshire side have a 50/50 record with four wins and four defeats but on present form will see this as a winnable match to be ready to narrow the gap on Macclesfield if they slip up or don’t secure the bonus point.
When these two sides met earlier in the season at Wagon Lane the Yorkshire side were narrow winners a close fought affair 12-10.
Prediction: Bradford & Bingley to win by eight points.
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Rugby Lions v Tynedale
10th placed Rugby Lions are at home to sixth placed Tynedale this weekend and know they need to get on a winning run to pull away from the wrong end of the table.
The Lions have lost three of their last four matches, a run which has seen them slipped down the table along with losing five points for fielding too many overseas players in a match.
At home this season they have managed four wins form nine matches and a win here would give them a 50/50 record at Webb Ellis Road.
Tynedale have slipped of late and are down in 13th place in the Form Guide with just two wins in their last six matches including a run of three successive defeats.
Away from home they have managed four wins in nine matches.
When these two sides met at Tynedale earlier in the season the match ended all square at 23 all.
Prediction: Rugby Lions to get back to winning ways with a seven point win.
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