Check out this weeks action as the promotion and relegation issues hot up.
National Three North
Bedford Athletic v Darlington Mowden Park
Bottom of the table Bedford Athletic take on 11th placed Darlington Mowden Park looking to get last weeks first half performance at Dudley Kingswinford out of their system in a match both sides are desperate to take the points from in a bid to stay in National Three North.
Bedford went to DK knowing this was the sort of match they needed to get a result in and a win would have moved them of the bottom but they were blown away in the first half with the home side taking a 24-0 lead. It would have given them back to back wins for the first time this season and a first away win.
Bedford have the 8th best home record in the division with five wins form their 10 matches picking u 24 points which is their points total for the season as away from home they have yet to pick up a point, this is 10 points worse than anyone else which s why they are where they are.
To have any chance of staying up Ath’ need to win five of their last six matches and pick up a couple of bonus points. A win here and an away win at Darlington would give them hope but to win at Darlington they need to break that away day voodoo.
DMP slipped to a third successive defeat and fifth in six in the Form Guide and are just two points ahead of local rivals Darlington, who have a game in hand, and a place of a relegation spot.
A win here be useful as their next two matches are against top six sides.
On their travels this season DMP have picked up just two wins and a draw and have the fourth worst record on the road.
When these two sides met at Mowden Park earlier in the season the home side won a high scoring match 35-20.
Prediction: Home win less than six points.
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Blaydon v Halifax
Leaders Halifax go to Blaydon with the North East side looking over their shoulder as they are just three points clear of the relegation zone.
After an excellent run either side of New Year Blaydon have slipped again with just one win in five matches and a sixth likely on Saturday. But with their next four matches against Dudley, Darlington, Bedford Athletic and Rugby Lions their fate is in their own hands really.
Four wins in nine matches leaves Blaydon with the second worse home record in the division with 17 points picked up whilst away from home they have picked up 20 points.
Halifax still have nine matches to play and will be playing for the next nine weeks to catch up their backlog of fixtures.
Halifax are unbeaten away from home with nine wins out of nine and in five of those wins they have picked up the four try bonus point.
Halifax were comfortable home winners when these two met earlier in the season 40-12.
Prediction: Away win by 10 points.
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Darlington v Dudley Kingswinford
A huge match for both these sides at Blackwell Meadows as 12th placed Darlington entertain 13th placed Dudley Kingswinford. A win for the visitors would move them above Darlington in the table and with Darlington having played two fewer games
Whilst a Darlington win could see them eight points clear of DK and may move them up a couple of places in the table depending on the other results.
Darlington have picked up two wins and a draw in their last five matches and are 8th in the Form Guide.
Four wins and a draw in nine matches at Blackwell Meadows leaves Darlington with the ninth best home record in the division.
Dudley ended a four match losing streak last week with an important win over bottom of the table Bedford Athletic after a good first half performance which saw them go in 24-0 ahead. A win here would set them up for two more matches which could be important if they are t survive, a home match with Blaydon and an away trip to Rugby Lions.
DK have managed to pick up three wins on the road this season from their 10 matches.
When these two met at Heathbrook earlier in the season they could not be split with the match ending 25-25.
Prediction: Home win by six but could go either way,
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Fylde v Bradford & Bingley
Third placed Bradford & Bingley go to Woodlands to take on 5th placed Fylde.
It is a huge game for Bradford & Bingley as the look to keep the pressure up on second placed Macclesfield and it is not just wins they need but probably bonus points as well
Fylde have fell of the pace a little of late with just one win in their last four matches, they have drawn two of the others but were beaten last time out at bottom of the table Bedford Athletic.
Fylde have the second best home record in the division and are yet to be beaten at Woodlands with eight wins and a draw so far this season with only New Brighton stopping them for winning all nine.
Bradford have won four and drawn one of their last five matches as they have set about the task of closing the gap on second placed Macclesfield.
The Bees on the road have been erratic to say the least with just four wins and a draw in their nine road trips which leaves them with only the fifth best away record in the division.
Fylde were winners at Wagon Lane earlier in the season in a comfortable 31-10 success.
Prediction: Must win game for the Bees and they will by six.
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Kendal v Tynedale
6th placed Tynedale travel to Mint Bridge to take on 7th placed Kendal who will be looking to narrow the six point gap between the two sides.
Kendal are fifth in the Form Guide with three wins and a draw in their last six matches and a win here would put them within touching distance of Tynedale and 6th place.
Kendal have an excellent home record this season with six wins form their eight matches at Mint Bridge, the fifth best home record in the league.
The North East side have slipped of late and have picked up just two wins in their last six matches and have a few tough matches coming up against some of the top sides.
Tynedale have the 4th best away record in the division with five wins form their 10 matches to date this season.
Tynedale won a high scoring encounter when these two sides met earlier in the season 45-27.
Prediction: Kendal to secure seven point home win.
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New Brighton v Cleckheaton
9th placed Cleckheaton are on a roll and will take some good form with them to take on 4th placed New Brighton looking to reverse a defeat from earlier in the season.
New Brighton are unbeaten in their last four matches with two wins and two draws and have climbed back up to fourth place after slipping down the table. They will be looking to keep their good form going on Saturday as after this match they take on the top two.
New Brighton’s home form has let them down this season with just four wins and two draws form their 10 matches to date, a couple more wins and if they could have turned those draws into wins and they could have been challenging for second spot.
The Yorkshire side climbed out on the relegation zone last weekend with a home win over Rugby Lions and a win at New Brighton would make it five in a row.
Cleckheaton on the road have managed three wins in nine matches but they go into this match looking for a hat trick of away wins having won at DK and Blaydon recently.
New Brighton comfortably beat Cleckheaton 42-24 when the sides met earlier in the season.
Prediction: Cleckheaton playing well but home win eight points.
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Rugby Lions v Macclesfield
Rugby Lions need to start finding some form as they take on second placed Macclesfield at Webb Ellis Road three points above the relegation zone.
The Lions are down in 13th place in the Form Guide with just one win in their last six matches and with losing the five points as well they are getting dragged into the relegation battle and next week they travel to leaders Halifax. .
Only two sides in the division have a worse home record than Rugby Lions who have picked up just four wins form 10 matches at Webb Ellis Road this season.
In the Form Guide Macclesfield are third with four wins, a draw and one defeat in their last six matches as they look to stave of the challenge of Bradford & Bingley for the play off place if you assume they cannot catch leaders Halifax.
Macclesfield have the second best away record in the division with five wins and a draw in their nine matches and 26 points picked up.
Macclesfield go to Webb Ellis Road looking for the double having won the home fixture 30-22 earlier in the season.
Prediction: Tough call, but have to go Macclesfield to win by five.
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