Check out our weekly previews and predictions.
National Two
Friday 18th March
Nuneaton v Moseley
Bottom of the table Nuneaton entertain 3rd placed Moseley with both sides looking to get back to winning ways for different reasons.
Nuneaton were disappointed not to get the win away last week at Blackheath after leading at half time, a win there would have seen them move off the bottom of the table for the first time in a long long time and given them a terrific boost. This week they will be looking to improve their home form which has seen them pick up just three wins all season at Liberty Way.
Moseley were really disappointed at losing at home to Stourbridge last weekend and let Newbury open up an eight point gap on them especially with Newbury at Doncaster on Saturday, they could have actually moved above the Berkshire side but it was not to be.
On the road this season they have a 50/50 record with five wins and five defeats.
Prior to last Saturday they had put together a three match losing record and have got to return to winning ways in this match to have an outside chance of catching Newbury now.
When these two sides met early in the season Moseley were comfortable 35-0 winners.
Prediction: Home win by six points.
Disagree!! Have your say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Saturday 19th March
Doncaster v Newbury
Leaders Doncaster take on second placed Newbury knowing a win here would all but warp up the National Two league title.
Doncaster were impressive winners last week at home to Waterloo who had been in good form recently.
They are 15 points clear of Newbury and a win and four tries would see them go 20 points clear of Newbury, if they win by more than seven, and they have a vastly superior points difference.
At home this season they are unbeaten but on a couple of occasions have been pushed all the way before coming through with the win.
Newbury were given a real scare last week at home to Esher before coming through late on to take the win and pick up the bonus point and with Moseley losing at home to Stourbridge they find themselves eight points clear of third place.
Newbury go into the match with a good away record of six wins in 10 matches.
Doncaster were 24-15 winners when these two met earlier in the season.
Prediction: Doncaster to win by eight points.
Disagree!! Have your say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Launceston v Blackheath
Fourth placed Launceston take on ninth placed Blackheath at Polson Bridge with both sides looking to extend winning runs.
Launceston were narrow away winners last weekend at Wharfedale and a win on Saturday to make it three wins in four matches which has helped them climb back up the table to fourth spot.
They have done reasonably well at home with six wins in 10 matches to date but have lost a couple of home fixtures they would have expected to beat.
Blackheath scored an important win last Saturday at home to Nuneaton after trailing at half time and move nine points clear of the relegation zone.
They do not have the best of away records with just three wins picked up in 10 road trips this season.
When these two met earlier in the season it ended a 13 all draw
Prediction: Home success at Polson Bridge with eight point win.
Disagree!! Have your say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Manchester v Wharfedale
Sixth placed Manchester entertain eighth placed Wharfedale at Grove Lane with both sides looking to return to winning ways.
Manchester went down to a fourth successive defeat last week away at Bracknell in a match that saw both sides score four tries apiece.
They still have the 4th best home record in the division despite their poor recent form with seven wins in 10 matches.
Wharfedale went down to a third successive defeat last Saturday and have managed just one win in their last six league matches and are second bottom of the Form Guide, a place below Manchester.
On the road this season the Yorkshire side have picked up four wins in 10 matches.
Manchester were 34-23 winners when these two met earlier in the season at Threshfields.
Prediction: Home success by seven points.
Disagree!! Have your say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Rosslyn Park v Esher
Second bottom Rosslyn Park entertain 11th placed Esher with both sides desperate for the win although it may come too late for Park who are in trouble at present.
Park are bottom of the Form Guide with six straight defeats. Last weekend at Harrogate they fought back to get to within a point at 36-37 before two very late tries gave the home side the win and sent Park with just a four try bonus point. If Park lose they would be 13/14 points from safety would be too big a gap to pull back at this stage of the season.
Esher are in better form of late and last week pushed Newbury all the way before going down to defeat in a match which could have gone their way. They are up in sixth place in the Form Guide with three wins and three defeats in their last six matches.
A win for Esher here would leave Harrogate needing to win at least two games to overhaul them in the table if they were to lose at Stourbridge on Saturday.
Rosslyn Park were 17-10 winners at Esher earlier in the season as they look to do the double over them.
Prediction: Away win by six points.
Disagree!! Have your say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Stourbridge v Harrogate
Seventh placed Stourbridge entertain third bottom Harrogate with the Yorkshire side looking for back to back wins. .
Excellent away win last week for Stourbridge who dented Moseley’s hopes of catching second placed Newbury with a 20-13 win.
Stourbridge have shown a bit of form lately and a win here could see them move above Manchester in they slip up at home this Saturday.
Stourbridge do though have a terrible home record with only the bottom two having a worse record, they have managed just three wins and a draw in their 10 matches to date.
Harrogate will be looking to build on last week’s high scoring win over Rosslyn Park which ended a three match losing run. But to do this they will need to improve their poor away form which has seen them pick up just two away wins all season and after this match have tough trips to Launceston and Waterloo.
This was a close high scoring match earlier in the season with Stourbridge leaving with a 39-36 victory.
Prediction: Home win by nine points.
Disagree!! Have your say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Waterloo v Bracknell
Fifth placed Waterloo entertain 10th placed Bracknell at Blundellsands looking to get last weeks loss at Doncaster out of their system.
Waterloo saw their three match winning run come to an end last Saturday as they were well beaten at leaders Doncaster. Prior to that defeat they had been one of the in form sides in the division.
Waterloo have lost three at home this season and drawn one of their 10 matches to date.
Bracknell are not quite out of relegation trouble yet but a win here would probably make them safe especially and with some tough matches still to come this season it may be needed.
On the road they have picked up two wins and a draw in their 11 matches and a third win would be a great result.
Waterloo won well at Bracknell early in the season with a comfortable 34-6 victory.
Prediction: Home success for Waterloo by eight points.
Disagree!! Have your say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
|
