Check out this weeks previews and predictions ahead of the last round of matches.
NATIONAL ONE
SATURDAY 30th April 3pm
Coventry v Bedford Blues
The last day of the season in National One and Bristol are the league champions and Henley and Orrell are relegated to National Two.
An excellent game in prospect at the Butts Arena on Saturday as two in-form teams, Coventry and Bedford, face each other with only one league placing and three league points separating the sides.
Coventry won comfortably at Sedgley Park last Saturday scoring five tries in the last quarter of the match with winger Kurt Johnson crossing for a hat trick. They still lie in seventh place in the league, three points behind Bedford in sixth. Although they had a very average first half of the season, they have improved considerably since the beginning of the new calendar year and won 10 and drawn one of their last 13 matches, losing to Bristol at home and Otley away. They have certainly had a successful first season at the Butts Arena and only lost to Bristol, and surprisingly Sedgley Park, from their 12 matches to date. Whatever the result on Saturday, they will be breathing easier than the last day of the season 12 months ago when they had to win at Wakefield to remain in National One. By winning that match they ended last season in 12th place on 37 points. To date this season they have amassed 73 points and Coventry will be looking forward to making further improvements and pushing for promotion next season.
After beating Plymouth to win the Powergen Challenge Shield a week last Saturday, Bedford went one better last weekend by beating champions Bristol at Goldington Road in front of 3284 spectators. They are finishing the season on a high and have won their last four league matches. Points machine Leigh Hinton has already beaten the 313 points he scored for Orrell last season and with 333 to his name this year will finish top scorer in the division. Last season they finished in seventh place with 61 points and that is the lowest position they can occupy this season. They have gained 76 points to date this year and that is the most they have accumulated since joining National One five years ago. They have played 12 matches away from home this season, winning eight and only losing to the top four, a very good record indeed.
These two have a fairly even record against each other over the years and since 1996, Coventry have won five, Bedford seven, and hey have drawn one from 13 played. It is likely they will fight out another close game on Saturday and Coventry are tipped to shade it.
Prediction; Coventry to win by 6 points
Henley Hawks v Penzance & Newlyn
Henley have finished one place behind Penzance in National Two and National One for the last two seasons but these two will now be playing in different divisions next season.
Henley beat Rotherham at Dry Leas last Saturday but a bonus point win by rivals London Welsh left them six points behind with one match to play, and after two seasons in this division, Henley are relegated to National Two. They have made a fight of it towards the end of the season and won four of their last eight matches, but unfortunately they only managed two wins from their first 17 matches. Five of their six victories have come at home and they only won one game, by a point at Sedgley Park, on their travels.
Penzance have had another very successful campaign and their 50-14 beating of Orrell on Sunday saw them move up to fourth spot, one point ahead of Otley. Their rise from South West 2 to South West 1 to National Three South to National Two to fourth in National One in the last nine years is nothing short of remarkable, and how long will it be before they achieve their long term goal of playing in the Zurich Premiership? They have won their last three matches and have won six of their 12 away matches this season. Their highlights have come in beating Exeter at the Mennaye and Bristol at the Memorial Ground.
Penzance have won four of the five games between the sides since they first met in league rugby in 2002. They should chalk up another victory on Saturday and achieve a best ever placing of fourth in National One.
Prediction: Penzance & Newlyn to win by 10 points
Orrell v Nottingham
A season that Orrell will want to forget comes to an end on Saturday when they entertain a Nottingham side who will be very satisfied with their achievements in their first season in National One.
Orrell lost heavily again on Sunday at Penzance, their 23rd defeat from 25 matches this term, including a club record 16 on the run. They beat Henley 26-25 at Edge Hall Road in November and drew 14-14 at Bedford in October and that is the sum of their successes this season. They have finished bottom of the table and are currently 20 points behind next to bottom Henley.
Nottingham lost a high scoring game 40-30 at home to London Welsh last Saturday. This was their first loss from their last three games which has seen them remain in 11th place, but draw level on points with last year’s fellow promotees from National Two, Sedgley Park. If they win on Saturday they have a very good chance of securing 10th spot, as ninth placed Pertemps Bees play hosts to 10th placed Sedgley Park. Nottingham have won seven matches this season, five at home and only two away.
Orrell thrashed Nottingham home and away when they met in National Two in season 2001/02. Nottingham beat Orrell for the first time, winning 31-9 at Ireland Avenue in December and they should complete the league double on Saturday.
Prediction: Nottingham to win by 6 points
Otley v Bristol Shoguns
After another successful season, Otley will be keen to finish their programme with a victory against champions Bristol.
Otley had a good win at Cross Green last Saturday when they got the better of third placed Plymouth Albion in the second half. Unfortunately for them, Penzance secured a bonus point victory and leapfrogged Otley into fourth place. With Penzance travelling to Henley on Saturday and Otley entertaining the champions, the Yorkshiremen are unlikely to improve on last season’s fifth position. They have played brilliantly at home this season and from 12 matches played to date, have only lost one, a somewhat surprising 34-6 reversal to Bedford. They will be going all out to preserve this record by adding the scalps of the champions to their list of victims.
Bristol were surprisingly beaten at Bedford on Saturday and although they have already won the league, they are now only five points ahead of second placed Exeter. After last season’s rebuilding exercise, they have done very well to improve so quickly from finishing ninth last year to winning the league. Away from home they have only been beaten twice, by Bedford and Exeter.
Otley completed a league double over Bristol last year. Bristol beat Otley 23-11 in December and they will want to finish their season with a win. Otley have had such a good season at home though, that they may take advantage of Bristol taking their foot off the pedal now the league title is sewn up.
Prediction: Otley to win by 3 points
Pertemps Bees v Sedgley Park
After the highs of last season and the encouraging start to this season, Pertemps Bees were looking for another successful campaign. Unfortunately, they have been awful in 2005 and they will be looking to bow out on Saturday with their first league win since January.
Pertemps Bees went down 35-17 at Exeter last Saturday, their ninth defeat on the run. Amazingly, they have never moved from ninth place in the league, but with only one game to go, their position is threatened by both Sedgley Park and Nottingham. Last year they finished fourth in National One with 83 points, but at the moment they have only got 44, which is their worst return since joining the division in 2000/01. From their 12 home matches to date they have won six and their early season highlights were wins against Otley, Penzance and Plymouth Albion.
Sedgley Park were beaten at home 44-22 by Coventry last Saturday despite holding a lead with 30 minutes to play. This was their third defeat on the run but they will be satisfied with their first season’s work in National One. A ninth, tenth or eleventh placing probably meets their pre-season expectations. They have won eight from their 25 matches to date, five at home and three away.
The first league meeting between the sides in December at Park Lane resulted in a 38-19 victory to Sedgley Park. A tricky call this one, but we will go with a home win for Pertemps Bees to take into the close season.
Prediction: Pertemps Bees to win by 5 points
Plymouth Albion London Welsh
Third top plays third bottom at Brickfields on Saturday as Plymouth Albion entertain a London Welsh side buoyed by the fact they have managed to avoid relegation to National Two.
Plymouth Albion have had another successful season in National One and have consolidated the third position they achieved last year with an almost identical playing record. They lost at Otley last Saturday and are now seven points behind second placed Exeter. Their season’s highlights were completing a league double over Exeter and winning 12-7 against Bristol at the Memorial Ground. They have played 12 matches at home this season drawing with Otley, losing to Bristol and winning the remaining 10.
London Welsh won 40-30 at Nottingham on Saturday to confirm their place in National One for another season. This is the first time they have been involved in a relegation battle in National One and they have been consistently around fifth and sixth position for the last six years. They have won five of their last seven matches to ensure their survival and will now be able to relax on Saturday. Previously, they had only won two of their opening 18 games. They have won four matches at home this season and three away.
London Welsh completed the league double over Plymouth in 2003 but Plymouth gained their revenge in both games last season. In a tight game at Old Deer Park in December, Plymouth ran out victors 40-34 and will probably win again on Saturday.
Prediction: Plymouth Albion to win by 10 points
Rotherham Titans v Exeter Chiefs
An interesting final game of the season at Clifton Lane on Saturday as Rotherham, not finishing either top or bottom of their division for the first time in six seasons, entertain an Exeter side who can still finish level on points with champions Bristol.
Rotherham have had a poor season by their standards and have only won one of their last seven matches. They lost at Henley last Saturday and have finished eighth in the league, and this position will not be affected by the result on Saturday. They have played 12 matches at home this season and won seven.
Exeter Chiefs beat Pertemps Bees on Saturday to round off a very successful home campaign, winning 12 of their 13 matches and losing to Plymouth by a single point. Their form has been indifferent of late and they have only won three of their last six matches. They have finished runners-up to Bristol and achieved their best ever league placing, beating the third place finishes of 2001, 2002 and 2003. Away from home they have won seven of their 12 starts.
Rotherham won eight from the first nine meetings between these sides but Exeter have won the last two, both on their home ground. They have only won once before at Clifton Lane, in 2001, but should complete their first league double on Saturday.
Prediction: Exeter Chiefs to win by 10 points |
