Check out our weekly previews and predictions for National two.
Bracknell v Sedgley Park
Prior to last Saturday you would have thought this would be a tough match for Sedgley Park but after being heavily beaten at Rosslyn Park Bracknell will be looking to restore their pride. After a reasonable first half against Park when they went in 22-3 down they were thrashed in the second half with their defence conceding 51 points.
Sedgley Park were winners again last week without been sparkling and remain six points clear of Wharfedale and eight points ahead of the next few sides.
Bracknell have now lost two of their last three matches whilst Park go into the game with a four match winning run behind them.
They are also unbeaten in the league away from home winning all six of their matches to date.
Team news:
Prediction: Narrow away win less than seven points.
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Doncaster v Nottingham
Tough match to call this one with both sides needing the points as they try and chase second place in National Two. Doncaster have slipped a little lately and have picked up just two wins in their last five league matches.
Nottingham are going for a third consecutive win after a two match losing run but will need to improve their away form. Away from Beeston they have not performed as well with just two wins in six road trips so will need to move up a gear to leave with the points on Saturday.
When the sides met at Beeston before Christmas Nottingham were 22-19 winners in a close match.
Team news:
Prediction: Tough call but home win by less than seven points.
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Harrogate v Esher
Interesting match at Claro Road as 3rd placed Harrogate entertain 12th place Esher and on paper it should be a routine home win but recent form now makes this a match which could go either way.
Harrogate are 9th in the Form Guide after going down to three consecutive defeats. Esher are just above them in the Form Guide going the other way with three straight victories and a win at Claro Road would see them move within a couple of points of either Rugby or Moseley who meet on Saturday.
At home this season Harrogate have already slipped to defeats against Doncaster and Wharfedale and will need to improve their recent form otherwise Esher will make it a hat trick of home defeats.
Esher have had Jonathan Gregory return to the side recently and notched up 58 points in those four matches whilst new fly half Luke Smith is settling in now and there is a positive mood around the club now.
Team news:
Prediction: Another tough call but go with home win less than five points.
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Lydney v Rosslyn Park
Looks like Lydney are playing for pride now as they are eight points off safety now and will need a major turnaround in form to catch the sides out of the relegation zone.
They have picked up just the one win so far this season and before last weekend might have fancied their chances of beating Park but they will have second thoughts after the visitors demolished Bracknell.
Park are also desperate for points as they too need to climb the table and try and escape the drop straight back into National Three South. After last weeks huge home success they will look to build on that momentum especially with some tough matches coming up in the next few weeks. If they do manage to win at Regentsholme it will be their first away success of the season.
Team news:
Prediction: Park win by less than 10 points.
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Nuneaton v Newbury
Nuneaton will start this match as hot favourites after a recent upsurge in form which has seen them move into the top six and are top of the From Guide with five wins in their last six matches. The one defeat in those six matches was last Saturday when they were narrowly beaten away at Esher by a single point.
Three wins in their last four matches has seen Newbury get back in touch with both Moseley and Rugby Lions whom they now trail by just two points and with those two playing each other this week a Newbury win would see them move up a place in the table.
Nuneaton are chasing a double in this fixture having already won 15-12 at Monks Lane.
Team news:
Prediction: Home win by 14 points.
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Rugby Lions v Moseley
Big match for these two sides who find themselves looking over their shoulders with the sides below them all winning last weekend. Both Esher and Newbury putting together a number of good performances to get within striking distance of these two sides.
Both Rugby and Moseley are at the wrong end of the Form Guide with just two wins in their last six outings.
When the sides met before Christmas it was Moseley with home advantage who took the points in a narrow 14-9 success.
Team news:
Prediction: Narrow home win by less than five points.
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Stourbridge v Wharfedale
2nd placed Wharfedale travel to 8th placed Stourbridge looking for a fourth consecutive league win to keep them two points ahead of the chasers at the top end of the league table.
Stourbridge are looking to find their form again after slipping to four defeats in their last five league matches but will have been buoyed by a good performance at Sedgley Park where they outscored the home side three tries to two.
Wharfedale have done reasonable well on the road with three wins and three defeats from their six matches but it is their home form that has kept them near the top of the table.
Stourbridge have done well at home with five wins from seven matches with only Nuneaton and Sedgley Park leaving with the points.
When the side met at Threshfields a few weeks ago it was convincing win for Wharfedale 52-10, their biggest win of the season.
Team news:
Prediction: Away win less than seven points.
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