Check out our weekly previews and predictions for National One.
Bristol v Coventry
Two great sides from the past meet at the Memorial Ground with both looking for a win to try and improve their standings in National One league.
9th placed Bristol have had an up and down season but gradually moved up the league table with four of their six wins this season coming at the Memorial Ground.
After a good spell of two wins and a draw Coventry have fell away a little lately with three successive defeats and now find themselves in 10th place but nine points behind the Shoguns.
When the sides met earlier in the season at Coundon Road it was the home side that triumphed in their biggest win of the season 42-21.
Team news:
Prediction: Home win for the Shoguns by 10 points.
Disagree!! Have you say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Exeter v Otley
7th placed Exeter are looking for a fourth win in five matches as they entertain 5th placed Otley at the County Ground.
Exeter were winners at Coventry last weekend notching their third away win of the season. Otley were losers at home to Plymouth Albion and are now level on points with 6th placed Bedford Blues.
At home this season the Chiefs have already lost three times and will need to be at their best to take the points against Otley. The Yorkshire side have done well on the road this season with five wins out of eight and will be keen to bounce back from last week’s home defeat.
When the sides met at Cross Green it was a closely fought match with the home side just edging it 30-28.
Team news:
Prediction: Exeter to do the business at home by less than seven points.
Disagree!! Have you say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Manchester v Henley Hawks
After last weekends matches this fixture is interestingly poised. Manchester picked up a bonus point on the road at London Welsh going down by just four points whilst the Hawks were losers at home to the Pirates. That defeat for Henley saw the Pirates narrow the gap to a point in the relegation struggle and the Pirates have a game in hand.
Manchester playing for pride now will see this as a game they can win and will be going all out for just their second win of the season. Henley have managed just one win on the road this season when they won at Coventry 29-12.
When the sides met a Dry Leas earlier in the season the Hawks were 38-9 winners.
Team news:
Prediction: Going to go for a Manchester home win by 10 points.
Disagree!! Have you say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Penzance & Newlyn v Pertemps Bees
The Pirates ended a four match losing run last Saturday with their first away win of the season against fellow strugglers Henley Hawks and are now just a point behind the Hawks with a game in hand. A home match against Pertemps Bees though could bring them back down to earth as the Bees go into the game looking for a fifth consecutive league win. On the road this season the Bees have triumphed five times in seven matches and only left Orrell and London Welsh without all the points.
The Pirates at home have done reasonable well and have a 50/50 record with three wins and three defeats.
When the sides met at Sharmans Cross the Bees were 50-17 winners and will be confident of doing the double over the Pirates.
Team news:
Prediction: Despite winning at Henley last week have to go with an away win by 14 points.
Disagree!! Have you say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Plymouth v Orrell
4th placed Plymouth Albion will fancy their chances of an upset this week over an Orrell side who were disappointed after last weekends home loss to top of the table Worcester. The defeat leaves them eight points adrift of Worcester and needing the leaders to lose a couple of matches and Orrell to keep on picking up maximum points each week.
Albion have made fourth spot theirs in recent weeks with five wins out of six and they now have a seven point lead over 5th placed Otley.
Orrell will be keen to regroup and put in a strong performance and pick up all five points on offer with the four try bonus point.
Albion have done better away from home this season with just three wins from seven at home whilst away they have won seven out of eight.
Orrell have won six out of seven on the road with the only defeat an early season loss at Worcester.
When the sides met at Edge Hall Road earlier in the season the home side were 15-15 winners.
Team news:
Prediction: Interesting to see Orrell’s reaction but will go with an away win by 10 points.
Disagree!! Have you say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Wakefield v London Welsh
11th placed Wakefield entertain London Welsh looking to complete their first double of the season having won 17-3 at Old Deer Park earlier in the season.
They are going through a dreadful run at present and are bottom of the Form Guide after six straight defeats and just three points clear of the relegation zone.
The Welsh are up in 8th place after their unconvincing win last Saturday over Manchester and will be looking to put that performance behind them.
Wakefield have only managed two wins at College Grove this season and won as many on the road whilst the Welsh have a 50/50 record on the road with three wins and three defeats.
Team news:
Prediction: Both sides struggling for form will go for a home win by less than seven.
Disagree!! Have you say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
Worcester v Bedford Blues
Worcester made it 15 out of 15 last Saturday with a major win at Orrell to move eight points clear at the top of the table and make themselves odds on for promotion to the Premiership. They will be extra keen not to relax and continue on a relentless march towards the title.
Bedford Blues have won their last two and caught fifth placed Otley in the league table with both sides on 42 points. Most of Bedford’s points have come at home with just two wins from seven away fixtures this season.
When the sides met earlier in the season at Goldington Road Worcester were 31-20 winners and will be very confident of completing the double.
Team news:
Prediction: Worcester on a high after last week and a 20 point home win.
Disagree!! Have you say by clicking on the link below
http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/for.allcategorythreads/categoryid/17.cfm
|
