Nat 1 Previews

Bedford Blues v Leeds Tykes

Second placed Bedford Blues take on fourth placed Leeds Tykes in what is a bigger game for the Tykes than the Blues. 

The Blues have climbed into second spot in the table with four successive after a draw at home to Pertemps Bees and a loss away at Moseley in the first two weeks of the season. They have picked up five four try bonus points which is the highest total in the division.

The Tykes have won their last five been far from convincing and this will be a real test to see how far they have come with their new side. They could win but also they could get well beaten by a very professional Bedford side that have played together a lot at this level.

These two sides met in the 200/01 season when Leeds did the double over Bedford winning 48-3 in this fixture and 42-6 in the match earlier that season at Headingley.

Prediction: Got to go with the Blues by five points.    

Doncaster v Coventry

Fifth placed Doncaster Knights take on 10^th placed Coventry looking to return to winning ways.

Doncaster lost their 100% home record last Saturday going down 29-23 to the Cornish Pirates.  They won their first two home games of the season and should get back on track this Saturday.

Coventry were beaten at home last Saturday by London Welsh. On the road this season they have a win, draw and a defeat. They were opening days winners at Sedgley Park pulled out a 13 all draw at Exeter Chiefs when they opened their new Sandy Park stadium and lost at Plymouth Albion, quite a mixed bag.  

Last season at Castle Park, the home side were winners in a high scoring close run affair, 31-29. In the return Coventry made it honours even with a 37-24 win.

Prediction: Doncaster to return to winning ways with home win by seven points.    

London Welsh v Exeter Chiefs

11^th placed London Welsh are at home to eighth placed Exeter Chiefs looking to build on last weeks excellent away win at Coventry.

The Welsh picked up their third away win of the season last Saturday but have yet to win at Old Deer Park this season in their two matches. They have been beaten by Newbury and Doncaster and failed to pick up a losing bonus point in either.   

The Chiefs after winning at Nottingham on the opening weekend of the season have lost their last two road trips going down 35-17 at Pertemps Bees and 22-10 at Bedford Blues.

London Welsh were 23-16 winners in this fixture last season but it was honours even with the Chiefs winning at the County Ground, 21-10. 

Prediction: Chiefs away win at Old Deer Park by eight points.      

Moseley v Newbury

14^th placed Moseley play host to 13^th placed Newbury with both sides locked on eight points and in need of a win to climb the table.

Moseley have just the one win a spectacular victory over Bedford Blues in week two of the season. They have though picked up three losing bonus points in three of those matches and a four try bonus point which is why they are level in the table with Newbury despite winning just the once compared to Newbury’s two wins.    

Newbury have picked up two wins so far but are the only side in the division not to pick any type of bonus point. They have won on the road already this season winning21-13 against London Welsh. They picked up their second win of the season last Saturday when they beat Nottingham at Monks Lane. 

Prediction: Big game for both sides will go with home win by five.     

Otley v Waterloo

Ninth placed Otley take on second bottom Waterloo looking to maintain their winning run.

The Cross Green outfit have put together back to back wins with a win at Sedgley Park and then a home win last Saturday against Moseley. 

At home they have won two out of three with a victory against Nottingham early in the season. Their only defeat at home was against Plymouth Albion where they were well beaten 36-3.

Waterloo have just the one win this season which was a good one at home to the Cornish Pirates. They have lost their other five matches and have the worst defensive record in the division as well as being the lowest scorers.

In both their away matches to date this season they have conceded over 60 points and need to tighten up their defence. 

Prediction:  Home win for Otley at Cross Green by nine points.    

Plymouth Albion v Pertemps Bees

Second placed Plymouth Albion take on seventh placed Pertemps bees looking to return to winning ways after losing top spot in the table last week.

Albion after five straight wins were beaten at Exeter Chiefs 18-14 after leading 14-3 at the break.

At Brickfields this season they are unbeaten winning all three matches. They have the meanest defence in the division conceding just 74 points in their six matches 14 fewer than anyone else.  

The Bees lost at home for the second time this season last Saturday when they went down 31-6 to the Earth Titans who went to the top of the table on the back of that result with Plymouth Albion losing.

On the road though they have a much better record where they are unbeaten with a draw at Bedford Blues followed by wins at Sedgley Park and Moseley.

Albion were 34-21 winners in this fixture at Brickfields last season. In the return at Sharman Cross the Bees were 24-13 winners.

Prediction: Albion home win at Brickfields by 10 points.     

Earth Titans v Nottingham

Leaders Earth Titans take on 12^th placed Nottingham looking to maintain top spot.  

The Titans went top of the table last Saturday after their excellent away win at the Pertemps Bees after Plymouth Albion lost their 100% start to the season at Exeter Chiefs.

The Titans have played just twice at home this season with wins over Otley and Waterloo on the board.

Nottingham have picked up just the one win this season but thought they had another last Saturday at Newbury but just missed out 19-18. They have lost all three on the road with defeats also at Otley and Doncaster.  

Despite being in 12^th spot they are the fourth highest scorers in the division.

The Titans won this fixture last season with a 38-23 victory. At Nottingham the home side were winners 41-28.

Prediction:  Titans to win by 12 points at Clifton Lane.   

Sedgley Park v Cornish Pirates

Bottom of the table Sedgley Park take on sixth placed Cornish Pirates at Park Lane still looking for their first win of the season. 

Park have lost all six matches but put up a good performance against Leeds Tykes at Headingley last Sunday 35-20.

They have already played four times at home this season and lost all four and have picked up a couple of bonus points. 

The Pirates pulled off an excellent away win at Doncaster last Saturday to climb to sixth place in the table.

They lost their first two matches on the road going down narrowly at both Waterloo and Leeds Tykes.

What Sedgley would do for a repeat of last seasons fixture between the two sides 31-21. In the match down in Cornwall the Pirates were comfortable winners 53-8.

Prediction: Pirates to make it two on the bounce on the road with nine point win.