Nat 1 Previews

Pertemps Bees v Newbury

Eighth placed Pertemps Bees take on 12^th placed Newbury at Sharmans Cross looking to maintain their positive start to the season.  

The Bees have made a poor start at home losing twice in their three matches against Leeds Tykes and the Earth Titans whilst picking up a good win against Exeter. They have also picked up five four try bonus points which is the joint highest figure in the division.

Newbury have won twice on the road this season already at London Welsh and Moseley but have also lost twice at Doncaster and the Cornish Pirates, both top five sides.

Last season this fixture was deadlock at 22 -22 whilst at Monks Lane it was awarded to Newbury after the Bees fielded an unregistered player.

Prediction: Bees to win by eight points.      

Coventry v Otley

10^th placed Coventry take on Otley one place higher than them in the league table.

Coventry have picked up two wins and a draw so far this season They have won just the once at home narrowly to Moseley 15-14 but come unstuck twice against Earth Titans and London Welsh although in both matches they picked up losing bonus points. 

Otley have four wins to their name and are five points clear of Coventry in the league table.

On the road they have one win from three matches with a victory over bottom of the table Sedgley Park. At home they have done well with three wins in four matches with only second placed Plymouth Albion leaving with a win 

Last season in the fixture Coventry came out on top 30-14 and with a 27-24 win at Cross Green did the double over Otley.  

Prediction: Home win by six points for Coventry.    

Exeter Chiefs v Waterloo

Second bottom Waterloo travel to Sandy Park to take on seventh placed Exeter Chiefs. 

The Chiefs have four wins and a draw to date from their seven matches but have a minus points difference.

At home this season they were disappointed to draw 13 all with Coventry especially having beaten both Earth Titans and Plymouth Albion, their only defeats of the season. 

Waterloo have made a disappointing start to the season and managed just the one win which was an impressive one against the Cornish Pirates at Blundellsands 19-16. 

On the road they have lost all three matches conceding over 60 points in two of them and last Saturday going down 30-17 at Otley.

Prediction: Home win for the Chiefs by 10 points.   

Moseley v Sedgley Park

Third bottom Moseley entertain bottom of the table Sedgley Park with both sides in need of a win.

Moseley have picked up just the one win this season although it was an impressive one against Bedford Blues 44-37 at home in week two of the season. They have lost their other six matches although they have picked up losing bonus points in four of them.

Sedgley Park have yet to win and managed just the two bonus points to date both came in the same match as they lost 34-33 at home to the Pertemps Bees and scored four tries in the process. 

When the sides last met in National Two in 2003/04 Park were winners at Moseley 23-16 but later in the season were well beaten at Park Lane 39-7 by the Midlanders.

Prediction: Home win for Moseley against Park by nine points.     

Earth Titans v London Welsh

Leaders Earth Titans entertain 11^th placed London Welsh looking to make it seven wins form eight matches and stay top of the table.

Leaders Earth Titans have won all three of their home matches and will be confident of making it four out of four on Saturday.

They have the joint best defensive record in the division along with the Cornish Pirates conceding just 95 points.

London Welsh have picked up three wins this season and they have all come on the road at Leeds Tykes, Coventry and Waterloo whilst in their other road trip they gave Plymouth Albion a run for their money before going down 20-12.  

Last season in this fixture the Titans were comfortable winners 55-10 but at Old Deer Park the Welsh took the win 13-7.  

Prediction: Titans to win by ten points.     

Leeds Tykes v Doncaster

Seventh placed Leeds Tykes will be looking to return to winning ways against fourth placed Doncaster at Headingley on Sunday.

Leeds Tykes lost a closely fought affair at Bedford Blues last week with the lead twice changing hands in injury time as they went down to their second defeat of the season. 

After losing at home to London Welsh on the opening weekend of the season the Tykes have picked up home wins against the Cornish Pirates and Sedgley Park.

Doncaster were back to winning ways last week at home with a win over Coventry.

On the road this season they have won at London Welsh and Sedgley Park and lost at Plymouth Albion but only just 14-13.

They have picked up more bonus points than any other side in the division with seven. In both their defeats they have picked up losing bonus points and five for scoring four tries or more.

First ever league meeting between the two sides.  

Prediction: Go with Tykes win by five points.   

Nottingham v Plymouth Albion

Second placed Plymouth Albion travel to 13^th placed Nottingham looking to keep the pressure on leaders Earth Titans. 

Nottingham are at the wrong end of the table with six defeats in seven matches to date this season, in three of the defeats they have picked up losing bonus points. 

At home they have come unstuck against Exeter Chiefs and Leeds Tykes and got their only win against Waterloo.

Albion have made a positive start to the season with six wins out of seven with just a loss at Exeter chiefs to blot their copybook.

Not the most prolific of scores and are the only top five side not to have passed the 200 points yet.  

What Nottingham would do for a repeat of last seasons victory over Albion 21-15 and at Brickfields they ran them close before going down 23-22.

Prediction: Albion to leave with a six point win.    

Cornish Pirates v Bedford Blues

Fifth placed Cornish Pirates are at home to third placed Bedford Blues in a match that looks to close to call.

The Pirates were 55-3 winners at Sedgley Park last week picking up their fourth four try bonus point of the season and the first on the road. 

At home this season they have won all three matches to date comfortable scoring over 30 points in each match.

The Blues were winners over Leeds Tykes last Saturday and will look to build on that in their most difficult away match so far this season.

They have won at Waterloo and Newbury after coming unstuck at Moseley in a match they still probably can’t believe they lost.

Last season this match was a close run affair with the Pirates winning 26-21 but at Goldington Road the Blues ran out 31-12 winners.  

Prediction: Tough call this one but will go Blues by four.