National League 1: Week 2: Previews

Will Week 2 spring any more surprises...

... and will firm favourites Hartpury College be able to take full advantage of a second successive home game?   Will the 4 league newcomers  be able to maintain their good start last week with 3 of them at home?  Week 2 also sees a plethora of local derbies with bragging rights up for grabs.

None so more than at Billesley Common as Birmingham Moseley make their home NL1 debut against Coventry Rugby.  With both sides having impressive opening day victories form could go out of the window as history rather than rugby takes over. A difficult one to predict as both sides have had to rebuild since last season, more so for Coventry than their neighbours. A narrow and nail biting encounter is in prospect.

Hartpury College are hoping for a second consecutive home victory this time over a Plymouth Albion side who had a narrow home win over Cambridge. On the face of it an easy win for Hartpury but Albion still has some experience, especially in the pack to cause a fright. It should still go to the home side but may be a lot closer than first expected.

Another local derby is at St.Albans as Old Albanian meet Ampthill & District. Both sides will be basking in the glory of opening day victories especially for the home side, who countered the impressive Blaydon pack with some great defence and then clinical finishing. However in Ampthill they will face a giant pack whose good defence put paid to a favoured Rosslyn Park side. Another close game too close to call.

Loughborough Students will want to forget their first half against Coventry and although improving in the second are still some way off the pace , and in facing a Hull Ionians side, they will meet a settled squad who defended well and held on for a victory over DMP. Another difficult one to predict with Hull Ionians slight favourites to get a result.

A London derby sees Blackheath at home to Esher. The home side’s large away defeat at Hartpury College somewhat dented their pre-season optimism, raised a few eyebrows and indeed a blush or two, meet an Esher side who struggled at times to beat a well prepared Macclesfield side. Provided Blackheath can put behind them this defeat they should still have enough quality and experience to just sneak this one.

The north-west derby between Macclesfield and Fylde promises an exciting meeting between two well matched sides. Both sides lost narrowly last week but with Macclesfield seemingly better prepared this time around for NL1 and at home may just edge this one.

On the face of it an easy one to predict as pre-season favourite Rosslyn Park  have newcomers Cambridge as their visitors. Although both sides narrowly lost last Saturday, Cambridge will probably be more satisfied with their performance. If Park can expand their game instead of just relying on a catch and drive tactic, they do have the squad and quality to win easily, however it may turn out a lot closer than expected.

The final game sees another local derby this time in the north-east between Darlington Mowden Park and Blaydon. Both sides suffered from surprising opening day defeats with  Blaydon suffering most with a large home defeat to Old Albanian. Although Blaydon have the pack to cause problems, they are away from home , but although still needing to gel DMP should just shade this one.

Fixtures Week 2 Saturday 10th September

Birmingham Moseley                      v          Coventry Rugby 

Blackheath                                        v          Esher 

Darlington Mowden Park               v         Blaydon 

Hartpury College                              v         Plymouth Albion                     14.30 

Loughborough Students                 v         Hull Ionians                              14.00 

Macclesfield                                     v         Fylde 

Old Albanian                                    v         Ampthill & District 

Rosslyn Park                                     v         Cambridge