National League Two Division South Update and Preview

The Christmas period is over and now we are well into the second half of the 2014/15 season. Here is an update on how it stands in National Division Two South since the Christmas break.

Henley Hawks?

There wasn’t much festive cheer around the Henley Hawks camp before Christmas. They lost their first game of the season to Worthing Raiders then a week later they were beaten 28-21 by Chinnor. But last weekend, they returned to winning ways as they beat Lydney 50-5 to maintain their 100 per cent home record this season. Henley scored eight tries which was the sort of form which has seen them go to the top of the league and the win gave them a four point lead at the top.

Dorking

We would have thought that Dorking would have capitalised on Henley’s two defeats before the Christmas break, but they ended up losing the same fixtures as Henley did. Before the end of the year their 14 game winning run was halted as Worthing beat them 32-27 and last weekend they lost 5-6 to Chinnor. Opportunities missed for Dorking, but I am sure there is still more twists and turns left in this season.

Taunton

Taunton had a difficult November losing three of their five matches, but the third placed side have turned it around in recent weeks. They have won their last three matches including wins against Clifton and a 22-15 win against the Old Elthamians on Saturday. They are eight points behind Dorking, but will be pleased to be getting their season back on track.

Bishop’s Stortford

Without their 17 bonus points this season, Bishop’s Stortford would be 9th in the table, but they currently sit in fourth and have lost just once in their last five matches. Before the Christmas holiday they did lose narrowly 33-32 to Cambridge, but they started the New Year with a bang as they beat Clifton 34-8. Stortford are just a point behind Taunton.

Chinnor

Along with Worthing Raiders, Chinnor are the current form side in the league having won their last four matches. They have stunned the top two in their last two matches and are now just four points behind Taunton.

Worthing Raiders

Like Chinnor, Worthing have beaten the top two in recent weeks and backed that win up in the first weekend of 2015 with a 12-20 win over Canterbury. They are level on points with Chinnor heading into this weekend’s match against them.

Old Elthamians

The Old E’s have won just three times in their last 10 matches and started 2015 with a defeat to Taunton. They did end 2014 with a 18-8 home win against Canterbury and have won two of their last three matches. They will be hoping their recent form is a good indication of what is to come in the second half of the season for them.

Cambridge

Cambridge ended 2014 in superb style winning their last three matches including that win against Bishop’s Stortford. However, the New Year started with a 17-7 defeat to Redruth, but that form before the Christmas break has propelled them into eight position in the table.

Redruth

Redruth are now unbeaten in their last four games with three wins and a draw in all competitions.  They drew 15-15 with the Cornish All Blacks before the Christmas break, but won 6-0 against Camborne on Boxing Day in the cup. They then started 2015 with that 17-7 win against Cambridge and will be hoping this form can continue.

Cornish All Blacks

I don’t think the Cornish All Blacks would have wanted the season to take a break. After winning just two of their opening nine games in the league, they turned their season right around as they have now just lost once in their last six matches. This run has seen them move up to 10th in the table. They drew to Redruth before Christmas and got off to the perfect stat for 2015 last weekend when they beat Shelford 9-19.

Clifton

Along with the bottom side Dings Crusaders and Canterbury, Clifton have the worst current form in the league. They have lost their last four games including defeats to Bishop’s Stortford and Taunton and have won just twice in their last ten games.

Southend Saxons

Southend have had a few problems this season which sees them in 12th position in the table.  They did lose their final game of last year 14-32 to Shelford, but did start 2015 in a positive way as they beat Dings Crusaders 6-13 on Saturday.

Lyndey

Lyndey were thumped by Henley on the opening weekend of 2015, but did end 2014 with a 21-6 win against Dings Crusaders. They are 13th in the table have won just twice in their last seven matches.

Canterbury

Canterbury are going through a tough spell at the minute having lost their last four matches. They ended 2014 with an 18-8 defeat to the Old Elthamians and began New Year with another defeat; this time to Worthing. Their away record has really hampered their progress this season as they are still yet to win on the road this season.

Shelford

Shelford ended 2014 on a high with that excellent win against Southend, but couldn’t find that performance against the Cornish All Blacks on Saturday. They have won just twice in their last 12 matches and have won five games all season.

Dings Crusaders

The side bottom of the division have lost their last four matches, but are only four points behind Shelford. They lost to Lyndey before the Christmas break and were beaten by Southend last weekend.


This weekend’s fixtures.

Southend Saxons v  Henley Hawks
After their home win against Lyndey, Henley will be hoping that can help them end their two game losing streak on the road as they travel to Southend on Saturday. Henley beat Southend 31-13 in this fixture earlier in the season. Southend have won just twice in their last five matches and have won five of their nine home games this season.

Lyndey v Dorking
Dorking will be hoping to end this blip in form this weekend as they take the trip to 13th placed Lydney. Dorking won 52-3 in September and have won seven of their eight away games this season. They know if Henley slip up it presents another chance for Dorking to go top. Lyndey may look to take advantage of Dorking’s current dip in form, but it will be a tough ask for them. Lyndey have won six of their eight home games this season which is the best record in the bottom half of the table alongside Redruth.

Canterbury v Taunton
Taunton will want to make it four wins in a row when they visit Canterbury this weekend. They did beat their hosts 43-12 at the end of September, but have won just once in their last three away games.  Canterbury have won four of their eight home games this season, but this will be another difficult assignment  for the home side as Taunton are in good form.  Canterbury’s last win came on 29th November against Southend at home.

Old Elthamians v Bishop’s Stortford
Stortford go to the Old E’s on Saturday looking to continue their good start to 2015. Stortford lost the reverse fixture 41-43 earlier this season, but they have won two of their last three meetings against the Old E’s.  Bishop’s Stortford have also won four of their nine away games this season. The Old E’s have won three of their last four league matches at home and overall they have  won five of their eight home games this season.

Worthing Raiders v Chinnor
Chinnor go to Worthing this weekend meaning that one of their winning streaks will end on Saturday afternoon. Chinnor lost 21-26 at home to Worthing earlier in the season and they have a 50 per cent record away from home– Won four, Lost four. Worthing know they could go as high as third if they do win on Saturday and they have a good recent record against Chinnor as they have won four of their last five meetings against them. They have also won six of their nine matches at home this season.

Cambridge v Shelford
Cambridge will be hoping to bounce back on Saturday when they host Shelford. The hosts have won six of their nine home games this season and have won their last two matches on home turf. Shelford have won just twice away from home this season with  that win against Southend being their most recent and they did beat Cambridge 32-11 back in September.

Clifton v Redruth
Redruth sit two places above Clifton in the table and The Reds will fancy their chances against Clifton who have lost their last four matches. Redruth haven’t won away from home since the opening day of the season. They did lose this fixture 20-23 in September. Clifton lie 11th and have won four of their nine games at home this season with their last two league victories coming on home soil.

Cornish All Blacks v Dings Crusaders
The All Blacks will fancy making it two wins from two in 2015 when they host bottom club Dings Crusaders on Saturday. The All Blacks have won four of their nine matches at home this season and are unbeaten in their last three home games.  They did beat Dings Crusaders 22-35 in this reverse fixture in September. As for the Crusaders they have won just three games all season and have  won just once away from home this campaign. They have also lost five of their last seven meetings with the All Blacks.