National Two North Preview: Round 10

Ampthill and District remain top of the table heading into Round 10 of the National League Two North, but are still being put under pressure by Hull Ionians and Chester as we head towards the midway point of the season.

The comradery in this division is best exemplified by this quote from the Sedgley Park Tigers website:
“There is a big block of teams on 25 to 20 points, so very much snake and ladders in that next block as you could bounce from fourth to twelfth within a week or so, hero to zero. Stockport sticking to principles and more importantly playing budgets were always going to find things tough but injuries have been cruel and we hope they start picking up points soon.”

After beating the Luctonians 7-29 on the road last week, the Milton Keynes outfit host Stourbridge on Saturday. Stour returned to winning ways against Stockport last weekend and will be hoping they can push on to achieve the heights they hit last season. Stourbridge currently lie in 10th place.

A “stat” for you, Hull Ionians have lost only once in their last 25 National Two North matches and have won their last 20 at Brantingham Park. They welcome Leicester Lions this weekend, who have made a solid start to the season and currently sit seventh. The sides last met in April 2013 and I bet you can guess from my stat, who ran out winners in that match.

A side that can do no wrong at the minute is Chester. They travel to Preston Grasshoppers this Saturday having won their last five matches. Chester beat the Grasshoppers 13-23 last time they played each other in Lancashire. In terms of Preston, they have struggled so far this campaign and have won only once in their last five games, but may have taken note that Chester’s only two defeats this season have come away from home. Coach Garth Dew is working hard with his squad and there is a strong work ethic and cohesion that could unsettle the Chester team.

Otley will want to put their defeat to Caldy last weekend to one side as they prepare to take on Hull in the Yorkshire derby. Otley maybe starting to feel the pressure in the top four which could play into the hands of Hull. Hull have won more games on the road this season then at home and will be looking to move away from the bottom two with victory on Saturday.One man that can fire Hull is hooker Jonny Matthews; how many tries this week we ask?  The last time they visited Otley they were beaten 26-21.

Harrogate pulled off a superb home victory against Sedgley Park last Saturday to keep the pressure on Otley and the top four. Harrogate have only lost once in their last eight games and take the trip to Birmingham and Solihull this weekend. The hosts have had it tough in recent weeks, but have performed valiantly against the likes of Chester and Hull Ionians and it doesn’t get any easier for them. They are now only three points clear of the bottom two and did lose 24-33 the last time Harrogate visited Portway.

Sedgley Park will want to put the last three weeks behind them. With key defeats to Hull Ionians, Chester and Harrogate, it has seen them fall to sixth place in the division. One of the early season favorites take on the Luctonians this weekend hoping they can turn their fortunes around. As for the Luctonians, they will be hoping to capatalise on Sedgley’s poor form. The Tigers ran out 45-12 winners when the pair last met at Park Lane. It will be important that the Tigers backs maintain their high tempo game but cut out the mistakes that cost them so dear in Yorkshire.

Caldy picked up a vital victory last weekend against Otley to end a run of two straight defeats. This weekend the side from the Wirral welcome Broadstreet to Paton Field hoping to move further into the top half and keep their momentum going. Broadstreet come here with one win in their last five and one away win all season. Caldy have boosted their ranks with a loan signing from Fylde, centre Tommy Banks.

Last but not least is Huddersfield as they travel to Headlands Road to play Stockport. Both of these sides were promoted last season, but the visitors have adapted to life back in National Two North much quicker than Port have. Huddersfield sit ninth in the division and will be eyeing up a top half place come Saturday evening as Stockport are yet to win all season. Having said that, two years ago the hosts lost their opening 12 National Two North matches and got their first win against Huddersfield. Can they repeat that feat on Saturday?