National Two South Preview: Round 12

Can Henley Hawks maintain their 100 per cent record weekend and who will continue the chase to hunt down the league leaders with four of the top five all in action against each other.

Henley have been unstoppable so far and now with only five games until the midway point of the season, they will be looking to go into the New Year without dropping points. This Saturday they are at home and welcome Redruth who have only won once on the road this season and that was on the opening day against Southend. The visitors will have a bit of confidence after ending a two game winless run six days ago.

Last week we saw the top four in action against each other and this time out the four sides currently below Henley take on one another. Second placed Dorking host fourth placed Bishop’s Stortford. Dorking are the nearest challengers to Henley and they have won their last ten matches. As for Bishop’s Stortford they have won two of their last five matches and just twice away all season. Last time the two met Bishop’s Stortford won, but in this corresponding fixture over two years ago, Dorking got the victory winning 20-16. Expect another tight encounter on Saturday.

Third placed Taunton have had a difficult run of fixtures lately having played the top two in the last couple of weeks, and on Saturday their task will be just as challenging as they travel to Chinnor. Taunton had only lost once in nine games and Chinnor will be hoping to captalise on their opponent’s recent dip in form. Chinnor themselves need to bounce back after being stunned by Canterbury last weekend which ended a five game winning streak. Taunton have won four of the last six meetings between the teams.

Old Elthamians will be looking to build on their 38-18 win over Lydney this weekend, as they make the trip to a Southend side which has lost their last two. Old Elthamians have won two of their six away games this season and Southend have a 50 per cent win ratio at Warners Bridge Park. The visitors may look to capitalise on the sides above them taking points off one another. As for Southend, they really need a victory as they could well be starting to look over their shoulder at the sides below them.  

Worthing Raiders are away to Cambridge on Saturday who are one of the inform sides in the division at the minute. Having won their last three matches the hosts have risen up the table and are now 10th just two places behind Worthing and with a win can go into the top half of the table. As for Worthing, they will want to also build on last week’s win over Shelford, but they have won just once away from home all season. Both of these sides have exactly the same record in the table, but Worthing have picked up two more bonus points.

Ninth placed Clifton comfortably beat Southend last Saturday and play another side behind them in the table this Saturday as they take the trip to the Cornish All Blacks. Out of Clifton’s five wins this season, three of them have come away from home but did lose this fixture in February of this year. The All Blacks were narrowly beaten 32-31 by Canterbury last weekend and have won just once in their last seven matches.

Canterbury pulled off an excellent result last Saturday and will be hoping that that isn’t a one off as they go to Lydney this weekend. The bad news for them is that they haven’t won away all season and Lydney have only lost once at home. The good news is,  Lydney have lost their last two matches and Canterbury won both meetings between the teams two seasons ago. Lydney, who lie 14th in the division, can go above Canterbury with a win.

Last but certainly not least is the bottom of the table clash between 16th placed Dings Crusaders and 15th placed Shelford. The hosts have won just four of their last 18 league matches, but may fancy their chances on Saturday after Shelford were brought back down to earth last weekend by Worthing. Shelford did win both of these matches last season and have won one in their last six. With a win and a bonus point on Saturday, Shelford can go 13 points clear of the Crusaders.