National Two South: Taunton look to maintain 100 per cent start
Redruth will want to keep their excellent home record going
©Redruth
Taunton will be looking to extend their bonus point winning streak this weekend while Redruth and Canterbury will be hoping to continue their excellent starts to the season.
Elsewhere, Launceston & Redingsians will be hoping to get their first points on the board as Dorking look to make it two wins in a row.
Taunton v Redingensians
Taunton will be looking to continue their maximum point start to the season when they host winless Redingensians this Saturday. The Titians have already wrapped up three bonus point victories and are firm favourites to add another one to that tally this weekend. Taunton have won 10 of their last 12 matches.
In terms of the Redingensians, they have found it tough so far since promotion from National Three as they have suffered three straight defeats. They have been against Redruth, Old Albanian and Canterbury who are the three other teams - along with Taunton – in the current top four this league. It doesn’t get any easier for the Rams.
Redruth v Cambridge
Redruth are also unbeaten so far this season and they welcome a Cambridge side who can leapfrog them with a victory at The Recreation Ground this weekend. The Reds have won all three of their games this campaign and have won 12 of their last 16 matches at home.
As for Cambridge, they continue to go under the radar with impressive performances and find themselves in fifth position in the table. After defeat to Bishop’s Stortford, they battled back with a win last week against Chinnor and are looking to use that as momentum for this weekend. Cambridge did lose this fixture 17-7 last season.
Canterbury v Southend
Despite not producing a polished performance in their win over the Redingensians last week, Canterbury are the final side who have won all three of their matches so far. The City Men seem to be a completely different prospect this campaign after finishing in 11th last season and will be hoping to clinch their 10th victory in their last 16 games at home.
In terms of Southend, they fully deserved to comeback and clinch a draw last week at home to the Old Albanian and that result will certainly have filled the Saxons with confidence heading into this encounter. They have made a solid start to the season, but Southend haven’t won away since March of this year and they did lose this fixture 31-10 last season.
Old Albanian v Bury St Edmunds
After leaving Warners Bridge Park frustrated last week, the Old Albanian will be hoping that the draw against Southend was a blip and they can get back on track with a win against newly promoted Bury St Edmunds. Before last weekend’s result, the OA’s had picked up maximum points and will be looking to continue their unbeaten start this Saturday on their return to the Woolmans Playing Fields.
As for Bury, they went down to Redruth last week, but it could so easily have been different for the National Three London and South East champions. They picked up a bonus point, but are still winless at home so will be hoping to make it two away wins in a row after their win against Chinnor two weeks ago. Bury have won nine of their last 14 games on their travels.
Clifton v Barnes
Clifton’s unbeaten start to the season came to end last week away at the Old Elthamians and now they host Barnes this Saturday. Clifton opened the campaign with two wins and have already showed signs that they are better than their 11th place finish of last season. Clifton have won half of their last 16 games at home.
In terms of Barnes, once again they were close to clinching their first win of the season last week, but were edged out by Worthing. Barnes have picked up three bonus points this season and can sense their first victory is just around the corner since winning the National Three South play-off last season.
Chinnor v Bishop’s Stortford
Defeat away at Dorking last week was Bishop’s Stortford’s first defeat of the season, but they will be even more determined to respond this weekend when they take on Chinnor. Stortford edged out Chinnor 45-46 in this encounter last season.
As for the hots, they have had a miserable start to this campaign having lost all three of their games so far. They may have had ambitions of pushing for promotion after a sixth place finish last season, and will be looking to kick start their season this weekend. Chinnor have won 11 of their last 16 games at home.
Worthing v Launceston
Worthing are going about their business rather nicely after an opening day defeat to Clifton. They go into this fixture with Launceston having secured back to back wins and will be looking for the results to carry on flowing if they are to be in with a shot of promotion come April. Worthing won 11 games last season.
In terms of Launceston, they sit bottom of the table and are the only other side, with the Redingensans, with no points to their name so far. Another similarity with the Redingensans is the fact that they have also played three of the current top four sides this season, but that does not mean this will be an easier task for the ‘Cornish All Blacks this Saturday.
Old Elthamians v Dorking
Both of these sides picked up their first wins of the season last weekend and to say they were much needed, maybe an understatement. The OE’s ended a run of just two wins in 11 with victory at home to Clifton while Dorking beat a strong Bishop’s Stortford side and both teams will be hoping to build on those wins this Saturday.
The OE’s will have their sights set on back to back home wins for the first time since March. The OE’s were beaten 19-39 by Dorking last season who will be looking to re-find their away form from last season when they won 11 games on the their travels.
