Promotion race set for another twist in National Two South

After Chinnor took another massive step towards automatic promotion last week, their title credentials will be put under the microscope in Round 13 as they travel to rivals Bishops Stortford who have top two ambitions of their own.

So far this term, Chinnor have been able to deal with high pressure games against potential promotion candidates, but when they travel to Silver Leys tomorrow, it could arguably be their toughest test yet considering Stortford have lost just once at home all season.

Stortford themselves will be under examination this weekend as they look to move back into the promotion places following a defeat to Redruth six days ago so there is a lot at stake in Hertfordshire this Saturday.

Second placed the Old Elthamians will certainly be checking the score from Stortford, but know they have to get their job done at home to Barnes in order for them to make sure they end November in a top two spot.

Elsewhere, Barnstaple look to take one step closer to safety when they host fellow strugglers London Irish Wild Geese whilst Exmouth go in search of their first away win on the season when they travel to a Canterbury side bang in form.

Also Henley Hawks are away to Taunton Titans, Redruth go to Worthing Raiders whilst Clifton and Cinderford entertain the Redingensians and Bury St Edmunds respectively.

Bishops Stortford v Chinnor

Bishops Stortford are once again aiming for a top two spot in this division this season. Stortford have been close to taking that extra step up to National One in the last couple of campaigns, not least two years ago when they reached the National Two play-off, and they look as though they have the capabilities of achieving a promotion place this time around.

Stortford had been on six game winning run heading into their fixture with Redruth last weekend, but they were undone in Cornwall which saw Andy Long’s men slip out of the top two. That defeat wasn’t overly damaging for the men from Silver Leys as they remained level on points with second placed the Old Elthamians. Their attention now turns to the visit of league leaders Chinnor and if Stortford were to gain a win this weekend, their promotion bid will certainly be back on track.

Chinnor have had a firm grip on top spot in National Two South for the majority of this campaign and judging by their performances, they aren’t going to loosen their hold on first place any time soon. The Black and Whites have lost just one of their 12 fixtures this season with their only defeat coming two weeks ago away to Canterbury.

That would have been a shock to the system for Matt Williams’ side but they reacted superbly last week by clinching their seventh home win of the season against Clifton. Now, Chinnor will want to return to winning ways on their travels, but this clash with Bishops Stortford will provide a huge test of their title credentials. If Chinnor were to come through this with a victory, then they will have to be considered as favourites for the National Two South crown.

Old Elthamians v Barnes

The Old Elthamians once again finished in eighth place in National Two South last year for the second consecutive season, but they have used that as a platform to kick on this term. The OE’s were probably one of the most inconsistent sides in the division throughout the last campaign, but this term, their disjointed form seems to be a distant memory.

Gavin Lach’s side have certainly been a surprise package this season as they currently occupy second spot in the table following 10 wins from their first 12 matches. Prior to last Saturday’s victory over Exmouth, the OEs had lost two games on the spin but their promotion challenge was back in full swing six days ago. They welcome Barnes to College Meadows this weekend having won four of their five games at their new home, but they did lose their last outing in front of their own supporters against the Redignensians, so they will be hoping to put that right tomorrow.

Barnes have really struggled so far this season in National Two South. Having had a relatively strong campaign following promotion into this division in 2015, Barnes sit 13^th in the table after 12 matches and just a point clear of the relegation zone. Confidence may well have been low due to their tough start, but there have been signs of recovery over the last few weeks.

Barnes head to Eltham this weekend having lost just one of their last four matches. That run includes a victory over Exmouth and draws against Barnstaple and Cinderford, but this fixture against the Old Elthamians is Barnes’ toughest test of the month and they will have to be at their very best if they are to upset the odds this weekend especially as they have lost all five of their away matches this term.

Worthing Raiders v Redruth

Worthing Raiders will have been hoping for a strong top-half finish this season, but so far they’ve struggled for consistency in National Two South. Despite having some quality talent in their squad, the Raiders seem unable to string together a run of positive results and as a result of that, they find themselves in 11^th place at this stage.

Worthing host Redruth this weekend having won just one of their last six matches with that sole victory coming in their last home outing against the London Irish Wild Geese. That was their fifth win of the campaign and one positive for the Raiders is that they have secured four of those victories at home this season. Will they take confidence from their performances at Roundstone Lane into this game to secure a victory?

Redruth are fighting for a top two spot in National Two South this season. The Reds may be fourth in the league table at the moment, but they are only four points behind the Old Elthamians and it also looks like they have returned to form over the last couple of weeks having secured back to back victories.

Marek Churcher’s side had suffered two losses on the bounce prior to those victories which would have put a dent in their promotion challenge, but a strong performance against Clifton was followed up by a crucial win over Bishops Stortford to get their season back on track. This weekend, Redruth travel to Worthing having won three of their five away matches this term as they aim to extend their winning run.

Taunton Titans v Henley Hawks

Taunton Titans are continuing to push for a top two spot this season. Followers of National Two South expected Tony Yapp’s side to challenge for promotion this term and the Somerset side are just about doing that as they currently sit fifth in the table after 12 games, but they have certainly struggled for form in recent weeks.

Yapp’s men got the season off to a flyer winning their first five matches, but since then, Taunton have only managed three wins from their last seven games. They are only four points off second place so despite their patchy run of results, the Titans are still firmly in the race for a top two spot. They are back at Hyde Park this weekend where they have only won one of their last three games so they’ll be hoping to return to winning ways in front of their own supporters.

Henley Hawks are struggling to recreate their 2014/15 title winning season in National Two South. The club were dominant at this level two years ago and deservedly gained promotion to National One, but they suffered immediate relegation and after 12 matches into this new campaign, the Hawks sit in the relegation zone.

A whole host of injuries certainly hasn’t helped Henley as they have struggled to gain any consistency and that is reflected in their results. The Hawks have won just four times this term, but will head to Somerset this weekend with a bit of confidence following a victory over Worthing Raiders last time out. That confidence could also help Henley end their terrible run away from home as they have earned just one win from their six matches on the road this term.

Canterbury v Exmouth

Canterbury are challenging in the top half of the table which was unexpected this season. The City Man have been in fine form lately and as a result, they find themselves in a well-deserved sixth place after 12 matches and it looks as though their four game winning streak could continue this weekend.

The Kent-outfit had been extremely inconsistent in the opening few weeks of the season winning just two of their first seven matches, but victories against Henley, Redruth, Chinnor and the Redingensians have completely turned their season around. They now prepare to host Exmouth this weekend with confidence flowing and Canterbury will feel win number five is certainly on the cards.

In contrast, Exmouth are struggling this season. The Devonshire club were promoted into this division in May and have been unable to find consistency as they have found it tough to adapt to life in National Two South. With that in mind, it isn’t a surprise to see Jon Hill’s side sitting bottom of the division and eight points adrift of safety as we head into the final fixture of the month.

Exmouth have managed to earn just one win in their 12 games this season and despite positive performances against some of their relegation rivals, they have not been able to convert that into victories when they have faced the likes of Barnes, London Irish Wild Geese and Henley. A first away win of the season seems a tall order for Exmouth in this game, but they will certainly give it their all.

Clifton v Redingensians

Clifton are once again having contrasting fortunes in National Two South this season, although after 12 games, they may feel satisfied with their progress at this stage especially over the last few weeks. The South Gloucestershire side have racked up five wins so far, with four of them coming in their last six matches, which leaves them 10^th in the current league standings.

Those four victories have been vital for Clifton who had made a torrid start to the campaign, but they must try and recapture that winning feeling when they host the Redingensians at Station Road this weekend as the home side have lost their last two matches.

The Redingensians’ six game unbeaten run came to an end last week as Canterbury once again upset the odds to come away from Old Bath Road with a victory. The Rams had been flying and were one of the form sides in the division, but that defeat means they have now dropped to seventh in the table as they take the trip to Gloucester this Saturday.

Following promotion in 2015, The Redingensians had a great season in National Two South last year as they finished in seventh place and so far this term, they look on course to achieve another top half finish. But, they must dust themselves down after defeat six days ago and respond this weekend as they go in search of their fourth away victory of the season.

Cinderford v Bury St Edmunds

Cinderford have had a mixed bag of results in National Two South this season. The men from Dockham Road have picked up five wins, one draw and six defeats ahead of their weekend clash with Bury St Edmunds. After relegation from National One, the Gloucestershire side have not really got going as yet at this level and ninth place in the league standings highlights that inconsistent form.

Having said that, Cinderford head into this fixture on a two game unbeaten run, but it should be on the back of two consecutive victories. They beat Exmouth in Round 11 and did hold a comfortable half-time lead against Barnes last week, but they let that slip in the final 10 minutes of the contest and had to settle for a draw. Can they bounce back tomorrow?

Bury St Edmunds looked at one stage as though they may be battling for relegation this season after an excellent campaign last year. The Wolfpack finished sixth following promotion in 2015 which was richly deserved, but they began this term with just three wins from their first nine matches and Bury were starting to look nervously over their shoulder.

However, after four straight defeats in October, Bury have responded by stringing three successive wins together this month and they will be hoping to add another victory to end November with a 100 per cent record. Their winning run has seen them move up to eighth in the division and with them being five points clear of Cinderford, a victory this weekend would further cement their place in the top half.

Barnstaple v London Irish Wild Geese

Barnstaple are undergoing a resurgent spell of form since the end of October. The newly-promoted side, who are plying their trade in National Two South for the first time in their history, had begun the campaign with just one win from their first seven matches which led to them lying in the relegation zone, but the club are showing some strong signs of recovery following a run of just one defeat in four games.

Back to back home wins over the likes of Worthing Raiders and Taunton as well as a hard-fought draw against Barnes would have pleased boss Steve Perry and the loyal Barum supporters. They’ll be hoping their excellent recent home form continues this weekend when London Irish Wild Geese come to town as Barnstaple look to move themselves closer to safety.

London Irish Wild Geese are just about holding their own in National Two South following promotion from National Three London and South East in May. Wild Geese may not be one of the strongest sides in the division, but they certainly have the quality to compete at this level and so far it has been enough to keep them from dropping into the bottom three.

The men from Hazelwood currently sit 12^th in the table thanks to three wins this term and they are a point clear of the relegation zone as things stand. Irish actually head to Devon on the back of four straight defeats with their last victory coming at the end of October against Canterbury. Will they be able to end this month in a similar fashion as they go in search of their second away win of the season?