Sedge are at the summit of National Two North but can they stay there?

For the first time since the first half of last season, Sedgley Park find themselves top of National Two North following an unbeaten start to the campaign.

A late draw against Tynedale was enough for Sedge to move top of the pile after five rounds, but having had three different leaders of this division already this term, can Dean Schofield’s men stay there after this weekend?

The likes of Caldy, Sale FC, Leicester Lions and Stourbridge will have something to say about that as they jostle for positions at the right end of the table while at the wrong end, Harrogate will be hoping their winless run is halted this weekend.

Elsewhere, Sheffield Tigers, Wharfedale, Chester and Scunthorpe will be looking to build on good victories while Otley and Preston will be keen to taste that winning feeling once again.

South Leicester v Sedgley Park

South Leicester are hoping to avoid another relegation battle this year.  Last season saw them dice with danger on occasions with the immediate return to National Three looking a distinct possibility, but based on their start to this campaign, South are certainly on course to stay clear of the drop.

South currently lie seventh in the table picking up impressive wins over Harrogate and Sale FC in their first five games. The Midlands club have lost the other three, but they have been by narrow margins so there are plenty of plus point which South can take heading into this fixture with Sedgley Park on Saturday.

Sedgley Park have had a very good start to the new campaign. Last year’s runners-up were unable to earn a victory in the National Two play-off against the Old Albanian, going down 24-0 following another strong season at this level of the game.

However, Sedge have started the new National Two North season in decent form with a hard fought 16-13 win over Caldy in the opening round which has been followed by three consecutive wins and one draw which came last week at home to Tynedale. Dean Schofield’s side remain unbeaten and they head to Welford Road this Saturday on top of National Two North....can they stay there this weekend?

Hinckley v Caldy

Hinckley are hoping to enjoy their time in National Two North this season. Although they were promoted via the National Three North play-off in May, the men from Leicester Road will feel they can compete at this level as they look to cement their place in English rugby’s fourth tier.

However, after a comfortable win in their opening game of the season away at Harrogate, Hinckley have slipped to four straight defeats against Sale FC, Wharfedale, Sedgley Park and Chester and will know that a far better performance is required if they’re to win this match against an in-form Caldy side on Saturday.

Wirral outfit Caldy have been a regular fixture in National Two North over the last few years and they have been knocking at the door of the top two for the last couple of seasons. After finishing sixth in 2014/15, Caldy ended the campaign in fifth last year despite spending some of the term in the top two places.

And second place in the division is exactly where they are right now. Having lost to Sedgley Park on the opening day of the season, Caldy have responded superbly winning four straight games which leaves them just a point behind Sedgley at this early stage. They are once again on the road for the fifth time this term, but can they extend their unbeaten run in the Midlands this Saturday?

Sheffield Tigers v Sale FC

Sheffield Tigers may not be able to challenge for places up the table this year, but they’ll be keen to secure their status in National Two North by the end of April following promotion into this division last term. There’s plenty of quality in the ranks at Dore Moor and the new boys to this level will be reasonably happy with how things have gone thus far.

The Tigers have started the new season with two wins and three defeats in their opening five league games. After an away win over Harrogate in their last outing, Sheffield will want to add to their tally of victories when they host Sale FC this weekend – a side that know all about staying in this division.

Sale FC’s start to the season has been going very well, despite the men from Heywood Road avoiding relegation on the final day of the last campaign. They have surprised everyone with their early form this term as they breezed to three straight wins to begin this year against Otley, Hinckley and Tynedale.

The Manchester-based side did suffer their first lost two weeks ago against South Leicester but responded brilliantly as they came from behind to beat the Luctonians last weekend to move them back up to third in the table. That was a test of character which Sale passed six days ago and they will be hoping to add to that victory when they travel to Yorkshire tomorrow.

Leicester Lions v Scunthorpe

Leicester Lions have enjoyed a fine start to the new National Two North season. The Lions may have suffered a rare home defeat against the Luctonians in their third outing but other than that game, they’ve secured four wins this campaign against Tynedale, South Leicester, Sheffield Tigers and Stourbridge to get their season off to a flyer.

The recent victory over Stourbridge represents the intentions which Andy Key’s side have this season as they look to push on from their impressive third placed finish from last year. They currently sit fourth in the division and are back at Westleigh Park this weekend looking for their 16^th triumph from their last 19 matches in front of their own supporters.

Scunthorpe have very different aims in National Two North this season. The Yorkshire club were crowned champions of National Three Midlands in the last campaign and are now looking to maintain their stay in the fourth tier of English rugby.

It has been an OK start to the new season for The Greens. Scunthorpe have lost three of their five fixtures so far, but did pick up a win at home to Chester on the opening day before adding to that last weekend with victory over Preston Grasshoppers. It is clear they do have the tools to avoid the drop this season and will be hoping that a third triumph of the term is just around the corner.

Stourbridge v Harrogate

Stourbridge are looking to challenge for a top two spot in National Two North his season. Neil Mitchell’s side finished fourth in the last campaign and really did look back to their best so Stour will be hoping to have a real crack at promotion this term.

It’s been a strong enough start to the season for the Midlands club as four wins and one defeat from their first five matches leaves Stour sitting in fifth place at this early stage, but they did suffer that only loss last weekend away at Leicester Lions. 

Stourbridge’s last three home matches have ended in victory – can they add to that tomorrow against Harrogate?

Harrogate have really struggled to build on their top half finishes of the last two seasons. ‘Gate ended the 2014/15 campaign in fourth place before finishing seventh last term, but it appears that they’ll be attempting to dig themselves away from relegation rather than looking to push on at the right end of the table this year.

‘Gate have picked up just two points from their first five league games of the season and make the trip to the Midlands on the back of five consecutive defeats which leaves them rock bottom of this division. Harrogate need to turn their fortunes around sooner rather than later, but this will be a tough ask for the Yorkshire side this Saturday.

Luctonians v Wharfedale

The Luctonians have started this season in good form following their impressive campaign last year. After sitting in the bottom three this time 12 months ago, the Herefordshire outfit turned their fortunes around and went on a remarkable run which saw them deservedly finish sixth in the table and they seem to be continuing from where they left off in May.

The Lucts currently occupy sixth place once again having picked up three wins from their first five games of the season. This match against Wharfedale will provide a stern test for Alex Davidson’s side, but considering they have clinched victories over the likes of Leicester Lions, the Lucts are more than capable of securing another win at Mortimer Park on Saturday.

Wharfedale grabbed their second league win of the season last weekend. After an unsettled summer which saw Dale suffer a huge amount of injuries, it was perhaps unsurprising to see them pick up just one victory from their first four games as they continue to adapt to life in National Two following relegation from National One in May.

The Skipton-based side earned that second win over South Leicester at The Avenue six days ago and Dale will now be hoping they can take momentum from that result into this next game as they look to build their way back to the third tier of English rugby.

Tynedale v Chester

Tynedale have endured a mixed start to the National Two North season. Tyne were relegated from National One in 2015, but they are still trying to find their feet at this level as the north-east side currently occupy eighth place in the table having managed two wins from their opening five games of the season. 

The damage caused to their clubhouse and pitches back in December of last year hit Tynedale hard, but with them now being based back at Corbridge, Scott Lawson’s men do have the talent in the squad to push up the table. They head into this fixture with Chester unbeaten in their last two games and also Tyne have won both of their home games this term.

Chester are the next visitors to Corbridge on Saturday afternoon and they’ve had an average start to the season with two wins and three defeats from their opening five matches. The Cheshire side will feel that they have turned a corner from their disappointing campaign last season thanks to two victories from their last three outings.

Chester finished 11^th last year and struggled for consistency, but back to back home triumphs will have done them the world of good. Now the men from Hare Lane must deliver away from home. Chester have won just seven of their last 17 matches on the road so victory here would give them reason to believe that they can kick on and aim for a much better campaign this time around.

Otley v Preston Grasshoppers

Otley have endured a shaky start to the season with inconsistency being the cause of their problems once again this campaign. Two wins and three defeats already this term leaves the men from Cross Green languishing in the bottom half of the table and any ambitions of a promotion push seem a long way off as things stand.

After a frustrating performance against Sale FC to start the new campaign, Otley responded with a great victory against Wharfedale. However, defeats against Sedgley Park and Caldy either side of a victory over Chester means the Yorkshire side are once again finding it tough to string a positive run of results together. They’ll be hoping that this game against Preston can be a catalyst for them this term.

Preston Grasshoppers have also struggled for form in National Two North this season, although they seem to be in a bit more trouble than their opposition on Saturday. The Hoppers finished 10^thin this division last season, but Garth Dew’s side have failed to push on from there as they currently sit in the bottom three at this stage.

Preston did begin the new season with an excellent victory away at Wharfedale, but since then they have found it really tough. Four straight defeats means Preston head to Yorkshire in wretched form and they’ll need to raise their game to get a win from this encounter which they are more than capable of doing.