Teams looking to lay down markers in National One

With Hartpury College flying at the top of National One, attention in Round 11 turns to the teams below them in the table as sides aim to make a statement this weekend in some big games across the division.

Let’s start with second place Birmingham Moseley. They currently sit eight points behind Hartpury and they take the long trip down to Plymouth Albion this weekend with Dan Parkes’ men sitting fourth in the table as things stand. Both teams will be looking to keep up their good recent form as try and stay in touch with the runaway leaders.

Below them are Coventry who travel to Ampthill and District tomorrow. Both sides have been strong so far this term, but both know they cannot afford any more slip-ups or any faint hopes at a possible promotion will disappear completely.

Down at the bottom of the table, there is a crucial match between two of the bottom three sides in the division as Blaydon host Hull Ionians. Both teams are desperate for a victory as they look to move themselves out of trouble before it becomes terminal.

Elsewhere in National One, the Old Albanian will be looking to inflict a first defeat on Hartpury, Blackheath, Esher and Fylde aim to keep up their winnings ways while Macclesfield eye a second win on the bounce away at Loughborough Students.

Old Albanian v Hartpury College

With 10^th place in the table playing top this weekend in National One, Hartpury College should be oozing confidence as they aim to take their unbeaten run to 11 matches.

College have made a blistering start to this season having picked up maximum points from all 10 of their games so far which means they currently lead the way in this division by eight points even at this early stage of the campaign.

In contrast to Hartpury, it has been a mixed season for their opponents this weekend. However, the Old Albanian may well be satisfied with their opening third of this term as they currently lie 10^th in the table as things stand.

James Shanahan’s men were promoted via the National Two play-off in May and currently sit six points clear of the relegation zone having accumulated four wins this season. However, the men from Woolams have won just one of their last five games and with a rampant Hartpury side travelling to St Albans this weekend, their poor run of form may continue.

Plymouth Albion v Birmingham Moseley

Two of the sides trying to hunt down Hartpury College go head-to-head this weekend on the south coast as fourth placed Plymouth Albion host second placed Birmingham Moseley.

Albion were relegated from the Championship in 2014 and had mixed campaign last year in National One. Off the field problems saw a points deduction for Plymouth at the back end of last season, but now they seemed to have stayed the ship at Brickfields under the guidance of new Head Coach Dan Parkes.

So far this season, Plymouth have won seven of their 10 matches and five of those victories have come on home soil. In fact, Albion have a 100 per cent record at Brickfields this term so they will provide a tough test for the visiting Moseley side this weekend.

Both of these sides have met more recently in the second tier of English rugby and Moseley harbour ambitions of being back in the Championship next season. Relegated in May, Kevin Maggs’ side have responded superbly as they have picked up nine wins from their first 10 matches in National One.

Their resounding win against Loughborough Students last Saturday was their fifth straight triumph at home and now they must produce that sort of performance once again. Their only defeat this season has come on their travels against Ampthill and District, but Moseley will be hoping to avoid a repeat of that result against another promotion rival on Saturday.

Darlington Mowden Park v Blackheath

Third place Blackheath are on the road this weekend as they travel up to County Durham to visit the Northern Echo Darlington Arena to take on Darlington Mowden Park.

The visitors to the north-east bounced back from a shock defeat against Rosslyn Park with victory last weekend over the Old Albanian. ‘Club’ are currently 13 points behind Hartpury College having won eight of their 10 matches thus far this season and the other two matches in that sequence have ended in defeat for Blackheath. Both losses came on the road against College and more recently against Rosslyn, so the south-east London side will be hoping for a triumphant trip this time around.

In terms of Darlington Mowden Park, they are struggling to find consistency at present. DMP finished sixth last year mainly thanks to a superb run of 12 straight wins which they achieved, but it hasn’t worked out like that this term.

Currently, DMP occupy 12^th place in the table and they are only two points clear of the drop zone. In addition to this, they have also lost their last four matches including a heavy defeat against Macclesfield six days ago. DMP have had their injury problems, but now they must show the quality they certainly do have on a more regular basis, otherwise they could find themselves in further trouble heading into the Christmas break.

Ampthill and District v Coventry

An in-form Coventry side travel to Ampthill and District this Saturday hoping to extend their winning streak as they aim to continue to climb the table.

Cov have picked up four victories in as many weeks to leave them fifth in the division as things stand. Overall, Rowland Winter’s men have won six games this season, but only one of those triumphs has come away from home. That occurred in Round Eight against Hull Ionians and now they must repeat that feat in Bedfordshire this weekend if they are to continue that winning feeling.

As for Ampthill, it has been a tough few weeks for them. Last season was their first campaign in National One and the A’s finished in an impressive third place. They started this term in decent form, but three defeats in their last four games mean they are currently a place behind Coventry heading into this fixture on Saturday.

Their excellent home form over the last two years has also come into question this season. Defeats against Blackheath and Darlington Mowden Park have come as a surprise and Ampthill will be keen to not only improve on their form at Dillingham Park, but also they will be aiming to string a run of victories together to get their campaign back on track.

Rosslyn Park v Esher

Rosslyn Park welcome Esher to the Rock this Saturday with both sides looking to build on their recent positive performances. The home side look to have turned a corner over the last three weeks. Park had had a torrid start to the season picking up just one win and one draw from their opening seven matches, but that has all changed.

Back to back wins against Macclesfield and Blackheath and a spirited display away to Hartpury College last weekend means Park are now outside the relegation zone and sit two points clear of the drop. Park’s record has seen them secure two wins from their four matches so far and with confidence increasing, Rosslyn may feel that another victory is on the cards this Saturday.

It won’t be easy for the hosts though as Esher travel from Surrey in a buoyant mood. Like Park, Esher started the season slowly but three wins in their last five games as propelled them up to seventh in the table and spirits are certainly now high amongst the squad.

The only current problem which Esher have is that all four of their victories have come at home so far this term. They have lost every game they have had on the road this season and that needs to change if Esher want to achieve another top-half finish in National One. This fixture could go either way this weekend, but Esher will be hoping their maiden away win will be the eventual outcome.

Loughborough Students v Macclesfield

After a run of seven games without a win, Macclesfield finally had something to cheer about in National One as they picked up their second win of the season against Darlington Mowden Park last weekend. Now, the Blues must build on that if they are to move out and away from the bottom three, starting with this fixture against Loughborough Students tomorrow.

Macc travel to the Midlands currently lying in 15^th place and four points from safety. Both of Macclesfield’s wins have come at Priory Park this campaign and now they must translate those performances into their away fixtures, but this won’t be an easy test against a Loughborough side occupying a top-half spot as things stand.

In truth, Loughborough have been performing above expectations this term. They were mainly towards the bottom of the table last season, but this year, they have begun relatively strongly leading to them sitting in eighth place.

Loughborough had been on a good run of results prior to Round Nine but back-to-back defeats against Birmingham Moseley and Plymouth Albion has seen the Students drop down the table slightly. Granted, losses against two of the top four isn’t disastrous by any stretch of the imagination, but the home side will be eager to end this mini losing streak this weekend.

Cambridge v Fylde

Cambridge host Fylde at Volac Park looking to improve on their recent form. The current National Two South champions earned their place in the third tier in May and have begun steadily after the first 10 games of the season.

The Blood and Sand currently sit 11^th in the table and are three points clear of the drop zone, but Ross Stewart’s side may well be nervously looking over their shoulders. Cambridge have lost four of their last five games with their last victory coming in Round Seven at home to Macclesfield. The hosts this weekend have won just three times this season, but two of those triumphs have come at Volac Park. Can they add to that tally this weekend?

A side that certainly knows how to win at home this season are Fylde. All four of their victories have come at Woodlands this season and four wins from their last seven matches has seen Paul Arnold’s side move up to ninth in the table after a third of the campaign.

It is now their away record they need to put right. Fylde have lost all four of their matches away from Lancashire including a defeat at bottom of the table Blaydon in their last outing on their travels. Fylde may see this as good opportunity to break their duck on the road which would add to the current, positive feeling around Woodlands.

Blaydon v Hull Ionians

The final fixture in National One could be classed as an early relegation battle. Bottom of the league Blaydon welcome Hull Ionians to the north-east with both sides in need of a victory which could spark their revivals.

In fact, there have been flickers of what Blaydon can produce over the last two weeks. Their maiden win of the season came at home two weeks ago against Fylde before they were left crestfallen following a last-gasp defeat away at Coventry last Saturday. That result plus Macclesfield’s win over DMP means the Crows slipped back to the bottom of the division and are now seven points from safety. However, a win over Hull Ionians this weekend would certainly give them cause for optimism.

As for Hull Ionians, they have had a difficult time of things lately. After staying in this division following promotion from National Two North in 2015, The I’s are once again battling relegation and so far they are losing that fight at this early stage of the season.

The visitors on Saturday have won just three times all season, but one win in their last six games as seen Hull drop into the bottom three. They are desperate for a victory this Saturday and it would be their first on their travels since the end of September when they beat Macclesfield. It may be too early to say, but this might well be a must win for both sides this weekend.