Caldy keen to continue positive form

League leaders Caldy will be hoping that their superb run of recent results can continue this Saturday as they aim to stay top of National Two North.

The Wirral side could only manage a draw last weekend away South Leicester, but due to other results going their way, they remained at the summit of this division and they lead the way by two points heading into Round Nine.

Second placed Sale FC missed the opportunity to go top, so they will want to get their season back on track this weekend as will Sedgley Park who have won just one of their last four matches. In contrast, Leicester Lions and Stourbridge will be looking to build on victories last week to continue their promotion challenge.

Elsewhere in National Two North this weekend, the in-form side Chester will be eager to end October with five straight victories while newly-promoted Sheffield Tigers and Scunthorpe aim to keep up their excellent recent performances. The likes of Otley, Preston Grasshoppers, Wharfedale and Hinckley are all desperate for victories as the second month of the season draws to a close.

Caldy v Luctonians

Caldy were considered to be among the stronger teams in National Two North this season. Over the last couple of years, Simon Verbickas’ men have enjoyed decent campaigns and the club have been knocking on the door of a top two spot. So far this term, they find themselves in the promotion places as Caldy sit top of the tree after eight matches.

After narrowly losing to Sedgley Park on the opening day of the season, the Wirral outfit are unbeaten in seven matches as they prepare to welcome the Luctonians to Paton Fields on Saturday. Caldy have won six of those seven games with their sole draw coming last weekend away at South Leicester. They’ll be keen to return to winning ways tomorrow and extend their two point lead at the top.

The Luctonians on the other hand are not quite having the positive consistency in results so far in this National Two North campaign as they have already suffered some highs and lows. With eight games gone, Alex Davidson’s men sit in seventh place, winning four and losing four of their matches this term.

The Lucts won three of their first four games through September that saw them move up to fifth in the table but since the turn of the month, it has been a bit disappointing for the Herefordshire side. They head to the Wirral this Saturday with just one win in from last four games so the Lucts will be eager to turn their fortunes around as quickly as possible.

Sale FC v Harrogate

Sale FC are enjoying a fine season in National Two North. Sale were on the cusp of relegation in the last campaign following promotion from National Three, but managed to string a positive run of results together to book their place in this division for another year. Five months on from the final day of last term and things have dramatically changed at Heywood Road.

Jonathan Keep’s men have been the surprise package this season going from strength to strength each week. Currently, the Manchester based-club sit second in the table having won six of their eight games so far, but they come into this home clash with Harrogate looking to get their campaign back on track after a damaging defeat to fellow promotion candidates Leicester Lions last week. Sale have won all four of their matches on home soil this season and they’ll be favourites to add to that record this weekend.

Harrogate are looking for some of that momentum which Sale FC are currently generating as they continue to struggle towards the lower reaches of the National Two North table. After eight games, the Yorkshire-based club sit bottom of the division and four points from safety having picked up one win so far this term.

‘Gate may have thought they had turned a corner two weeks when they shocked the league by beating Leicester Lions but they were quickly brought back down to earth when they suffered their seventh loss of the season at home to newly-promoted Scunthorpe. On the road, Harrogate have lost all three of their matches thus far and this will be another tough test when they travel to Manchester this Saturday.

Sedgley Park v Stourbridge

Sedgley Park’s chances of gaining promotion to National One seem to have taken a dent in recent weeks. Sedge have been close to moving up to the third tier of English rugby over the last couple of seasons, but patchy runs of form and defeats in big  games have held them back. This time around, they are firmly in the hunt for a top two spot but a difficult run of results as hampered their progress once again.

Currently, Sedgley sit third in the table and are only two points off top spot. Granted, that doesn’t sound too bad but considering they have won just one of their last four games shows that they could’ve taken this division by the scruff of the neck but they have failed to do so. That would’ve frustrated Dean Schofield’s side who now have the chance to put that right and make a real statement when they host fellow promotion candidates Stourbridge tomorrow.

Like Sedge, Stourbridge may also be kicking themselves for their mixed run of form over the last couple of weeks. Neil Mitchell’s side had begun the season on fire with four straight wins but defeats to Sale FC and Leicester Lions has halted their surge towards the promotion places.

Stour occupy fifth place in the table as it stands and find themselves just four points behind league leaders Caldy. They travel to Manchester this weekend having won two and lost two of their last four games, but more importantly, they have won just once on the road all season – that coming against the Luctonians in Round Two. Even at this early stage, the Midlands side cannot afford another defeat against a promotion rival otherwise their ambitions of a top two spot would suffer a significant setback.

Wharfedale v Leicester Lions

Wharfedale suffered relegation from National One last season for the first time in a decade after a difficult campaign in the third tier of English rugby. Changes were made at The Avenue in the summer with James Doherty taking on the responsibility to rebuild Dale, although a long injury list has appeared to hold the side back in first couple of months in National Two North.

Doherty has had to work with a number of first team players on the treatment table and worryingly for Dale; it is showing in their results. The Yorkshire side have won just two of their first eight games which sees them sitting in 14^th place in the table. They welcome Leicester Lions to Skipton this weekend having lost their last three games, but both of their victories this season have come on home soil.

Leicester Lions are one of a few potential promotion candidates in National Two North this season. The Lions performed superbly in the last campaign earning themselves a fourth place finish and this term, they look as if they are in the mood to push on. After eight games, Andy Keep’s side find themselves right in the promotion mix as they currently occupy fourth spot in the table.

The men from Westleigh Park had a very successful weekend in Round Eight. Caldy and Sedgley Park failed to win while Leicester responded from their shock defeat against Harrogate to pick up a victory over Sale FC which leaves the Lions just three points off the top heading into November. A similar performance here could well earn them their third away win of the season and will certainly keep the pressure on the teams above.  

Chester v Sheffield Tigers

Chester are one of the sides in National Two North riding high at the moment. The men from Hare Lane had a very disappointing season in the last campaign as they eventually finished 11^th in the table following a term full of frustrating and inconsistent results.

After beginning this season with three defeats in their first four matches against Scunthorpe, Caldy and Otley, the Cheshire side have completely turned their season around in October. In fact, Chester are the in-form side in the division as they are the only club to have won all four of their matches this month. With that in mind, confidence is bound to be high at Hare Lane this weekend when they host Sheffield Tigers.

I think it is fair to say Sheffield Tigers aren’t exactly expected to challenge towards the top end of the table this year, although the Yorkshire side are beginning to really enjoy their time in National Two North following promotion in May. The Tigers begun the season with just one win from their first four games and all the clichés about a newly-promoted side stepping up a level and finding it tough applied to the men from Dore Moor, but they have since shrugged off that stereotype.

Sheffield travel to Cheshire this weekend in a purple patch off form having won three of their last four games with victories coming against Harrogate, Wharfedale and Sedgley Park. They have actually won their last two away matches so they may well fancy their chances of taking another scalp on the road this weekend.

Otley v Tynedale

Otley may have been expected to occupy one of the top spots in National Two North this season, but that simply hasn’t been the case. The Yorkshire side have been one of the stalwarts in this division over the last few years finishing in the top half in each of the last two campaigns, but inconsistency has held them back from really kicking on.

This year, it looks like that is the case once again for the men from Cross Green. Otley currently occupy 12^th place in the table and find themselves three points clear of the drop zone at this early stage of the season. They have won on three occasions this term which isn’t good enough for a side that felt they could challenge for promotion at the start of this season. All three of those wins have come at home so Otley will be hoping another solid performance at Cross Green can help kick-start their campaign.

Tynedale put up a brave effort in their first season in National Two North in what was a turbulent campaign for them last year. Changes in coaches and flood damage to their pitches and clubhouse meant Tyne never really got going following relegation from National One, but with that all now starting to settle down, the north-east side will be keen to push on this season.

However, it hasn’t been straight forward for Scott Lawson’s side so far. Tyne occupy eighth place in the table as things stand having won three of their first eight matches. They head to Yorkshire tomorrow having won just one of their last four games and they are without an away so far this season, but they may feel a trip to an out of sorts Otley could be the perfect opportunity to break their duck on the road.

Preston Grasshoppers v South Leicester

Preston Grasshoppers have suffered a below-par season so far this term. The Hoppers have been building over the last couple years as they aim to become one of the stronger forces in this division and with Garth Dew at the helm, they are in very good hands. However, it has been tough for Dew and his side at Lightfoot Green this season.

Following a 10^th place finish last year, Preston have been unable to kick on from that and currently find themselves a place and two points clear of the relegation zone at this early stage of the season. Hoppers have won just two of their eight games thus far, but their last victory came two weeks ago on home soil when they dispatched Hinckley. Dew and the Lightfoot Green faithful will be hoping for a similar performance this weekend as they look to turn their fortunes around.

South Leicester are starting to make a name for themselves in National Two North. South stayed in this division last season following promotion in May 2015 and this year, they are looking to cement their place at this level. The men from Welford Road are ninth in the table and have won just twice this season, but the results they have picked up highlight that this is a side capable of really competing in this league.

So far, South have picked up excellent results against the top three sides such as a win against Sale FC and they have held Caldy and Sedgley Park to draws. Now, the Midlands outift must produce those performances on a more regular basis if they are to have a strong season, starting with this weekend away at Preston.

Scunthorpe v Hinckley

Scunthorpe will be desperate to continue their excellent recent run of form as they aim to maintain their winning feeling in National Two North. The Greens won promotion last season from National Three Midlands having been crowed champions in Ma and have adapted to life at this level extremely well thus far.

After just one win in their first four matches, the men from Heslam Park come into this fixture with Hinckley having won three of their last four games and they currently sit 11^th in the table – six points clear of the drop zone. It really has been a positive month for Scunthorpe who will now be looking to end October with another victory to continue their momentum.

In contrast, it hasn’t been as rosy for Hinckley who were promoted alongside Scunthorpe from National Three Midlands last season. The Leicestershire side moved up into this division via the play-off route and so far for Hinckley, they have struggled to find their feet in National Two North.

The men from Leicester Road occupy 15^th place as things stand having won just two of their first eight games of the season. An opening day win on the road against Harrogate was followed by six straight defeats before they picked up a crucial victory last weekend at home to Otley. With that in mind, morale would’ve been boosted in the Hinckley ranks and considering they have come up against Scunthorpe as recently as last season, they may feel confident about securing an away win this Saturday.