National 2 North Preview - Round 13

The race for the top four continues to hot up whilst it seems that it is just Hull Ionians and Ampthill who are fighting for the title. The bottom half is also starting to get tight as we enter week 13 in National Two North.

League leaders Hull Ionians are back on the road this weekend as they take on the struggling Luctonians at Mortimer Park. The I’s have only lost once in their last 29 matches in this division and are firm favourites this weekend. The Luctonians lost on both occasions against the Humberside outfit two seasons ago and go into this next encounter having lost their last four matches and in 15th position in the table.

Ampthill and District will be hoping for a major upset in that one, but will need to do their job first as travel to Hull. Ampthill will want to reduce the gap at the top of the table as much as possible, but know their away record has been a bit patchy of late. Last time, they drew to Huddersfield but Hull have only won once at home all season. The hosts picked up a vital and unlikely victory last weekend away at Stockport so will be full of confidence heading into this one.

Third place Chester bounced back immediately last weekend as they beat Leicester Lions, but face a tricky test this weekend against Harrogate. Chester won on their last visit to the County Ground in April of this year and will be hoping for a repeat on Saturday. Harrogate have lost once all season at home, but have only won one of their last four against Chester. Harrogate know with a win and if other results go their way, they will be in the top four on Saturday evening.

Currently occupying that fourth spot are Sedgley Tigers who are now unbeaten in their last three after going through a sticky spell during October. They are involved in my game of the weekend this Saturday as they travel to Caldy. It is fifth versus fourth and Caldy, along with the top two, are the only teams with a 100 per cent home record this season and the Wirral side will be hoping to continue that this weekend. Caldy will leapfrog The Tigers with a win.

Sixth place Otley are having a tough time of it at the minute. Having lost three of their last four matches it has seen them slide out of the top four. Last weekend they were beaten by 14th placed Broadstreet and this weekend return to Cross Green as they welcome bottom side Stockport. Otley have lost just once at home all season and that was to the Preston Grasshoppers back in September.

Stockport are still yet to win away from home this campaign, but showed on their last away outing at Caldy, that they are improving on the road. The last time these two sides met in Yorkshire, Otley won 32-22.

It seems like Leicester Lions have been solidly eighth all season, but I am sure they won’t mind that as they find themselves just seven points of Sedgley Park. This Saturday they host an in-from Broadstreet side. The Lions have only lost at home once this season and that was to Huddersfield and will certainly be wary of Broadstreet. The Coventry based side have won their last two matches and will be looking to make it three wins in a row to round off November. A win for Broadstreet could take them up to 12th .

Into the bottom half and Stourbridge, who have had a difficult season so far due to injuries and losing players at the start of the year, welcome Preston Grasshoppers to Stourton Park. Stour edged out Birmingham and Solihull last week and will be hoping that win can be a catalyst for their season. As for Preston, they managed to claim their first victory in three weeks last Saturday as they beat the Luctonians in Lancashire. Preston have lost their last six meetings against Stourbidge, but know with a win they could potentially move into the top half.

Finally, 11th placed Huddersfield host Birmingham and Solihull on Saturday. Huddersfield have fallen down the table in recent weeks and now haven’t won in three matches. They welcome a Birmingham side who have been impressive in recent weeks despite having lost three of their last five matches.

Huddersfield are yet to lose at home this season and like Preston and Stourbridge, know with a win, they can move into top eight.