National League One Preview 21st January
As the action in the third tier of English rugby begins to reach the business end, every game has bigger and bigger consequences on the fortunes of teams at both ends of the league.
The prize of a place in the Championship means the pressure on teams at the top of the league is immense, while at the bottom of the league, the aim of league survival becomes even more critical.
TRU looks at the weekend's fixtures as the teams at their respective ends of the league aim to keep winning.
Jersey can maintain the lead at the top of National One with a win at home to Cinderford.
The league leaders are in terrific form of late, having only lost once at home all season, and have come through big fixtures against fellow promotion chasers Ealing and Rosslyn Park in their last two fixtures, despite a number of key injuries most notably leading points scorer Michael Le Bourgeious.
Cinderford are on a run of their own. Three wins in a row, including a big win over Ealing means the side from Gloucester are in fantastic form and now under the watchful eye of ex-england prop and local boy Phil Vickery, Cinders are a hot ticket right now.
Once hotly tipped for promotion, and runaway league leaders at one stage, Ealing have been in a rut of late winning just once since the 19th November.
The Trailfinders had only lost once all season to that point before being stunned by promotion outsiders Macclesfield.
Since then they found themselves relinquishing a 14 point lead at the top of the league and will look to stop the rot against Wharfedale.
The visitors are in fine form having won four of their last five, and will be confident of inflicting more pain on the London based side.
Ealing's tormentors Macclesfield are going under the radar when it comes to being among promotion candidates of late but find themselves in fifth position just nine points off the lead.
They face a Cambridge side who have had an up and down season but suffered towards the end of 2011. They won well last week but haven't won consecutive games in the league since October.
The Blues are returning to almost full strength with the returns Charlie Mulchrone and Josh Fowles, but know they still have tough trips to Jersey and Rosslyn Park left this season, so won't be taking any matches for granted.
Fylde will be keen to continue their fine form, having won five of their last six matches when they play host to
Blaydon, while Rosslyn Park can keep up the pressure on Jersey with a win against Tynedale.
In the remaining fixtures, Blackheath will look for a first win since December 3rd when they play host to Stourbridge
The home side have picked up losing bonus points in the last two fixtures and earned a hard fought draw against Ealing, but will be keen to get back to winning ways.
Stourbridge meanwhile are eight points from safety and will need a win to keep a hope of survival alive.
Fellow relegation candidates Birmingham & Solihull host a Sedgley Park side notoriously hard to beat, while bottom club Barking travel to the midlands to face a Coventry side who haven't won in four matches.
With the many permutations for all clubs involved, it is sure to be another enthralling weekend of National League One rugby.
Fixtures and Points Predictions (in brackets) in full:
Jersey (5) vs Cinderford (1)
Ealing (4) vs Wharfedale (0)
Macclesfield (5) vs Cambridge (0)
Rosslyn Park (4) vs Tynedale (1)
Fylde (4) vs Blaydon (0)
Birmingham & Solihull (1) vs Sedgley Park (4)
Coventry (5) vs Barking (0)
Blackheath (4) vs Stourbridge (1)
