National Two North: Sedgley looking to respond while teams below are ready to pounce

We are now over a sixth of the way through the National Two North season and it is starting to shape up very nicely indeed.

After Sedgley Park’s first defeat of the campaign last week, it has made  the race for the top spots even more interesting.

Macclesfied, Caldy and Sandal know that they could go top this weekend if Sedge slip up while, Leicester Lions and Chester are not far behind.

Elsewhere, the likes of Preston, Tynedale, Huddersfield and the Luctonians will be desperate for a win as they want to start to move away from the wrong end of the table.

Sedgley Park v Harrogate

League leaders Sedgley Park suffered their first defeat of the season to Sandal last weekend and will be looking to respond this Saturday back at Park Lane against Harrogate.

Sedge have won all three of their home games this season and haven’t being beaten on their own patch in their last eight matches –the last team to do achieve this was Birmingham and Solihull in January of this year. They also won this fixture against Harrogate 43-25 last season.

As for Harrogate, they picked up a much needed victory at home to Huddersfield last week which ended a run of just two home wins in nine. ‘Gates away record this season has seen them win just once, but they have won four of their last five matches on the road.

Macclesfield v Otley

Macclesfield coach Giles Heagerty claimed that their victory against Tynedale last week was ‘the best he has seen a Blues team play.”

Well, he might not be wrong as his side have now won five games in a row and know that any slip up from Sedgley this weekend, will see them go top if they get their job done against Otley. Macc have won all three of their games at Priory Park this season.

In terms of Otley, after not winning any of their first three matches, the men from Cross Green have now won three of their last four and were unlucky in that one defeat against Sedgley Park three weeks ago.

Otley have beaten Chester and Huddersfield away this season which are both very creditable victories, but this will be a tough challenge against the side who were relegated from National One last campaign.

Caldy v Tynedale

I’m not sure Caldy will want the media attention, but they have really slipped under the radar this season so far. Five wins from six as seen them move into third place and they really have gone about their business in an efficient manner.

This weekend’s fixture will only be Caldy’s second at home this season with their first game ending in a 41-18 victory against Broadstreet.

As for Tynedale, life in National Two hasn’t been easy for Andy Buist’s men.  Tyne have won just one of their opening six games since their first ever relegation into the fourth tier of English rugby and will be looking for their first away win in 2015.

Chester v Sandal

After five straight wins for Sedgley Park, Sandal ended the league leaders’ perfect start to the season last week as they clinched their fifth victory of the season.

Sandal won the National Three North play-off last year and have taken everyone by surprise so far, but that win against Sedgley proved that their good form certainly isn’t a fluke.

This weekend they take the trip to Chester looking to bounce back from their last away game which was a defeat to Huddersfield. Sandal have lost just three of their last 15 away matches.

Their hosts Chester will be frustrated at how inconsistent they have been of late. Three wins and two defeats in their last five matches has halted their progression up the table, but its their home form which is letting them down.

Chester have lost their last two at Hare Lane to Otley and South Leicester and will want put a stop to this run on Saturday.

Huddersfield v Leicester Lions

Leicester Lions have been a revelation so far this season. After finishing 11^th last campaign they, began this year with three straight wins.

However, they are currently going through a slightly sticky stage with just one win in their last three games, but a win against Huddersfield this weekend could take them into the top three.

The Lions have won once on their travels so far this season with that win coming against Otley, but did lose this fixture against Huddersfield 37-3 last season.

In terms of ‘Field they are struggling so far campaign having won just twice. Both of those victories have come at home and their results at Lockwood Park last season was key in them staying up in this division. They will want to re-find that form this weekend.

Stourbridge v Broadstreet

Stourbridge have had a very mixed start to the 2015/16 season. Having recruited heavily in the summer, you can tell it is still early stages for their new squad as they continue to gel, but there were improvements in the 23-23 draw against Leicester Lions last weekend.

Stour have won just twice so far this campaign and in fact, have won just two of their last nine games. They have also already suffered two defeats at Stourton Park – against Preston Grasshoppers and Caldy - so will want to put that right on Saturday.

They will go up against a buoyant Broadstreet side who picked up their first victory of the season last weekend at home to Preston Grasshoppers.

‘Street have lost all three of their away matches so far and have only won six of their last 12 matches on the road.  They were beaten 23-17 by Stourbridge in this fixture last season.

Preston Grasshoppers v South Leicester

Despite two defeats on the trot, South Leicester will be pleased with their inaugural season in National Two North so far.

They have picked up just two wins this season, but have secured five bonus points which shows that they are free scoring team as well as a side that don’t give up easily.

As for their hosts, Preston  Grasshoppers will be disappointed with their defeat to Broadstreet after their win the previous week against Stourbridge.

Their last home game ended in heartbreak as they were beaten in the final minutes by Caldy and they will be hoping to secure their second victory at Lightfoot Green this Saturday.

Sale FC v Luctonians

Sale FC have been performing well lately and were narrowly denied their first away win of the season last week at Otley. After losing to Caldy at home on the opening day of the campaign, Sale have secured back to back wins at Heywood Road and will be looking to make it a trio of victories this Saturday. They have lost just two of their last 16 games at home.

After their win against Huddersfield two weeks ago, the Luctonians have suffered two straight defeats which leaves them at the foot of the National Two North table. They have lost all three of their away games so far and they need to find a method to win on the road having won just three of their last 18 on their travels.