Sale FC and Stourbridge are the headline act in National Two North

Round Seven in National Two North sees two of the early front-runners battle it out as the race for the top spots in the division continues to intensify.

We might only be seven weeks into the new season, but already the top of National Two North is extremely close meaning entertainment seems to be guaranteed every single weekend.

This week in the spotlight is league leaders Sale FC who welcome Stourbridge to Heywood Road. Stour lie fifth in the division, but are only three points behind the Manchester-based side heading into this intriguing encounter.

Elsewhere, Caldy and Leicester Lions will be keeping an eye on proceedings as they aim to move to the summit before the weekend is out while Sedgley Park will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign.

Chester and Otley will be keen to build on recent victories, but it is a different story for the likes of Harrogate, Hinckley and Preston Grasshoppers who are all desperate for a win this weekend.

Sale FC v Stourbridge

Sale FC produced an excellent second half performance to beat Sheffield Tigers 47-27 last weekend in National Two North. The Manchester side were probably expected to gain a result in that fixture and they duly delivered as they claimed their fifth win of the season to move them back to the top of this division.

It’s been an excellent start to the campaign for a side that stayed in this division on the final day of last season. After six matches, Sale have lost just once – that coming in Round Four against South Leicester – leaving the men from Heywood Road one point clear at the summit as things stand. Jonathan Keep’s men have looked particularly strong at home so they’ll be hoping that works in their favour this Saturday.

Stourbridge are certainly one of the stronger sides in National Two North and their start to this current season does reflect this. After six matches, Stour sit in fifth place having won five games and are only three points behind Sale heading into this mouth-watering clash on Saturday.

Stour’s only defeat this season came against another one of the promotion chasing sides, Leicester Lions, so Neil Mitchell and his squad will know they have to up their game this weekend to avoid a repeat of that result. The Midlands outfit have won just once on the road this term and a second win on their travels tomorrow would once again enhance their promotion challenge.

Caldy v Tynedale

Caldy are looking to take that extra step in National Two North this season. The Wirral outfit are a stalwart of this division, producing strong league positions as each campaign passes by and six games into this current term, they’re on course for another solid year.

Currently, they sit in second place with 25 points to their name and many at Paton Fields may think Caldy have what it takes to have a crack at National One this season. Recent form has been very good and the hosts come into this match on the back of five straight victories so they’ll be oozing confidence when they welcome Tynedale to Cheshire this weekend.

Everyone associated with Tynedale will no doubt be delighted to see their team playing back at Corbridge again this season as the recovery from last year’s flooding continues. However on the pitch, Tyne have got off to a mixed start to the campaign. A slow start to the second half handed Chester a 33-27 victory in the North-East last week and it leaves Tyne ninth in the table as things stand.

They have won two of their opening six matches this term, but as they head to the Wirral this weekend, Scott Lawson’s men are yet to achieve a victory on the road despite an impressive performance against Sedgley Park two weeks ago. It will be a tough task for Tyne tomorrow, but they do have the quality to upset the applecart.

Harrogate v Leicester Lions

Harrogate have started the National Two North season in the kind of form we have not come to expect from them over the last couple of years. ‘Gate currently sit bottom of the league after six matches and are still without a win this campaign as they prepare to host Leicester Lions tomorrow.

Since their win against Otley in the penultimate game of last term, David Doherty’s men have gone seven games without tasting victory and as such, head into this home game low on confidence. Doherty said last week that the ‘desperation’ for Harrogate’s first win is holding them back, but they will be hoping that their maiden triumph is just around the corner.

Leicester Lions are hoping to once again push for the top two places in National Two North this season after a solid campaign last time out. So far, they are on course to do just that as they sit a point behind league leaders Sale FC in third place having won five of their first six games this season.

The Lions started the season in fine form with victories over Tynedale and South Leicester, but they were then stunned by the Luctonians as they fell to a rare home defeat. However, Andy Key’s men have bounced back well to pick up 15 points from the last 15 available and the Lions will be hoping that run of form can continue in Yorkshire tomorrow.

Sedgley Park v Luctonians

Sedgley Park are expected to mount another challenge for the title in National Two North this year. After six games, Sedge have picked up four wins and two draws meaning they are the only unbeaten side in this division so far. The Tigers currently sit fourth and are just two points behind table toppers Sale.

Dean Schofield’s men began the campaign in excellent fashion winning their first four matches which included victories over Caldy, Preston Grasshoppers, Otley and Hinckley. After a perfect start, the Manchester-based club have drawn their last two games against Tynedale and South Leicester which will have frustrated the Sedge players. Now, they will be itching to return to winnings ways when they welcome the Luctonians to Park Lane this weekend.

The Luctonians look like they are really enjoying their rugby at the minute. The Lucts have won four of their first six games of the National Two North season and look as though they are continuing their fine form which saw them finish sixth last term. Impressively, the Lucts have already picked up a victory against a promotion chasing side, overcoming Leicester Lions at Westleigh Park.

That win highlights that Alex Davidson’s men are no pushovers. They currently sit sixth in the table and a victory this weekend in Manchester could propel them into the promotion mix at this early stage of the season.

Chester v South Leicester

Following just one win from their first four matches to begin the National Two North season, Chester have found some recent form of late and appear to be in high spirits. Back to back wins over Hinckley ad Tynedale were much needed for the men from Hare Lane who look as though they have turned a corner after a difficult 12 months for the side.

Chester were incredibly inconsistent last term finishing in a disappointing 11^th place and their poor start to the season suggested that nothing had changed over the summer for the Cheshire outfit. However, their recent victories would have boosted their confidence and given Chester some momentum. They will now feel capable of adding to their good run of results when they host South Leicester tomorrow.

South Leicester’s start to this National Two North season has been mixed. After six games, Paul Westgate’s men have won two matches, drawn one and lost the other three leaving them slap bang in the middle of the division at this early stage of the campaign.

It may have been mixed, but I think South will be pleased with their start as they currently sit 10 points clear of the relegation zone and their aim will be to avoid the drop once again this season following promotion in 2015. South head to Cheshire this weekend having lost just one of their last four games and they’ll be hoping to extend their recent good form with a victory at Hare Lane.

Scunthorpe v Otley

Scunthorpe may have been one of the favourites to be embroiled in a relegation battle this season following promotion to National Two North in May and so far they do find themselves at the wrong end of the table. However, they have shown their quality on occasions which indicates they are capable of avoiding an immediate return to National Three.

The Greens have won two of their first six matches with the victories coming against Chester and Preston Grasshoppers. The positive for Scunthorpe is both wins have come at home where they have lost just twice in their last 15 matches. With that in mind, Tim Robinson’s side may fancy themselves to gain another result at Heslam Park once again.

Otley have had an inconsistent start to the National Two North season. Home wins over Wharfedale, Chester and Preston Grasshoppers were positives results for the Yorkshire outfit, but defeats to Sale FC, Sedgley Park and Caldy leave Peter Clegg’s men in 10^th place after six games.

Granted, those defeats have come against three sides currently in the top four places in this division, but the underlying problem of inconsistency still exists for the men from Cross Green. Last year, failure to string a good sequence of results together held them back and so far this season, the same thing has happened. However, Otley will be keen to put that right as they go in search for their first away win of the season this weekend.

Wharfedale v Sheffield Tigers

Wharfedale have not started the season well following relegation from National One. James Doherty took over the reins at The Avenue following Dale’s disappointing season last term as they dropped out of the third tier of rugby for the first time in a decade. Doherty has not been helped by injuries as a long list of first XV players have been side-lined during the opening weeks of the season which does explain Dale’s 12^th place position in the table as things stand.

They have won just two of their six matches in this campaign and are only four points clear of the relegation zone at this early stage. They certainly do possess the quality to move up the division and they’ll be hoping a win in this Yorkshire derby can be the catalyst then need to kick-start their season.

Sheffield Tigers have understandably made a shaky start to life in National Two North. The men from Dore Moor were crowned champions of National Three North in May and like with any newly-promoted side, the bedding in process takes time and this is the case with the Tigers.

They have had identical success to their opponents this weekedend, winning two and losing four of their fixtures thus far. Their victories have come against Scunthorpe and Harrogate so they may think another Yorkshire scalp could be on the cards when they take the trip to Skipton on Saturday. Considering these sides were separated by a division last year, this will be a much closer contest than first expected.

Preston Grasshoppers v Hinckley

Preston Grasshoppers would have been hoping for a successful season this time around following signs of progression in the last campaign. The Hoppers got off to a terrific start as they picked up a victory away at Wharfedale on the opening day of the term, but since then it has been tough for Garth Dew’s side.

Preston come into this fixture with Hinckley having lost five games on the trot, but shoots of recovery have been on display in recent weeks. Their narrow defeats against Otley and Scunthorpe would have frustrated the Hoppers who had victory in their sights on both occasions. Now, they’ll be hoping to put that right this weekend by earning their first home victory of the season against Hinckley.

Hinckley’s start to the season has been very similar to Preston’s. Hinckley were promoted into this division in May, but showed no signs of teething problems at this level as they beat Harrogate on the opening day of the campaign. However, like Preston, things have not gone according to plan since then.

After that victory over Harrogate, Hinckley have lost five straight matches which currently leaves them in the relegation zone and a place behind Preston. Defeats against four of the top seven sides may be something Hinckley will be keen to highlight, but this game against Preston offers the perfect opportunity for the Leicestershire side to claim their second win of the season.