Will it be a 5th of November to remember for Caldy?
Caldy currently sit top of the pile in National Two North as we enter the third month of the season, but they know that even at this early stage of the campaign, any minor slip-up could open the door for the teams below.
The Wirral side have a two point lead at the top ahead of Sale FC who are watching Caldy's every move. This weekend also sees third and fourth go head-to-head as Sedgley Park travel to Leicester Lions in another early season promotion clash. Elsewhere at the top, Stourbridge need to drag themselves back into the race for a top two spot with a victory tomorrow, but that won't be easy against a Chester side that has won their last five matches.
At the wrong end of the table, the bottom two clubs will battle it out in Yorkshire as Harrogate and Wharfedale look to escape trouble with both sides struggling for form so far this term.
Sheffield Tigers v Caldy
Sheffield Tigers’ time in National Two North has been fairly satisfactory so far. The Yorkshire side were promoted as champions of National Three North in May and the step up in division is sometimes difficult, but the men from Dore Moor have adjusted to life at this level pretty well. Currently, the Tigers sit 10th in the table and are six points clear of the bottom three.
Having picked up just one win from their first four matches, Sheffield welcome Caldy to Dore Moor having won three of their last five games. They had secured back to back victories but that mini run came to an end last weekend against Chester. This will be another tough test for Sheffield, but they certainly have the capabilities of getting a result on Saturday as shown by their last victory at home against third placed Sedgley Park.
Caldy’s season has already been an impressive one. Simon Verbickas’ side are once again showing that they are one of the strongest sides in this division and although they were beaten by Sedgley Park on the opening day of the campaign, the Wirral side now head to the Steel City in excellent form and top of National Two North.
Since September 3rd, Caldy are unbeaten in a run which includes seven wins and a draw. They currently hold a two point lead at the summit of this division as they prepare for their seventh away game of the season. The men from Paton Fields have won four matches on the road this term and will be keen to make that five as they aim to stay top of the league.
Sale FC v Scunthorpe
Sale FC are looking to continue their development they’ve shown on the pitch over the last 12 months. The Manchester-based club stayed in National Two North on the final day of last season and in this campaign, they have enjoyed a sensational start as they currently occupy second place in the division having picked up seven wins from their nine games.
Sale’s two only defeats have come against South Leicester and Leicester Lions away from home, but their record at Heywood Road this term has been sublime. Five victories from five have played a huge part in Sale’s successful season so far and Jonathan Keep’s side will fancy their chances of extending that run when they host newly-promoted Scunthorpe tomorrow.
Like any side that has just been promoted, Scunthorpe are looking to avoid an immediate relegation after just one season. The Greens were promoted from National Three Midlands in May and having made the step up to National Two North, they are certainly showing signs that they have the quality to stay in this division.
Scunthorpe have looked quite strong on home soil so far, picking up three wins from a possible five over Chester, Preston Grasshoppers and Otley. Away from home however, they’ve lost three of their four matches with their only triumph coming against Harrogate in Round Eight. They need to take that performance and replicate it this weekend otherwise it could be a tough afternoon for the Yorkshire side in Manchester.
Leicester Lions v Sedgley Park
Leicester Lions could be set for another strong season in National Two North. The Lions were no doubt hoping that they could build on their brilliant fourth place finish of last term and so far, Andy Key’s men are looking good to match or even better that achievement.
As things stand, the men from Westleigh Park sit fourth in the table and four points behind leaders Caldy having accumulated seven wins from their first nine games of the campaign. Leicester come into this fixture with Sedgley Park with the third best form in the league having won four of their last five matches. Once again, the Lions look strong at home and having seen off fellow promotion candidates Sale FC and Stourbridge in recent weeks, Leicester will be keen to do the same to Sedgley Park this weekend.
Sedgley Park are looking to finally take the step up to National One this season after a couple of near misses over the last few years. This term, Sedge currently sit in third place and once again have to be considered as contenders for promotion come the end of the season due to another positive start to a campaign.
Whilst Leicester Lions have won four of their last five games, Dean Schofield’s men make the trip to Westleigh Park having won just two of their last five games, picking up home wins against Stourbridge and the Luctonians as well as two draws against South Leicester and Tynedale. Sedge have lost just once all term and another win here this Saturday would certainly signal their promotion ambitions.
Stourbridge v Chester
Stourbridge have made a mixed start to the National Two North season. Stour are one of the promotion candidates in this division, but after defeats to Leicester Lions, Sale FC and Sedgley Park in their first nine matches of the campaign, an eight-point gap has already opened up between themselves and leaders Caldy.
But, we know that Neil Mitchell’s men do have immense quality in their side despite two wins from their last five games. We have seen that quality on show at Stourton Park this term as they have won all five of their matches on home soil as they prepare to welcome Chester this weekend. However, a defeat to another promotion rival tomorrow could be fatal for Stour’s chances of a top two spot.
Well, it was a fine October for Chester in National Two North. After a disappointing season in the last campaign, the men from Hare Lane began this term in poor form but they have been able to turn their fortunes around in some style over the last month, picking up five straight wins which has propelled them up the table.
The only team to turn over the men from Cheshire in the last seven matches have been Otley. Nick Joseph seems to be now getting the best out of his players, but this trip to the Midlands will be their toughest test in recent weeks. However with Chester currently oozing confidence, they may well fancy their chances of picking up a sixth consecutive victory.
South Leicester v Otley
South Leicester may well be on course for another positive season in National Two North. South stayed in this division last term following promotion in May 2015 and they have started this campaign in pretty decent form, picking up three wins and two draws in their first nine matches which leaves them seventh in the current standings.
Granted, just three wins doesn’t sound that positive at all but the fact South have drawn to the likes of Caldy and Sedgley Park as well as beating Sale FC shows that they do possess the capabilities to challenge any side in this division. They are back at Welford Road this weekend looking for only their second home win of the season and having lost just one of the last four games, South will be confident of extending that run this weekend.
Otley have had a mixed bag of a season so far in National Two North. Wins over Tynedale and Chester have shown that the Yorkshire outfit have the quality to compete with most teams in this division, but defeats to the likes of Scunthorpe and Hinckley have halted any ambitions they may have had of challenging for the top spots.
The men from Cross Green picked up their first win in three matches last week against Tynedale, but once again, it was another home triumph for Otley. All four of their victories this term have come in front of their own supporters and now the Yorkshire side must translate that form on their travels if they are to begin progressing up the table and end a run of eight straight defeats on the road.
Luctonians v Preston Grasshoppers
Like Otley, the Luctonians’ campaign has been very mixed so far. The Lucts may have been expecting to be in and around the top few spots of the division having finished sixth last season but instead, find themselves very much in mid-table after nine fixtures having won four of their first nine matches of the term thus far.
Alex Davidson’s men have not had a good time of things lately though. They welcome Preston Grasshoppers to Mortimer Park second bottom of the form guide having won just one of their last five matches. The Lucts’ last win came in Round Six at home against Wharfedale in what was a torrid October for the Herefordshire outfit. Can they begin November on the front foot with a solid win?
It hasn’t been much easier for the Preston Grasshoppers. The Hoppers may also have had ambitions of progressing up the table and after an opening day win over Wharfedale, it appeared like the Lancashire side could push on from their 10th place finish of last season. However, it has not worked out that way since then.
Preston head to Herefordshire this weekend with just one win from their last eight games – that victory coming against Hinckley. Their recent defeats would have frustrated the side as they have all been narrow losses, with the highest margin of defeat being six points. That shows that Preston do have the tools to dig themselves out of the current predicament they are in and a win on the road this weekend could be the catalyst they have been so close to over the last few weeks.
Tynedale v Hinckley
Tynedale’s season has been tough so far. The club seem to be struggling to adapt fully to National Two North in their second campaign at this level and after such a difficult term on and off the field last year, their form on the pitch this season is yet to live up to what they are capable of.
Scott Lawson’s men currently occupy ninth in the table after just three wins from their first nine games of the campaign. Tyne welcome Hinckley to Corbridge tomorrow having won just one of their last five matches, but their home record has been a real plus for them this term. Since returning to Corbridge, Tyne have lost just once in four games and they will be keen to keep up that record to kick-start this season.
Hinckley’s season has been a campaign of two halves so far. The Leicestershire side are slowly getting to grips with life in National Two North following promotion to this division in May and after a difficult start to the term, the men from Leicester Road look as if they have turned a corner.
Just one win from their first seven matches had left Hinckley bottom of the division, but back to back successes over Otley and Scunthorpe has not only lifted them off the foot of the table, they are now out of the relegation zone as we approach a third of the way through the season. With Tynedale searching for a much-needed win, a confident Hinckley side may well be eyeing a third straight victory themselves.
Harrogate v Wharfedale
Harrogate have had a disappointing season in National Two North so far. ‘Gate have finished in the top half in each of the last two campaigns, but very few fans of this division would have expected to see them sitting bottom of the table after nine games.
Last term, the Yorkshire side did start slowly, but managed to turn it around in the second-half of the season and Harrogate will have to produce something similar to dig themselves out of the early trouble they find themselves in. ‘Gate have one win to their name thus far and sit six points adrift of safety. That is a gap which is certainly recoverable for Harrogate and a win at Rudding Lane tomorrow could be the start of their escape from the relegation zone.
Wharfedale haven’t had much to smile about either so far this season. Dale may have hoped to bounce back from last term’s disappointment of relegation from National One, but that hasn’t been the case so far. The Skipton-based club currently sit a place above Harrogate in the table, despite pre-season hopes of an immediate return to the third tier of English rugby.
Having said all of this, it has been hard for James Doherty to build any sort of momentum this season due a long list of injures which the club have had. With that in mind, they have only won two of their nine matches to date and they are yet to win on the road this term. However, Dale may fancy their chances of breaking that duck when they take the short trip to Harrogate this weekend as both sides look to move away from early danger.
