Will there be more shifts in National Two South?

It’s amazing to think we are only four games away from the end of the National League rugby year and the promotion race in National Two South is certainly gathering momentum as the final fixture of November is upon us.

The Old Albanian are currently in pole position, but Cambridge are level on points heading into Round 12.

Just behind are Taunton, who have been top of this division for the longest amount of time so far this season.

It isn’t just the top of the table which is getting tense. The nerves are starting to jangle at the bottom as teams want to be away from the drop zone come the Christmas break and results now, could be key when the action restarts in the New Year.

Worthing Raiders v Old Albanian

Old Albanian went top of National Two South last weekend and will be hoping to stay there when they take on Worthing Raiders this Saturday.

It’s the first time the OA’s have been at the summit of this division since they were relegated from National One, but nine wins from their 11 games signifies that they are certainly aiming for an immediate return to the third tier of English rugby.

The OA’s have won four of their six away matches this season and have only lost once. That sole away defeat –coming against Cambridge – was in fact the last game they lost.

In terms of their hosts Worthing, it really isn’t the season they hoped for. After a 5^th placed finish last season, optimism may have been high for the Raiders but their campaign has gone in the opposition direction.

Worthing currently lie 13^th in the league, level on points with 14^th place the Redingsensians, and the Raiders have won on just four occasions so far this season. Three of those wins have come at home and a much needed fourth victory will be their main aim this Saturday.

Launceston v Cambridge

Despite dropping to second in recent weeks, Cambridge are level on points with the Old Albanian so anything less than a bonus point win for the OA’s could see Cambridge waltz in and take top spot once again.

Cambridge showed their ruthless streak against Barnes last week and they may well put in a similar sort of performance against bottom club Launceston this Saturday.

Cambridge have an identical record to the Old Albanian – Nine wins, one draw and one defeat – and they are separated by just points difference. They also have the same away record with four wins from six and there will be a lot of people thinking they can make that five victories this weekend.

The contrast between Cambridge’s season and Launceston’s campaign is stark. The home side on Saturday are still searching for their first win and they are still 11 points from safety.  They did draw to Southend in their last home game, but they will have to be at their very best to get anything from this encounter on Saturday.

Taunton Titans v Canterbury

Just three points behind the top two are Taunton who are still very much in the promotion race, but defeats against Old Albanian and Cambridge maybe a concern to the Titans.

It is clear Taunton have the strength to beat the teams below them, but how costly will those two defeats be come the end of the season?

There is still a long way to go and their next assignment is Canterbury at home where Taunton have a 100 per cent record so far this season.  Taunton have won 19 of their last 21 matches at Hyde Park and are firm favourites to add to that impressive record this weekend.

Canterbury will head into this fixture in a much better frame of mind after ending a run of seven straight defeats last Saturday. Victory away at Dorking was the perfect tonic for a side that had begun the season with three wins and they will have to be on top form to get a result and make it back to back away wins.

Barnes v Bishops Stortford

Bishops Stortford were one of the pre-season favourites for promotion and currently they find themselves 10 points off the top after the first 11 games. Their home form has been sensational with five straight wins, but it’s there away performances which have held them back thus far.

Just two wins on their travels from six matches isn’t good enough for a side who were one game away from National One last season and they will be hoping that this fixture against Barnes can be their catalyst on the road.

After four straight wins, Barnes have now suffered three defeats in a row. They do remain only four points outside the top half, but will be looking to halt this bad run of results this Saturday.

The hosts lost heavily to Cambridge last weekend on their travels and they have a symmetric record at home this season with three wins and three defeats.  It’s safe to say this is one of the most unpredictable games of the weekend.

Clifton v Redruth

This is set to be a very intriguing battle down in South Gloucestershire as 5^th place Clifton host 6^th place Redruth. Clifton have slightly lost their way in recent weeks and find themselves 11 points behind 2^nd place after just one win in their last three matches, but take nothing away from their superb start to this season.

Clifton finished 12^th last season and won seven home matches and they can now match that total for this campaign after just 12 games, with a victory this weekend over Redruth.

It will be a tough ask for Redruth who know Clifton have won all six of their home games so far this season. The Reds go into this encounter with three wins in their last five matches and they have won three of their six games on their travels. Redruth did lose 30-22 in this corresponding fixture last season.

Old Elthamians v Chinnor

The Old Elthamians’ five game unbeaten run ended last weekend against Bishops Stortford, but they will be looking to bounce back immediately when they host Chinnor this Saturday.

The OE’s have impressed so far this season and their home performances have highlighted that. They are yet to suffer a defeat on home soil having won four and drawn one of their five games which has helped guide them into 7^th place.

As for Chinnor, they picked up a crucial win against Clifton last weekend which means they are now only two points off safety. It has been a far from ideal season for Chinnor as they have won just twice this campaign.

Currently 15^th, they have been victorious on one occasion away from home this year and that came just over a month ago at Canterbury. It will be tough task for Chinnor, but they will be full of confidence that they can steer themselves clear from danger.

Redingensians v Bury St Edmunds

The Redingensians are a place above Chinnor in the table and are also a side that will be heading into Round 12 with confidence after victory last weekend.

The Rams beat Southend away from home and now welcome Bury St Edmunds to Old Bath Road as they go in search of back to back victories.

The home side have won three of their 11 games this season since their promotion into this division and will be looking for their third win at home on Saturday.

Bury St Edmunds were also promoted into National Two South this season and are faring slightly better than the Redingsensians.

Bury are 8^th in the table and have won three of their last five matches. They have won five games overall this season with two of those coming on their travels.

It certainly isn’t unthinkable that the Redingensians can get a victory this weekend and if they were to do so, they could be out of the bottom three come Saturday night.

Southend Saxons v Dorking

Southend were stunned by the Redingensians last weekend at Warners Bridge Park so they will hoping to avoid a repeat when they welcome Dorking on Saturday.

Southend really have been inconsistent this season with four wins, three draws and four defeats to their name so far. At home, it is a similar story as they have won two, drawn two and lost two.

With the home side having won just one of their last five games, Dorking may use that as an advantage as they go in search of their third away win of the season.

Dorking lie 12^th in the table in what has been a very disappointing `11 months for the side who this time last year, were second in the division and in pole position for a playoff spot.

Now they have won just four games so far this season but have won two of their last three matches so the signs are there that they are slowly improving. Can they can continue in the same manner this Saturday?