Will there be tricks and treats on display in National One?
As we approach the end of October, Hartpury College are producing some spellbinding rugby and they will be looking to carve out another victory to maintain their 100 per cent start to the campaign.
College have won all eight of their fixtures so far and will be aiming to end the month with nine victories in the bag, but the likes of Birmingham Moseley and Blackheath will hope John Barnes’ men suffer a bump this weekend.
Also in the top half, something has got to give when two in-form sides in the shape of Plymouth Albion and Loughborough Students meet while Darlington Mowden Park and Ampthill will be screaming out for a victory tomorrow to get their National One seasons back on track after a dip in form.
Elsewhere in the division, it has been nightmare start to the season for Blaydon whose number one goal this Saturday will be to pick up their maiden victory of the term while Macclesfield and the Old Albanian will both be itching for a win.
Cambridge v Hartpury College
Hartpury College will be going in search of an unprecedented ninth straight win in National One this weekend when they take the long trip to Cambridge.
College have been sensational so far this campaign having secured maximum points from their first eight matches of the season leaving them seven points clear at the summit at this early stage of the term.
No side has been able to stop them thus far and the unenviable task falls to Cambridge this Saturday who will have fond memories of playing College at Volac Park. Two years ago, they beat Hartpury 31-21 and if they were to repeat that result tomorrow, then it would be their biggest triumph of their season so far.
Ross Stewart’s side were promoted from National Two South as champions in May and have picked up three wins from their eight games as things stand. Currently, the Blood and Sand sit 11th in the table and their third straight win at home this weekend would certainly upset the odds.
Darlington Mowden Park v Birmingham Moseley
Second placed Birmingham Moseley take the 350 mile round trip to Darlington Mowden Park this weekend looking to continue to keep pace with Hartpury College.
Last Saturday, Moseley blew their opponents, the Old Albanian, away in the first-half but took their foot off the pedal in the second 40 so they will have to be wary of that tomorrow when they take on a strong DMP outfit.
Moseley have won seven of their eight matches since relegation from the Championship in May while Darlington have had a mixed start to the season have picked up with four wins and four defeats so far. Last weekend’s defeat to Loughborough Students means DMP have won just one of their last four matches so they will be focused on ending a difficult month in positive fashion.
Also this weekend, Darlington’s fixture will be followed by their Women’s 1st XV taking on Richmond in their Premiership game and prior to both games, the club will be hosting a women’s pitch up and play tournament as well as girls coaching delivered by the Women’s and Men’s 1st XV teams.
Rosslyn Park v Blackheath
Other than Hartpury College, Blackheath are the in-form side in National One at present and they will be looking to extend their seven match winning run when they head to Rosslyn Park this weekend.
‘Club’ currently sit third in the table – level on points with Birmingham Moseley - and they haven’t lost since the opening day of the season so they will be oozing with confidence when they take on their London rivals this Saturday.
It won’t be an easy task for Blackheath though. Despite Rosslyn Park’s dire start to the season which leaves them 14th place in table, the Red and Whites have shown shoots of recovery over the last few weeks.
Park have lost just one of their last four games and come into this fixture on the back of crucial win over Macclesfield last weekend so they will be keen to follow that up with another victory this Saturday.
Plymouth Albion v Loughborough Students
Fourth versus fifth is on the agenda at Brickfields this weekend as Plymouth Albion welcome Loughborough Students to the south-coast.
Albion have adapted extremely well to life under new coach Dan Parkes as they currently sit fourth in the table following five wins from their first eight matches. Plymouth head into this fixture with Loughborough having won just one of their last three games, but they have been victorious on all four occasions at home so far this term.
As for Loughborough, they have been the surprise package in this campaign. After avoiding relegation last year, Students currently find themselves in the top five of the division following four wins and a draw. Loughborough are unbeaten in their last three matches so confidence will be high amongst their ranks when they travel to Plymouth this weekend.
Ampthill and District v Esher
Ampthill and District are looking to respond to back to back defeats when they host Esher at Dillingham Park this weekend.
The A’s had started the season strongly winning five of their first six matches, but a defeat to Blackheath followed by last week’s loss away at Hartpury College means Ampthill are going through a sticky spell at present. Granted, those negative results have come against two of the top three sides but the Bedfordshire outfit will eager to return to winning ways this weekend
They come up against Esher who have turned their fortunes around over the last couple of weeks. Two consecutive home wins means the Surrey-based club are up to ninth in the table, but this game with Ampthill will be a tough test.
Hull Ionians v Coventry
Following two straight home wins, Coventry will now be focussed on getting the job done on their travels as they go to East Yorkshire to take on Hull Ionians tomorrow.
Their excellent win over Plymouth Albion leaves Coventry seventh in the table while an away defeat to Fylde six days ago sees Hull Ionians just outside the relegation spots at this early stage of the season.
The I’s have won three of their first eight games of the season with two of those victories coming at Brantingham Park against Esher and Darlington Mowden Park. As for Cov, they go into this fixture full of confidence after back to back wins at the Butts Park Arena, but Rowland Winter’s men must now try and earn their first away victory of the season this weekend to keep their momentum going.
Blaydon v Fylde
Bottom of the table Blaydon will be going in search of their first win of the season when they host Fylde this Saturday. The North-East side have lost seven of their eight matches so far this campaign with their only plus point being a draw at Crow Trees against Macclesfield in Round Five.
Currently, Blaydon are already 10 points from safety and another defeat this weekend could see them become even more isolated at the foot of National One.
In terms of Fylde, they are continuing to improve after a slow start to the season. Paul Arnold’s men sit 10th in the table as things stand, but travel to the north-east having won three of their last four matches. Having said this, those three triumphs have all come at Woodlands for Fylde, but their first away victory of the season is certainly not out of the question this weekend for a side playing with confidence.
Old Albanian v Macclesfield
Macclesfield travel to Woolams this weekend to take on the Old Albanian with both sides desperate for a victory. National Two North champions Macclesfield head into this fixture with just one win to their name thus far since promotion in May and the Blues currently lie 15th in the table without a victory in their last five games.
As for the Old Albanian, they too were promoted alongside Macclesfield, but came into this division via the National Two play-off thanks to a victory over Sedgley Park. The OA’s made a fine start to life back in National One winning three of their first four matches, but James Shanahan’s side have lost four on the bounce and they will keen to stop the rot sooner rather than later. Something has got to give this weekend in St Albans.
