Last weekend preview suggested “there are signs of things starting to come together more, and soon someone will get a surprise”. I certainly did not expect the team to deliver so quickly ! Whilst Harrogate showed their top of the table quality to snatch the last minute win, and the weather probably helped, for most of the game there was nothing to choose between the two teams.

Back to Mint Bridge and if results were to go their way, the team could sneak into the top half of the table at the halfway stage of the season. But a tough challenge against a Driffield team who currently hold that sixth place and will be looking to be “best of the rest”, above Blaydon who are also in the County this weekend, sitting behind the top four, who have opened a gap.

Driffield is between York and the North East Coast at Bridlington. It won’t quite be Driffield’s longest trip, as I think Penrith is a mile further, but when we visit them towards the end of the season, it will be our longest trip, about nine miles further than Alnwick.

Driffield are currently one win and three try scoring bonus points better off than us, but have no losing bonus points against our two. Highlight of the season so far for them, will have been a home win against third place Alnwick, and they have picked up try scoring bonus points against both Heath and Ilkley. They have beaten the bottom four, but lost at home early in the season to Penrith.

So for us a repeat of last weekend is needed, keeping the penalty count down; winning lineouts; getting early tackles in; and turning pressure into points. Sounds easy ?

After a 2.00pm kick off a fortnight ago, it is back at 2.15 – at least unlike last weekend we have lights, but for economy would seem better to limited their use.

TEAM : Not confirmed

WEATHER :
Overcast and 70% chance of rain

OTHER GAMES

The final round of fixtures in the first cycle of games and some interesting ties

4th v 3rd; both with seven wins, Ilkley have one more try scoring bonus point, but Alnwick’s are currently ahead as all their three losses (two against the teams above them Heath and Harrogate) have been by less than seven points. Ilkley have maximum points at home, and no team have even got within seven points of them at home (the closest was Driffield’s 17). They will still be well ahead of the rest, but another defeat would see them slip further off the play-off places, after being in the top two for so long. Alnwick will be looking to strengthen their play off place. So could go either way, but I’m going for a first away win there.

The unpredictability (apart for Heath) of this League was demonstrated last weekend when Cleckheaton who we scored 46 points against a week earlier (and could have been double) defeated Sandal who had recently put together a string of good results to climb the table. Still think this should be a home win for Middlesbrough, who also have a string of good results.

Penrith’s form seem to have collapsed, but Blaydon have yet to win away from home, including giving York their only win so far and drew at Sandal. After 15 points from their first three games it is just 8 more for Penrith in the last seven games (including 5 from York and a double bonus point following their fight back at Mint Bridge). They have conceded 166 points in their last three games and have the worst defensive record in the League – conceding almost 100 more than York who have only won once. So going for an away win, especially as Blaydon will know all about the 3G pitch, having one themselves

Despite Harrogate needing to use their “Get Out of Jail” card to snatch second place last weekend, they should be too strong for Sandal, who lost to Cleckheaton last weekend

Anything other than an away win to maintain Heath’s 100% record at the half way point of the season would be the shock of the season, against a York team who have only won once this season – so probably should predict home win – but going to be sensible !

SECOND XV :

A BIG game – the Second XV now sit second with two games in hand, but they visit the team above them, Southport who have a three point lead.

WASPS :

Also a BIG weekend for the Wasps as they travel to Birkenhead Park, who sit below them in the table, having also yet to win and have point deduction after failing to play a game.

A win could see the Wasps move closer to Sefton the team they got their existing points off in an away draw, one of Sefton’s two wins coming against Park.

SENIOR COLTS

Are HOME to Preston Grasshoppers on Sunday (2.00pm kick off)

Another tough challenge as Preston are three from three

They won three of their six games in the earlier run of games.