Rugby Chat

Sale FC v Birmingham Moseley

This is probably the game I’m most interested in after Plymouth v Camborne.

Sale couldn’t have made a stronger opening statement. 50–22 away at Rams is outstanding, particularly because Rams were one of the sides I expected to be right around the upper reaches of the table. Sale led 24–7 at half-time and, despite a brief Rams comeback, pulled away again.

Moseley, meanwhile, beat Cambridge 38–33, which already makes my pre-season prediction of them finishing near the bottom look rather foolish! They showed good attacking ability, but they also conceded 33 and were helped by Cambridge’s indiscipline.

The question is whether Moseley can contain Sale’s attack.

I don’t think they can completely.

Prediction: Sale FC 43–27 Birmingham Moseley

Likely outcome: Sale win

My confidence:

And I’m becoming increasingly convinced that our original top-five prediction for Sale was too cautious.

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Bishop’s Stortford v Rosslyn Park

This is fascinating because both teams come into it with something to prove.

Stortford scored 52 against Dings, but conceded 42. Rosslyn Park scored only 17 against Plymouth and conceded 61, although we have to factor in the sending-off of Ali Wade when Park were 21–5 down.

I don’t think Rosslyn are a 61–17 team.

We had them second in our pre-season prediction and I still think the squad is considerably better than that scoreline suggests.

But this is a horrible fixture for them immediately afterwards.

Stortford have home advantage, confidence and an attack which looked very sharp last week.

I can see Park scoring plenty more than 17.

Prediction: Bishop’s Stortford 38–31 Rosslyn Park

Likely outcome: Stortford win

My confidence:

This is an important game for Park. Lose again and suddenly the 61–17 starts looking less like an aberration and more like the beginning of a problem.

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Camborne v Plymouth Albion

Game of the weekend? Absolutely.

Camborne have just gone to Leeds, found themselves 29–14 down at half-time, turned the game around and eventually won 38–36 with Rory O’Kane’s late penalty.

That’s an extraordinary opening to life in National 1.

But then Plymouth…

61–17 away at Rosslyn Park.

Nine tries, Harry Wilkinson’s hat-trick and Iwan Jenkins converting eight of nine attempts.

And this is exactly why I was so keen on Plymouth in our pre-season discussion. We talked about their recruitment, their ambition and particularly Iwan Jenkins. After one game, that confidence looks justified.

Camborne at home makes this much harder.

I don’t expect another 60-point Plymouth performance. Camborne have already demonstrated that they can score heavily and, more importantly, recover from adversity.

But Plymouth look extremely powerful.

Prediction: Camborne 28–39 Plymouth Albion

Likely outcome: Plymouth win

My confidence:

If Plymouth win this one, though, I’m going to start using the word “favourites” rather than “contenders”.

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Cambridge v Bury St Edmunds

This is a really important game for both.

Cambridge lost 38–33 at Moseley but actually scored five tries to four. Their problem was discipline, with Moseley kicking four penalties and receiving a penalty try.

So I actually came away from that result more positive about Cambridge than I was before it.

Bury, on the other hand, were beaten 53–27 by London Scottish.

That’s not necessarily a disaster against a side which has just come down from the Championship, but Cambridge represent a much more realistic indication of where Bury currently stand.

Cambridge at home should have enough.

Prediction: Cambridge 36–25 Bury St Edmunds

Likely outcome: Cambridge win

My confidence:

This is one where I expect Cambridge to get their first win.

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Dings Crusaders v Rams

Now this is a very interesting one.

Dings lost 52–42 to Bishop’s Stortford, but 42 points away from home is extremely encouraging.

Rams, meanwhile, were beaten 50–22 by Sale, although they did briefly threaten a comeback with three tries in 11 minutes.

This is where our pre-season assessment gets tested.

We had Rams as one of the sides capable of challenging near the top, largely because of their recruitment. Dings were a more difficult team to place, but we liked the Bristol connection and thought they could be awkward.

I think Dings will attack Rams relentlessly.

But I also think Rams are too good to start 0–2.

This could be a proper shootout.

Prediction: Dings Crusaders 31–34 Rams

Likely outcome: Rams sneak it

My confidence:

This is probably my hardest prediction of the seven.

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London Scottish v Tonbridge Juddians

Scottish were hugely impressive in their first outing.

They went to Bury and won 53–27, with Alex Earnshaw — who moved from Bury in the summer — scoring four second-half tries.

They’ve now got their first home match of the season.

TJs were good enough to beat Sheffield 31–26, but Sheffield showed enough to take two bonus points. TJs will need to be considerably better to beat Scottish.

And Scottish’s Championship experience is exactly why we had them high in our original prediction. National League Rugby’s pre-season assessment also identified an immediate return to Level 2 as Scottish’s likely ambition.

I think they’ll be too strong.

Prediction: London Scottish 44–24 Tonbridge Juddians

Likely outcome: London Scottish win

My confidence:

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Sheffield v Leeds Tykes

This one could be very close.

Sheffield may have lost at TJs, but they came away with two bonus points, and they were 31–12 down before fighting back strongly.

Leeds, meanwhile, have probably had the most frustrating opening weekend of anyone.

They were 29–14 ahead at half-time, then allowed Camborne to turn it around and eventually lost 38–36 to a late penalty.

The positive for Leeds is that they scored 36 points.

The negative is that they conceded 38 after being in such a strong position.

Our pre-season assessment was that Leeds could push towards the top six, and this is exactly the sort of game they need to win if that’s going to happen.

But Sheffield at home won’t be easy.

I’m going to give Leeds the benefit of the doubt.

Prediction: Sheffield 29–34 Leeds Tykes

Likely outcome: Leeds win

My confidence:

Loved the preview & pred thread - well done Roth2

Roth 2 is a tireless genius when it comes to providing useful data to supporters of all clubs. Amazing since his club got promoted from this league last season so he will have double the work when the Championship starts.

Can only echo the comments above about what a legend Rothman is!

Great read as always.

Puts my predictions to shame!