For the first time this season there was a fall in the aggregate
number of tries scored per round which, given the poor playing
conditions up and down the country, is hardly surprising. Friday
night's five matches and Sunday's game between Cornish Pirates and
Nottingham Rugby produced a combined total of 18 tries - 26 fewer
than the previous round. Rotherham Titans' 6-0 win away to county
rivals Yorkshire Carnegie set a new record for the lowest-ever
Championship score. The previous low was Coventry's 6-3 win against
Moseley, on 3 April 2010.
London Scottish v Jersey, Friday November 14, KO
19:45
London Scottish did the double over Jersey last season, winning
29-3 in the corresponding fixture at The Athletic Ground and 25-17
at St Peter. However, Friday night rugby has not been that kind to
the Exiles with a return of just two wins from 10 outings since
their return to this level three years ago. Scottish stayed third
in the league standings despite losing 16-9 away to Moseley in
round 6. Jersey moved into the top half of the table thanks to a
19-0 win at home to Plymouth Albion.
Bedford Blues v Yorkshire Carnegie, Friday November 13, KO
19:45
Yorkshire Carnegie have never lost to Bedford at Headingley. The
Blues' best result at the ground was a 24-24 draw three seasons ago
in the promotion play-offs. In the overall head-to-head standings,
Carnegie have won nine games to Bedford's four. Both sides have won
two of their first six games and are level on 11 points.
Nottingham Rugby v Bristol Rugby, Friday November 13, KO
20:00
Of the 16 matches played between the sides since Bristol were
demoted to this level four years ago, Bristol have won 10 to
Nottingham's five and there has been one draw. One of Nottingham's
best wins of the modern era came against Bristol, when they rewrote
the record books with a 63-7 win on 4 November 2012. Championship
leaders Bristol won by the narrowest of margins, 25-24, on their
last visit to Meadow Lane. Nottingham's superb 28-13 win away to
Cornish Pirates at the Mennaye Field in round 5 lifted them to
fifth place in the table. By scoring four tries they also increased
their overall try return for the season by 50%.
Rotherham Titans v Cornish Pirates, Saturday November 15,
KO 14:00
Rotherham have won the last three matches against Cornish Pirates,
a record they will be looking to continue in a bid to cement their
place in the top four. Pirates' last win at Clifton Lane came on 31
March 2012, when they won 17-14 in the promotion play-offs. Pirates
have the better overall record with 15 wins to Rotherham's eight.
Of all the sides in the top half of the table, Rotherham are the
only one to have a negative points difference. Pirates go into the
match in 10th, on nine points, after losing at home to
Nottingham.
Doncaster Knights v Moseley, Saturday November 15, KO
14:30
The home side has prevailed in the last five matches since Moseley
kicked off the 2010/11 season with a 23-16 win at Castle Park.
Tries from Ben Pons and Neil Mason and 13 points from the boot of
Brad Davies steered Moseley to victory that day. Doncaster's
battling defeat to Bristol in round 5 combined with victories for
Rotherham, Jersey and Nottingham saw the Knights slip three places
in the table to seventh. Moseley, meanwhile, got their league
account up and running with victory over London Scottish.
Incredibly, they have still to score a try in the first half of any
of their league matches, Drew Cheshire's effort against the Exiles
coming three minutes after the re-start.
Plymouth Albion v Worcester Warriors, Saturday November 15,
KO 17:00
Albion have not won a competitive game of any sorts for six months
following their latest setback in Jersey. The 19-0 defeat leaves
them five points adrift of Moseley and life does not look set to
get any easier with a tough run of fixtures coming up, starting
with Friday night's visit from Worcester. Second-placed Worcester
secured a bonus-point win over Bedford in round 5 to remain two
points behind leaders Bristol. Worcester won 26-19 on their last
visit to Brickfields, on 2 September 2010.
