Melbourne take the short trip to Long Eaton for a local derby. Melbourne, unbeaten and dropping into M2EN and Long Eaton, promoted into M2EN this season and searching for their first win. A Derbyshire battle. Hopefully not too many changes for Melbourne this week. No predictions allowed.

Round 4

We are seeing a split after three rounds and beginning to get a picture of what sides offer and are capable of. Another big round of fixtures with some interesting match ups. P Dog (Matt wrote that – haha) and Matt have put their heads together and staked a beer on the below...

Dronfield v Ashby
Ashby surprised many last weekend in Round 3 with a good victory against Southwell. The newcomers have done well with two early victories in the league sure to give them a confidence boost but sterner tests lie ahead. Dronfield whom many expect to be a top four team are struggling to find form at the moment, but are scoring plenty of points. Will this be a turning point. Both sides are more about the bosh and bang than flowing Rugby so it could be a titanic battle up in north Derbyshire.
Pete - Dronfield seem to be getting closer to a win each week and have home advantage. Ashby travel away again, but must be buoyed by 2 wins in a row. I feel that Dronfield have to win and predict their first win of the season
Matt tips Dronfield to edge this one. Home advantage the telling point here and a need to win - fast.

Ilkeston v Ashbourne
Ashbourne will be boosted by their high scoring win over Dronfield at home but an away game at Hallam fields is a tough fixture. Not only physical, Ilkeston have threats out wide and although losing to Newark in Round 3 they are a team capable of doing well.
Pete - Ilkeston are still looking for a win. Ashbourne scored well last week in their win and I feel will continue winning ways this week.
Matt sees Ilkeston winning this game if conditions are dry and the team is at full strength.

Lincoln v Newark
Newark are the fastest horse out of the stalls currently. Leading the league by a single point. Lincoln are big, physical and love to chip away at the nitty gritty. Could they upset the current leaders - why not. On current form Newark have this on paper but this could be an upset if the Lincoln boys bully and harass Newark.
Pete - A local Lincolnshire Derby, with Newark taking the short trip North. Newark are unbeaten and I fancy will be too strong for Lincoln.
Matt tips Newark for the win although this could be a bogey fixture

Loughborough v Matlock
Hmmmm ... this is a tough call. Both teams have been unpredictable at the start of the season Loughborough proving to be a stern test for the sides they have faced. Matlock are one of the favourites for promotion but have stalled a little initially. A good win at the weekend for Matlock may give the blues a confidence boost.
Matt is tipping Matlock for this game. Forwards will surely determine the outcome but the backs may decide by how much. A small pitch at Loughborough May keep this game as a lower scoring fixture.
Pete – Loughborough were close at Market Rasen last week and have had 2 home wins already, albeit by close margins. Both teams have had success against Long Eaton, with Matlock faring better. Matt got his prediction in first to me, so to be different I will go for a Loughborough home win.

Market Rasen v Southwell
Well I wouldn’t stake my house on this one but surely only one outcome in this game. Rasen are three from three and looking like a strong team aiming for promotion. Southwell are struggling.
Pete - Southwell are still looking for their first win, but I feel that unbeaten Market Rasen will be too strong for them.
Bonus point win for Rasen ? Matt thinks so.

So we differ on the Ilkeston game only and reluctantly on the Lougborough game.
Review Sunday or Monday