Green King IPA Championship Preview - 15th-16th April

Mouth-watering fixtures litter the final weekend of league fixtures in the Green King IPA Championship this weekend. The top four are all in action in a possible preview of the play-off semi-finals as Doncaster Knights host London Irish and high-flying Ealing Trailfinders travel to Yorkshire Carnegie.

Doncaster Knights v London Irish

                Doncaster sealed their play-off place last week with a crucial victory over an impressive Jersey side. This week their sights are set on upsetting an Irish side who were run away victors last week in a crushing 82-3 win over bottom side Rotherham. If Doncaster want to avoid Irish in the semi-final they will need to beat Irish and hope Yorkshire beat Ealing at Headingley. Doncaster will be hoping for a better showing than when they visited the Madjeski on the opening day of the season as they failed to score as Irish won 19-0.
Prediction: Doncaster Knights 14-18 London Irish

Yorkshire Carnegie v Ealing Trailfinders

                Ealing’s dominant run of form sets up, what is sure to be an exciting and high scoring affair, against Yorkshire. Ealing have scored over 50 points in their previous three league games in an unbeaten run that stretches back to their one point loss against top side London Irish back in January. They come up against a resurgent Yorkshire side who have hit form at the right time. Having had a wobble in recent months, two convincing wins over Richmond & Bedford has restored belief in Yorkshire that their side can push for promotion. Victory for Ealing would be enough for them to seal 3^rd place in the league and set up a semi-final against Yorkshire in two week’s time.
Prediction: Yorkshire Carnegie 28-32 Ealing Trailfinders

Jersey Reds v Richmond

                Following last week’s disappointing end to their play-off hunt, Jersey will be seeking to sign-off their impressive season with victory over Richmond. With Cornish Pirates close behind, Jersey will want to hold on to 5^th place, however have the distraction of the British & Irish Cup final the following week in Ireland against Munster A. Richmond, however, have proved to be worthy opponents this season and will provide a difficult test for Jersey. Despite relegation being removed half way through the season with the expelling of London Welsh, Richmond, the only semi-professional team in the league, ensured they wouldn’t finish bottom of the pile with victory of Pirates last week. Richmond will seek to end their very successful first campaign in the Championship in style against Jersey.
Prediction: Jersey Reds 25-12 Richmond

London Scottish v Nottingham

                With perhaps more eyes on precedings off the field than on it at the Athletic Ground over the last week, the final fixture of the season gives players and supporters a chance to focus on on-field action as Scottish host Nottingham. With new chairman of Scottish, Malcolm Offord, talking about the possibility of returning to semi-professionalism, Scottish players will want to show a strong performance given the coming uncertainty over the off-season. Having not played since the end of March, Nottingham will have to try to regain focus for their final fixture of the term.
Prediction: London Scottish 31-8 Nottingham

Cornish Pirates v Bedford Blues

                  Bedford Blues make the over 600 mile round trip as they travel to Penzance to face Cornish Pirates. With neither side having threatened the top four this season, Bedford will be the more disappointed of the two not to have built on their successful run to the play-offs last year. With both sides on the end of disappointing score lines last weekend, they will both be hoping they can end their season with victory.
Prediction: Cornish Pirates 19-10 Bedford Blues