Darlington Mowden Park are back at the Arena on Saturday in their final home game of 2018. Cinderford are the opposition in what is a big game for both sides as they approach the Christmas break.

Cinderford RFC were formed in 1886 and play their home fixtures at Dockham Road. The Gloucestershire side were promoted to National One over the summer having finished as National 2 South champions last season. Saturday's visitors currently sit in 10th place in the table, holding a similar record to Mowden's. They have won 6 of their opening 14 fixtures, drawing 1 and losing 7. Three of those victories have come on the road, against Moseley, Loughborough and Caldy respectively.

Like Mowden, Cinderford have endured a tough run of results with 3 consecutive defeats, and both sides will be looking to return to winning ways this weekend. Cinderford's top points scorer is Liam Hemming with 74, while Sam Smith and Nathan Taylor leading the try scoring stakes with 5.

National One Table

1. Old Elthamians 52
2. Blackheath 51
3. Rosslyn Park 47
4. Rotherham 45
5. Ampthill & District 45
6. Chinnor 43
7. Caldy 41
8. Darlington Mowden Park 34
9. Cambridge 33
10. Cinderford 33
11. Sale FC 32
12. Esher 30
13. Plymouth Albion 29
14. Birmingham Moseley 28
15. Bishops Stortford 25
16. Loughborough Students 24

Previous National One contests between the two sides have all gone the way of DMP, with the sides meeting 4 times over the 20114/15 and 2015/16 season. The first of those came in September 2014, in Mowden's first ever win in National One.

Saturday 20th September 2014

Mowden Park 32
Tries: Mackenzie, Hodgson, Mitchell (2)
Conversions: Law (3)
Penalty: Law
Drop Goal: Law

Cinderford 24
Tries: Baker, Smart, Randall, Evans
Conversions: Wilcox, Davies

Saturday 30th April 2016

Mowden Park 52
Tries: Uzokwe (2), Ferreira, Conquest, Homan, Henry, Woodhouse, Mackenzie
Conversions: Auld, Appleton (4), Bravo

Cinderford 22
Tries: Birkin, Balding, Stapleton
Conversions: Moffat, Wilcox
Penalty: Moffat

Saturday's game promises to be an entertaining one between two sides separated by a single point in the table. Mowden will be looking to finish the year strongly in their penultimate game of 2018.

Tickets for Saturday's game are available on the day priced at £10 for adults, £8 for concessions and FREE for U16s. Stay tuned for more on Saturday's big game including team news and player interviews.