Darlington Mowden Park will be looking to bounce back from Saturday's narrow defeat to Sale when they visit Loughborough this weekend. Saturday's hosts currently sit bottom of the National One table, having failed to win a game so far this campaign. The students started the season promisingly, pushing Ampthill and Cambridge close in their opening 2 fixtures. Last weekend saw Loughborugh beaten 48-24 by league leaders Old Elthamians, registering a 4 try bonus point in the process. Meanwhile DMP have slipped to 8th in the table, but remain just 4 points off top spot.

National One Table

1. Old Elthamians 26
2. Caldy 24
3. Sale FC 23
4. Chinnor 23
5. Blackheath 22
6. Rotherham 22
7. Cinderford 22
8. Darlington Mowden Park 22
9. Rosslyn Park 21
10. Ampthill & District 19
11. Cambridge 18
12. Plymouth Albion 18
13. Bishops Stortford 17
14. Esher 16
15. Birmingham Moseley 11
16. Loughborough Students 3

Last season's contests between the two sides book-ended the league campaign, with DMP winning in the opening and closing rounds of the season. The game at the Northern Echo Arena back in September 2017 ended in a 33-23 win for the hosts, with Warren Seals notching 18 points on his league return for the club. The corresponding fixture down in Loughborough was a tighter affair, with DMP taking a 7 point win in the final game of the season.

Saturday 2nd September 2017

Mowden Park 33
Tries: Seals (2), Hodgson, G.Connon, Frankland
Conversions: Seals (4)

Loughborough 23
Tries: Dobinson, Stapley, Bitirim
Conversions: Waters
Penalties: Waters (2)

Saturday 28th April 2018

Loughborough 17
Tries: De Cothi
Penalties: Waters (4)

Mowden Park 24
Tries: Law, Barron, Mackenzie
Conversions: Seals (3)
Penalties: Seals

Mowden Park will be hoping for a repeat of last year's results to close the gap on the top of the table, while Loughborough will be looking to register their opening win of the season. Saturday's game will also be followed by Loughborough Lightning v DMP Sharks at 5pm.