NPL preview: Champs Cuckney take on winless Ordsall Bridon, Kimberley need to halt slide

After a slow start, the Notts Academy have shown steady improvement in recent weeks with two wins and a winning draw since they lost to Welbeck in May.

Welbeck were also the last team to beat Caythorpe, who have won three of their last five.

Cuckney face a trip to an Ordsall Bridon side that is the only side in the division yet to record a victory.

They took the best of a draw in their trip to Kimberley in May but have lost four of their last five. Cuckney piled up a huge 272-9 in this fixture last year but had to settle for a draw when Orsdall clung on nine down.

Plumtree sit in third and this weekend they host Farnsfield, who are also struggling to find their rhythm - they beat Ordsall on 16th May but have lost their last two matches, against Cuckney at home and the Academy away.

Plumtree have gone well since they lost to Kimberley with winning draws in their last two games against Welbeck and Radcliffe to add to their three wins.

The West Indian Cavaliers sit in sixth and have not yet reached the level of consistency they normally achieve, mixing three losses and three wins so far.

This weekend sees them travel to Attenborough who are also having an up-and-down season. After briefly topping the table after four games, they now sit in ninth, 20 points ahead of the relegation zone.

Two long-standing members, and former champions, meet at the 2bm ground where Kimberley play host to Clifton.

The home side are in eight on the same points (88) as Attenborough and after winning three on the trot in May, need to reverse the trend after losing their last two, away at Radcliffe and home to the Cavs.

Clifton will want to add to their two wins this year and will hope to repeat their win in this fixture last year when the now injured Martin Weightman took 5-25 to drive them to a 70-run victory.

The final contest sees Radcliffe travel to the John Fretwell complex to take on Welbeck.

Radcliffe’s away form has been poor with one defeat and two losing draws but wins at home against Kimberley and the Cavaliers have kept them out of the bottom two.

Welbeck, in fourth, are another side mixing the positive and negative results but will hope to start a trend by building on their win last time out away at Attenborough.