September 18, 2025

Round Three Preview: Title Contenders Tested, Unbeaten Starts To Protect and First Wins Up for Grabs

From Plymouth Albion’s test at Bishop’s Stortford to Havant v Esher and Camborne’s Midlands trip, here’s your full weekend preview. (Photo Credit: Daniel Rule Photography)

National One

As mentioned in our Round Two Review, five of last season’s top six have opened the new campaign with back-to-back wins, but Round Three is set to provide sterner examinations for the early pacesetters.

For leaders Plymouth Albion and second-placed Rams, the challenges could be tricky. Albion, clinical against newly promoted Leeds Tykes and then composed in dispatching Clifton, travel to face sixth-placed Bishop’s Stortford on Saturday.

Tom Coleman’s side have already shown what they could be about this term, beating Birmingham Moseley in Round One and pushing Blackheath all the way before being denied at the death. With four straight home wins behind them (a run which bleeds into last season), Stortford will be confident, though they face an Albion outfit brimming with momentum.

Rams have experienced both sides of the spectrum in the opening fortnight: a dramatic late victory at Sedgley Park followed by a free-flowing 73–24 demolition of Dings Crusaders.

Next up is a trip to Sale FC (10th), traditionally a bogey fixture for Seb Reynolds’ men. The North West side may have lost their opening two matches, but they have beaten Rams in their last four meetings at the newly named Morson Stadium – and clashes between these clubs rarely disappoint.

Elsewhere, third-placed Rotherham Titans have looked like a well-oiled unit and will be expected to maintain that form away at Clifton (14th), who face another tough test after defeats to Blackheath and Plymouth.

Rosslyn Park, currently fourth, return to The Rock to meet Birmingham Moseley. The Midlands side will arrive buoyed by a stirring second-half comeback against Leicester Lions in Round Two, while the Lions themselves continue their search for a first win, though it won’t be easy against fifth-placed Blackheath.

Further down the card, Tonbridge Juddians (7th) will look to sustain their strong start when visiting Dings Crusaders (11th), while Sedgley Park (9th) – fresh from a Manchester derby triumph – head to Yorkshire to meet promoted Leeds Tykes (13th).

National Two North

The trio of clubs with perfect records in National Two North are all at home in Round Three, setting the stage for another intriguing weekend.

League leaders Sheffield welcome promoted Rossendale (9th) to Abbeydale Park, with Anthony Posa’s men sitting on maximum points after two games. The Steel City side boasts a formidable record on their own patch – 13 wins from their last 14 – and will look to extend that run. Yet Rossendale seem to be enjoying life at this level, an opening day victory followed by a 13-try thriller against foes Macclesfield.

Macc (3rd) themselves are two from two and will be eager to maintain their perfect start when they return to Priory Park to face unbeaten Hull Ionians (4th), who have collected a win and a draw so far. It promises to be a memorable afternoon for the visitors regardless, as skipper Joe Makin makes his 400th appearance for the club – a landmark celebrated across National League Rugby’s channels this week.

The third side yet to drop a point, Tynedale (2nd), have impressed in early wins over Wharfedale and Darlington Mowden Park. Riding high on confidence, they now welcome Otley to Corbridge in Round Three.

Elsewhere, Fylde (5th) – also unbeaten – host Billingham (10th), while Darlington Mowden Park visit winless Wharfedale (12th).

Preston Grasshoppers (8th) travel to Hull (11th), who announced this week that former Doncaster and Munster fly-half Dec Cusack has replaced David Ellis in the hot seat after just two matches.

Meanwhile, the early-season bottom two – Scunthorpe and Sheffield Tigers – meet at Heslam Park in a clash both may view as an opportunity to kickstart their campaigns.

National Two East

If Round Two in National Two East felt like a rollercoaster, Round Three offers no chance to catch your breath.

One of the standout fixtures sees the early front-runners go head-to-head as leaders Havant go to second-placed Esher. The visitors sparkled last weekend, running in 11 tries to dismantle Oxford Harlequins, while Peter Winterbottom’s men were forced to dig deep, snatching a dramatic 31–29 victory at Westcombe Park in the dying minutes.

Just behind them sit Old Albanian (3rd), who have begun the campaign efficiently. They welcome Guernsey Raiders (13th) to Hertfordshire, with the away side eager to ignite their season.

Meanwhile, one of the division’s most compelling rivalries resumes as Dorking (4th) take on Barnes (5th) at The Big Field.

These familiar foes have both finished in the top three for each of the last three seasons.

Last term, Dorking held the edge – winning 29–24 at home before grinding out a bizarre 14–7 victory away, in a contest that saw Barnes receive an extraordinary eight cards (six yellows and two reds). Meetings between these two are rarely dull, and this latest instalment should be no different.

Elsewhere, Henley Hawks (6th) – who battled to a 20–20 draw against Barnes in Round Two – are back at Dry Leas against Canterbury (9th) as they look to preserve their unbeaten start, while Sevenoaks (12th) play their first home fixture of the season against fellow Kent side Westcombe Park (7th).

There’s also a clash between the newly promoted sides as Oundle (8th) host London Welsh (10th), while Bury St Edmunds (11th) continue their search for a first win when they meet bottom-of-the-table Oxford Harlequins (14th).

National Two West

Camborne (1st) deserved every piece of the plaudits they received after Round Two. Not only did they triumph in their derby clash with Redruth, they did so in front of nearly 3,000 fans at The Recreation Ground – a phenomenal occasion for Cornish rugby.

Now, the Cherry and Whites head to the Midlands for a Round Three clash with Loughborough Students (11th).

For Camborne supporters, a win at Epinal Way would feel particularly sweet, as their side have yet to triumph there since promotion to National Two. It was also the scene of their first defeat of last season (49-31).

The hosts, meanwhile, are still searching for their first victory of the campaign after narrow defeats to Redruth and Hinckley, respectively.

Behind Camborne are Cinderford (2nd) and Exeter University (4th), who meet at Bell Sports & Rugby Park. The Foresters showed real character last weekend, overturning a 29–10 half-time deficit to beat Old Redcliffians 34–29, while Exeter have been efficient in notching up back-to-back wins.

Third-placed Hornets dazzled in Round Two with a 57–22 victory over Taunton Titans, and they now hit the road for the first time this season to face newly promoted Barnstaple (7th), who have started brightly at this level.

Lymm (5th) have also impressed, backing up their superb opening day win at Luctonians with a narrow 27–24 derby success against Chester. Their next test is a trip to Cornwall to meet Redruth (9th).

Elsewhere, Old Redcliffians (10th) will be desperate to break their duck when they travel to Luctonians (8th), while Taunton Titans (13th) seek their first win against Hinckley (6th).

Finally, newcomers Syston (14th) – competitive in their first two outings without serious reward – will hope to turn performances into points when they visit Chester (12th).

Make sure you follow National League Rugby on social media!

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Threads

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *