April 19, 2026

Round 25 Review: ‘Enthralling’ National One set for dramatic finale, Camborne promoted and unmissable last day to decide matters

We promised drama and National League Rugby delivered once again, with title races, play-off pushes and survival scraps going to the wire after thrilling penultimate round. (Photo Credit: Steve Mock)

National One

Plymouth Albion’s (3rd) promotion ambitions suffered a setback as Mark Dixon’s late try and some outstanding Sale FC (4th) defence secured ‘The Dogs’ a 29-26 victory at the Morson Stadium.

Defeat in the North-West not only ended Plymouth’s title hopes but also dropped them to third in the standings, meaning they are no longer in control of securing home advantage in the National One play-off.

Three first-half tries from Harry Davey, Tom Walsh – on his 100th appearance – and Nathan Langdon put Sale 15-7 ahead, but Bobby Wigginton’s score on the stroke of half-time kept Plymouth firmly in the contest.

Quick-fire tries from Jack Oulton and Noah Fenton gave Albion the perfect start to the second half, putting them 26-15 up, but Dixon’s first on 68 minutes reduced the deficit.

The full-back then struck again to hand Sale the lead, with Plymouth responding through sustained pressure in the closing stages.

With the clock deep in the red, the visitors were awarded a penalty 20 metres out, but opted to go to the corner before being repelled by a stubborn Sale.

Plymouth head into their final game of the regular season against Leeds Tykes at home, three points behind Blackheath (2nd), who took full advantage as they moved into second place thanks to a 43-19 win atLeeds (9th).

Record-breaking Billy Harding scored a hat-trick as Tom Stradwick’s side took the title race to the final day of the season, while they also put themselves in the driving seat for home advantage in the National One play-off.

As for Leeds, despite not picking up any points in their final home game of the season, Pete Seabourne and Pete Lucock’s side are safe from relegation and will be playing in the third tier next term.

Blackheath remain four points behind leaders Rotherham Titans (1st), who are on the cusp of the title after a 68-7 win over Sedgley Park (13th), a result which also confirmed The Tigers’ relegation.

It was Sedge who struck first, with Beltus Nonleh rumbling over after 20 minutes, but from that point on, the table-toppers took complete control, running in 10 unanswered tries.

Across the last two weeks, Harvey Biljon’s side have been ruthless – scoring 22 tries and 148 points. They now require just two more league points from their final game against Sale FC to be crowned champions.

Given the points difference between Rotherham and Blackheath (+172), a single point at Clifton Lane next Saturday would more than likely be enough to secure a return to Champ Rugby.

For Sedgley Park, their three-year stay in National One has come to an end, with an eighth successive defeat confirming their relegation to National Two.

With two of the three automatic relegation places now decided, the fight for survival will go to the final day after Jack Bennett’s stunning converted try three minutes from time sealed a dramatic 42-36 win for Clifton (11th) over Birmingham Moseley (12th).

For the second successive week, Moseley led late on, with a penalty try and a penalty from Jack Jolly putting them 36-35 ahead.

However, Clifton had other ideas, as Bennett surged under the posts from halfway, leaving Tom Quinlan with a straightforward, match-winning conversion.

The result lifted Clifton out of the bottom three and into the relegation play-off spot.

The Lavender and Blacks now sit one point above Moseley, who dropped into the bottom three, with a visit to promotion-chasing Blackheath to come on the final day.

As for Moseley, they host sixth-placed Bishop’s Stortford at Billesley Common, knowing they must collect at least two more league points than Clifton to move into the relegation play-off spot, with automatic safety now out of reach.

That is because Dings Crusaders (10th) took another significant step towards survival with a nine-try 63-21 victory over Leicester Lions (14th).

Bristol starlet Tomas Gwilliam scored a hat-trick, and the result means Dings are almost safe ahead of their final day meeting with Rosslyn Park.

Rosslyn Park (5th), themselves, remain in pursuit of a top-four finish after a 36-19 win over Rams (7th) at Old Bath Road, while Bishop’s Stortford (6th) are on course for their best finish since promotion in 2017 following a 37-24 victory against Tonbridge Juddians (8th).

National Two North

Rossendale (12th) saw a 17-point lead evaporate in the second half as Fylde (6th) snatched a dramatic 31-24 victory at Woodlands.

The Stags looked set to boost their survival hopes when Vincent Durcan crossed for their bonus-point try on 48 minutes.

However, with Sam Bedlow in the sin bin, Fylde hit back through tries from Leo Gilliland and Ashton Kasam-Sharples.

And two further yellow cards in the final 10 minutes were ruthlessly punished by Fylde as Daniel Slawson and then Adam Lanigan completed the turnaround for the hosts.

The result leaves Rossendale four points above the drop zone and in the relegation play-off position.

Scunthorpe (13th) kept their survival hopes alive as Will Robinson’s last-minute try secured The Greens two bonus points in a 47-43 home defeat to Wharfedale (7th).

After being blown away early on, with Wharfedale leading 40-17 at the break, Scunthorpe rallied in the second half to cut the deficit to just two points following tries from Alfie Taylor, Ethan Heath-Dury and Robinson.

Callum Trees pushed Scunthorpe out of losing bonus-point territory with Dale’s seventh score of the afternoon, but Robinson’s hat-trick try, with the clock in the red, earned the hosts two points.

The result leaves them four points behind Rossendale, with a game in hand against league winners Sheffield still to come.

Scunthorpe travel to Darlington Mowden Park (5th) on the final day, while Rossendale host Hull (14th), whose relegation was confirmed in Round 25.

Hull had trailed 21-7 at half-time against Sheffield Tigers (8th), but tries from Liam Regardsoe and James Farrar brought them back into contention.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Fylde Rugby (@fylderugby)

However, any hopes of a comeback were ended in the final 10 minutes as Miles Dodsworth and Tom Gladwin sealed a 35-19 win, condemning Hull to Level 5 rugby for the first time in seven years.

Otley (11th) remain just above danger after earning a try bonus point in a 45-29 defeat away at play-off chasing Macclesfield (3rd).

The Beavers started well in Cheshire and only trailed 21-15 after half an hour, but tries from Toby Talbot and Samson Shute (2) put Macc in control.

Hooker Corey McCormack completed his hat-trick to ensure Otley left Priory Park with a point, but they are now just two points clear of the relegation play-off position and six above the bottom two.

Compared to their rivals, Otley arguably face the toughest final-day test, hosting champions Sheffield at Cross Green.

From a Macclesfield perspective, their result keeps them three points behind Tynedale (2nd), who strengthened their grip on the play-off spot with a 62-19 win at Billingham (10th).

After leading 17-12 at half-time, Tyne ran in seven second-half tries, meaning Peter Southern’s side simply need to match Macclesfield’s result next week to secure a play-off place.

Tynedale travel to Wharfedale while Macclesfield go to Sheffield Tigers.

Elsewhere, Matty Drennan scored a hat-trick as champions Sheffield (1st) came from 19-5 down to beat Darlington Mowden Park (5th) 52-19, while Preston Grasshoppers (9th) continued their strong finish to the season with a fifth win in six, defeating Hull Ionians (4th) 53-17.

National Two East

Bury St Edmunds (1st) took another step towards the National Two East title with a 35-21 win away at Dorking (6th).

The league leaders secured all five points with scores from Clark Macfarlane (2), Samir Kharbouch and Andrew Denham, as well as a penalty try.

Dorking responded in the second half with tries from Oliver Rawlinson, Nick Barry and Tom Bloomer, but a strong first-half display in Surrey laid the platform for an excellent Bury victory.

James Shanahan’s side remain two points clear at the top heading into the final day of the campaign.

Oundle (2nd) ensured the title race will go to the distance after Ben Young’s 78th-minute penalty secured a 36-33 win over a strong Westcombe Park (7th) side.

Three tries in the opening half hour put Oundle 21-7 ahead, but a penalty try and a score from Max Brown brought Combe level shortly after the break.

Tevita Vaenuku and Harry Nicholls restored Oundle’s advantage, but once again the visitors responded through Alessandro Minns and Cai Devine.

However, the reliable Young held his nerve to slot a late penalty, which keeps Oundle in contention for back-to-back promotions.

In Round 26, Oundle travel to eighth-placed Havant, while Bury St Edmunds host Old Albanian (3rd) at the GK IPA Haberden.

Saturday’s victories for Bury and Oundle mean Old Albanian (3rd) can no longer finish in the top two, despite thrashing Havant (8th) 81-19.

After three successive defeats, this was a strong response from OAs, who ran in 13 tries, with Ben Alexander scoring a hat-trick.

At the other end of the table, Sevenoaks’ (13th) four-year stay in National Two has come to an end after their relegation was confirmed, despite a 61-28 win over Oxford Harlequins (14th).

Centre Barney Stone scored a hat-trick, but with results elsewhere going against them, Oaks were ultimately not in control of their own fate.

It was Henley’s (12th) 28-17 bonus-point win over London Welsh (10th) that sealed Sevenoaks’ relegation while also keeping the Hawks’ survival hopes alive.

A tense contest at Dry Leas was decided in the 78th minute as Louis Bailey’s try secured all five points for Luke Allen’s side.

The result leaves Henley in the relegation play-off spot, just one point behind Esher (11th), who suffered a 34-33 defeat away at Canterbury (5th).

Mike Brown’s side led for much of the contest, with James Botterill scoring a hat-trick, while Canterbury’s Tyler Oliver also bagged a trio of tries.

Owen Waters’ drop goal on 72 minutes put the EEEs 33-29 ahead, but Eoin O’Donoghue’s try clinched the win for Canterbury, with Esher having to settle for two bonus points.

Esher, who travel to Sevenoaks on the final day, know that if they match or better Henley’s result, they will secure their place in National Two for next season.

Henley, meanwhile, head to ninth-placed Guernsey Raiders, while London Welsh are not out of danger just yet.

Their defeat to Henley leaves them three points above the relegation play-off spot, so matching what the Hawks do in Round 26 will guarantee Welsh’s safety. The Exiles host Dorking at the Richmond Athletic Ground.

Elsewhere in Round 25, Barnes (4th) moved into fourth place with a 36-14 win over Guernsey Raiders (9th) in their final home game of the season.

National Two West

Camborne (1st) secured the National Two West title and a historic promotion to National One despite a 41-34 defeat away at second-placed Luctonians.

‘Town’ needed just a single point to be crowned champions, and their try-scoring bonus point arrived on the hour mark when Adam Hughes crossed to seal the deal.

It will be the first time the Cherry and Whites have ever played in the third tier, while it was also a memorable afternoon for Luctonians, who confirmed their place in the National Two promotion play-offs following this pulsating win.

In front of a crowd of over 1,100 at Mortimer Park, Player of the Match Tom Jones scored twice, while Owen Randell, George Bennett, Ben Link and Rob Aikman also got in on the act.

Lucs were also awarded a penalty try, while Camborne’s other scores came via Shaun Buzza’s hat-trick and Alex Ducker.

With Luctonians securing the play-off place, Hinckley (3rd)’s remarkable push came to an end despite a 47-36 win over Redruth (9th).

Ten successive bonus-point victories – and 16 wins from their last 18 matches – have kept Luctonians honest, but Emyr Lewis’ side have still achieved their highest league finish since the Covid-19 impacted season of 2019/20.

In the relegation battle, Exeter University (12th) climbed out of the bottom two after a 36-24 win over Hornets (5th) at The Nest.

Hornets, who had lost just once at home prior to this, trailed 19-0 after just 11 minutes and never fully recovered.

A brace from hooker Alex Osborn, along with a try from Josh Golden Clarke, set Exeter on their way before Osborn completed his hat-trick before the break.

Back-rowers Tristan Arde and Harry Woodman both crossed in the second half to help Gareth Elliott’s side secure a vital victory.

Exeter now sit in the relegation play-off spot and are level on points with Loughborough Students (13th), after the African Violet were beaten 47-31 away at Chester (10th).

Chester, knowing a win would secure their own safety, dominated the first half, scoring six tries to lead 40-7 at the break.

Oliver Powell’s second try sealed the crucial victory for the hosts, while Loughborough salvaged a try bonus point late on as Zac Finch finished off Ben Webb’s superb break from inside his own 22.

Loughborough host Redruth on the final day of the season, needing to better Exeter’s result to avoid automatic relegation. As for Exeter, they take on Taunton, whom they beat 37-35 in Somerset back in Round One.

Speaking of Taunton (4th), they secured fourth place with a 42-36 win over Old Redcliffians (8th) in a closely fought contest in front of over 1,000 at Summerfield Stadium.

Elsewhere, Barnstaple (6th) ran in nine tries to beat Syston (14th) 57-14, while Cinderford (7th) ended their home campaign with a 26-17 victory over Lymm (11th).

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 *