The Review: Incredible contests leave lasting imprint on Round Four
The curtain came down on September in some style, with a feast of high-octane clashes encompassing yet another remarkable round of National League Rugby. (Photo Credit: Paul Clark)
National One
Tonbridge Juddians (2nd) produced another extraordinary victory as Jack Walsh’s five tries and a crucial try-saving tackle helped them edge Sale FC (3rd) 52-49 at the Morson Stadium.
Jordan Turner-Hall’s side had already beaten London Scottish 39-38 and Cambridge 53-52, and this was another thrilling contest involving TJs.
Walsh completed his hat-trick just after half-time before adding a fourth, helping TJs build a 31-14 lead. The winger then rounded off his five-try haul after Pete Vickers had crossed for Sale.
Fergus Mulchrone and Dafydd Rees then traded scores with TJs’ Shadyn Osgood and Connor Lloyd before Sale set up a remarkable finish.
Alex Wills (74th minute) and Ollie Longmore (77th minute) touched down, and Sale thought they had snatched victory at the death to preserve their 100 per cent record.
But Walsh had other ideas, producing the decisive moment as he forced Wills into touch to seal another absorbing Tonbridge Juddians win.
With Sale’s winning start coming to an end, Plymouth Albion (1st) are now the only other side with a 100 per cent record after a commanding eight-try 50-14 victory at London Scottish (12th).
Winger Noah Fenton set the tone with two tries inside the opening 12 minutes, and while Albion’s efficient attacking play has been a feature of their opening month, their defence stood out again at The Richmond Athletic Ground.
Ryan Lamb’s side have conceded just 57 points across their four games, joint-best in National League Rugby, and have yet to give up a bonus-point.
A last-minute penalty try saw Rams (9th) claim their first win of the campaign as they beat Rosslyn Park (10th) 38-34 at Old Bath Road.
Park, who had led from the first minute, looked to have settled the contest when Max Wheeler burrowed over to make it 34-26 with 10 minutes remaining.
However, Rams launched a late fightback. First, Matt Blee found his way over before Park’s Luke Mehson deliberately knocked on Matt Wickham’s pass, with referee Jack Moorhouse subsequently awarding the penalty try.
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Like Rams, Dings Crusaders (8th) also secured their first victory of the season, surging to a 68-47 win over Bury St Edmunds (13th).
Dings flew out of the blocks and led 33-5 after just 22 minutes, with scrum-half Matthew Jones scoring a brace. They crossed twice more before the interval, through Sam Cantwell, to establish a commanding 47-26 half-time lead.
The second half was a less frantic affair, although both sides still scored three tries apiece.
The only team still waiting for their opening success of the campaign are Cambridge, who suffered a 57-33 home defeat to Leeds Tykes (6th).
After Jude White’s early try had given the Blood and Sand the ideal start, Leeds raced into a 28-7 lead through Adam Brown, Kieran Davies, Charlie Venables and Matt Salisbury.
Scores from Harry Nicholls, Elias Caven and Jacob McCay did cut the deficit to 31-26 just after half-time, but the Tykes responded with three tries in 15 minutes to take the game away from their hosts.
Callum Smyth’s 69th-minute effort continued the theme of Cambridge scoring five tries or more in each match they’ve played this season, but their wait for a first league win since December 2024 goes on.
Elsewhere, Bishop’s Stortford (4th) concluded September with arguably their most satisfying win so far, beating Birmingham Moseley (7th) 47-5 at Silver Leys.
After conceding an average of just under 45 points across their opening three games, Tom Coleman’s side restricted Moseley to a solitary try.
Second-half scores from Seva Kava, Chris Bolton, Alex Osborn, Austin Pope and Ben Morrow completed a third win of the campaign for Stortford.
And in the battle between last year’s National Two North champions Sheffield (11th) and National Two West winners Camborne (5th), the Cherry and Whites just about came out on top.
Ben Priddey’s converted try three minutes from time sealed a 26-24 win for Camborne, with Tom Kessell’s side recording a third successive maximum on the road.
National Two North
Tries in the final quarter from Omari Kaup-Samuels and Joe Charnley secured Wharfedale (10th) their first win of the season as they defeated previously unbeaten Preston Grasshoppers (5th) 45-35.
Two first-half tries from Sam Taylor, plus scores from Sid Holden and Kaup-Samuels, gave Dale a 26-14 lead.
Joe Adams’ try four minutes into the second half extended that advantage, but three tries in six minutes stunned the hosts. Jacob Browne scored twice, and Ben Haigh also crossed as Hoppers turned the game around to lead 35-33.
However, yellow cards for Will Parkinson and Ellis Causey were punished by Wharfedale, with Kaup-Samuels and Charnley doing the damage.
Tynedale (7th) and Fylde (8th) also picked up welcome wins in Round Four.
Tynedale became the first side to beat Huddersfield (12th) at Lockwood Park for two years thanks to a 38-15 victory in West Yorkshire.
Winger Jack Edwards scored twice in the first half, while Oliver Green and Isaac Keller crossed in the final 11 minutes to put the result beyond doubt.
For Fylde, Oliver Spencer’s try and the boot of Dan Cassidy helped them to a 27-19 victory over Sheffield Tigers (14th).
The winless Tigers recovered from 12 points down through tries from Silas Talbot and Dom Santamaria to make it 19-19, but Spencer’s close-range effort and a penalty from Cassidy ultimately got Fylde over the line.
At the top, Sedgley Park (1st) and Hull Ionians (2nd) enter October with 20 points from 20 after both sides recorded a fourth consecutive bonus-point win.
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Tom Hesketh, Nathan Pope and Mason Winterburn all scored twice as Sedge ultimately cruised to a 68-7 victory over Otley (13th) at Cross Green.
After leading 26-7 at the interval, The Tigers scored six unanswered tries as Scott Barrow’s side completed the first month of the season in style.
As for Hull Ionians, they beat Harrogate (6th) 47-21 away from home.
The I’s always seemed to have their hosts at arm’s length, thanks in part to three scores in the opening half-hour and a trio of tries either side of half-time from Jack Townend, Peter Hudson-Kowalewicz and Maliq Holden.
Darlington Mowden Park (3rd) and Chester (4th) complete the top four, with DMP recording a 47-33 win away at new boys Heath (9th).
For the third week running, a relentless opening 40 set the North-East side on their way, with Mark Williams, Josh Oppong, Charlie Turnbull, Ben Douglas and Liam Checksfield all crossing.
To Heath’s credit, they recovered from 33-7 down at the break to register a try bonus, with Elliott Spiers, Ben Stringer, Tom Stansfield and Tom Clough all going over.
In terms of Chester, six second-half tries allowed them to storm to a 66-26 win over Billingham (11th) at Hare Lane.
After being pegged back to 19-19, Chester held a seven-point lead at the break before cutting loose.
Not long after the restart, Conner Scrivens, Rhys Hamilton and Will Wooton all crossed and were followed in the final quarter by Ben Ivory, Sam Rogers and Morgan Bagshaw.
National Two East
Henley (8th) and Jersey (14th) produced an absorbing 31-31 draw, with Seb Scott’s late unconverted try claiming a share of the spoils for the Hawks.
The result means newly promoted Jersey are still seeking their first victory in National Two East, although when Huw Owen plunged over after 75 minutes, while the visitors had Kade Bird in the sin-bin, a maiden win looked within reach.
However, for the second home game running, there was late Henley drama as Scott touched down in the corner.
Toby Howe’s difficult touchline conversion was off target and, while there was still time remaining, in the end, both sides settled for three points apiece.
At the summit, the trio of early leaders maintained their 100 per cent records, with Old Albanian (2nd) kicking things off on Friday night with a 54-26 victory over London Welsh (9th).
James Osborn’s side were relentless in the first half, scoring six of their eight tries. Harry Charter, Henry Hodgson, Kahil Oreagba, Elliot McPhun and Alessandro Ricci all crossed, while OAs were also awarded a penalty try.
Despite trailing 40-5, London Welsh regrouped to earn a try bonus thanks to scores from Tom Marshall, Jack Blain and David Banfield.
On to Saturday, where Oundle (1st) were made to work hard for their 36-22 home victory against Canterbury (10th).
With the scores locked at 10-10 at half-time, three tries before the hour from Cormac Calnan (2) and Grant Snelling pushed the hosts 31-10 ahead.
Riley Burden and an excellent score from Oliver Ashley-Jones kept Canterbury in contention for a bonus point or two, but Frankie Sleightholme dashed those hopes with Oundle’s sixth try late on.
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Colchester (5th) did what Canterbury couldn’t by securing a try bonus point, but were ultimately beaten 41-33 by Guernsey (2nd) at Raven Park.
The Raiders were 33-7 ahead at half-time thanks to scores from Anthony Armstrong, Callum Roberts, Joe Wrafter, Charlie Simmonds and Ciaran McGann.
But Colchester rallied after the break, with Harry Bureau and Fin McCartney going over before Harvey Ellis and Joe Collier crossed in the final three minutes to ensure the hosts registered a point.
Elsewhere, Esher (4th) made it three wins in a row after fending off a Barnes (11th) resurgence in a 41-22 victory.
The EEEs were 22-0 ahead at the break, with replacement prop Will McKenna scoring a hat-trick.
Barnes hit back with three tries before the hour through Fergus Hughes, Charlie Briers and Magnus Broadley to reduce the arrears to just five points.
However, McKenna grabbed his fourth before James Botterill and Charlie Cadogan took the game away from Barnes, who were able to secure a try bonus through Josh Naftalin’s late score.
Havant (6th) concluded September with a handsome 50-29 victory over Leicester Lions (13th) at Hooks Lane, with Man of the Match Brandon Vince scoring two outstanding tries.
And Dorking (7th) secured back-to-back wins, scoring twice in the final five minutes to defeat Westcombe Park (12th) 40-28.
With both sides enjoying spells in the ascendancy, Jack Aungier’s try 10 minutes from time edged Westcombe Park 28-26 ahead.
However, Dorking responded with two quick-fire tries to turn the game in their favour. Matt Gwyther dotted down first before Gareth Stephens intercepted and surged over to clinch the contest for Armand Roux’s side.
National Two West
A Bryn Goodall hat-trick helped Luctonians (3rd) maintain their winning start to the season as they halted Clifton’s (6th) 100 per cent record with a 31-19 victory at Mortimer Park.
The first half ended 19-19, with Ben Link, Goodall and Charlie Grimes going over for Lucs while Zak Hamid, Freddie Myatt and Brad Talbot crossed for Clifton.
Goodall completed his hat-trick either side of yellow cards for Caleb Montgomery and Mitch Spencer as the home side moved 31-19 ahead.
The final 10 minutes produced four more yellow cards – three for the hosts – as Clifton searched for a route back into the contest, but Lucs shut out their visitors.
Luctonians sit on 19 points alongside Redruth (1st) and Taunton (2nd), who also saw out September with a fourth successive win.
Away at Exeter University (14th), the Reds were 22-7 ahead by half-time, with Tom Cowan-Dickie (2), Rob Baragwanath and Sam Bray going over.
Cowan-Dickie capitalised on Mawgan Talling’s yellow card to complete his hat-trick and, even though Exeter fired back, Jarrod Hambly’s try sealed a 34-19 win for Redruth.
As for Taunton, they edged out a stubborn Hornets (8th) side in the M5 derby, clinching a 36-34 victory.
Andrew England crossed early for the hosts, with Josh Sheppard replying before Oli Schuster-Wood and Alfie Johns both scored for Taunton.
Hornets retaliated again through Charlie Carter and Henry Webb to make it 21-17 at the break.
Both sides swapped tries before a Tom Putt penalty and Ben Parsons’ effort pushed Taunton into a 36-22 lead with the final 10 minutes approaching.
James Murray and Corey Baker then scored twice in quick succession to set up a tense finale at the Summerfield Stadium, but Taunton were able to see it through.
Next up for the Titans is a trip to fellow unbeaten side Redruth.
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Lymm (4th) continued their excellent start to the season with a 27-21 win away at Barnstaple (12th).
After no activity on the scoreboard in the opening quarter, Rhys Lilly and Alex Mukherjee crossed before half-time, with the in-form Jack Reynolds and Andrew Williams then securing all five points for Andy Davies’ charges.
Cameron Johnson’s try seven minutes from time confirmed a losing bonus point for Barum.
Hinckley (5th) made it three wins on the spin thanks to a seven-try, 51-12 victory at Devonport Services (13th), with hooker Sam McNulty helping himself to a hat-trick at The Rectory.
Two enthralling games played out in the Midlands, with 31 tries and 200 points scored across both matches.
Ellis James’ try two minutes from time clinched a first win of the season for Loughborough Students (11th), who edged Old Redcliffians (9th) 41-40.
The African Violet had led 19-12, but tries from Tom McLean, Oliver Stratton and Finn Murphy put Old Reds 33-19 in front.
The Students responded through wingers Jeke Bulanauca and Freddie Brown, before one converted try apiece made it 40-34 to Old Reds heading into the final 10 minutes.
However, two yellow cards for the visitors didn’t help their cause as James darted over for the winner.
And over at Bournville (10th), Cinderford (7th) ran out 62-57 winners in a breathless contest.
Both sides secured a bonus point in the first half, with Cinderford going in 38-26 ahead thanks to Andrew Smyth’s hat-trick.
The try-scoring continued after the interval as the scoreboard ticked along to 55-38 in Cinderford’s favour.
Extraordinarily, Bournville then hauled themselves to within five points of their visitors as tries from Patrick Smallman and Oscar Fawkes-Underwood set up a dramatic finale.
However, Cinderford’s Callum Thompson went over in the 76th minute to seal victory, despite James Weaver crossing late on for The Chocos.
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