The Preview: Will there be fireworks in Round Nine as sides target crucial results?
With key clashes at both ends of all four divisions, who will light up the league and who can spark their season into life? (Photo Credit: Nigel Miller/ Kairos Sports Photography)
National One
Looking at the league table, the situation certainly isn’t disastrous for Dings Crusaders (12th) and Sheffield (13th), but Saturday’s meeting at Abbeydale Park presents a huge opportunity for two of the bottom three sides.
With just one point separating the pair, and the teams immediately above them – Bury St Edmunds and Rams – facing trips to the division’s top two, victory in Round Nine could lift either side out of the relegation places.
Sheffield’s 49-19 defeat at Sale FC in Round Eight was not quite as one-sided as the scoreline suggests. Anthony Posa’s men were within two points at 21-19 before falling away. However, it is on home soil where the Steel City outfit have really impressed this season.
They will be looking to reproduce their Round Seven 33-22 victory over Cambridge, while Dings’ run of fixtures against the division’s top four ended in a 57-38 defeat against Camborne last week.
Despite sitting above Sheffield, Stean Williams and Luke Arscott’s side have won one fewer game than their hosts. They will be keen to improve on that statistic in South Yorkshire.
Bottom club Cambridge (14th) may keep half an eye on the outcome between Sheffield and Dings Crusaders, but the Blood and Sand know their priority is to turn their own fortunes around.
Another promising first-half display counted for little as Craig Newby’s side fell to a 47-22 home defeat against an improving London Scottish last time out.
Eight defeats from eight leaves Cambridge seven points behind Sheffield and 10 adrift of Rams, who currently occupy the final safety position.
Newby admitted last week that his side are now ‘fighting for their season’. That fight continues with a trip to sixth-placed Rosslyn Park (6th).
The hosts began the second block of the season with an impressive 42-14 victory at Bury St Edmunds, but it is at The Rock where Steve Neville and Kieran Power’s side have struggled.
Defeats against Plymouth Albion, Camborne and, most recently, London Scottish will have hurt Park, who will be determined to give their home supporters something to celebrate.
Above the bottom three of Cambridge, Sheffield and Dings are Bury St Edmunds (11th) and Rams (10th), who face trips to Tonbridge Juddians (2nd) and Plymouth Albion (1st) in Round Nine.
Bury head to The Slade knowing their hosts will be looking for a response after their 100 per cent start was ended by Birmingham Moseley last time out.
View this post on Instagram
Jordan Turner-Hall’s troops lost 35-26 in the Midlands and will be eager to bounce back at the first attempt, particularly after seeing Albion move four points clear at the summit.
Ryan Lamb’s side have finally opened up some breathing space at the top. Another fast start, this time in a 54-40 victory over Bishop’s Stortford, helped Plymouth secure an eighth successive bonus-point win.
The Albion boss did highlight a drop in intensity that allowed Stortford back into the contest, but on their return to Brickfields, Plymouth will be expected to be at full throttle.
Visitors Rams will also be keen to make a positive start after seeing a 33-17 lead slip away in Round Eight.
Seb Reynolds’ men were left stunned as Leeds Tykes fought back in the final 25 minutes to claim a 36-33 victory at Old Bath Road. There were, though, positives for a developing Rams side to take into their trip to Devon.
Elsewhere, third-placed Camborne (3rd) and Leeds Tykes (4th) continue to go from strength to strength, and both are back on home turf in Round Nine.
Another excellent victory at Dings Crusaders means Camborne head into their meeting with Bishop’s Stortford (9th) on a six-match winning run, and just one point behind second-placed Tonbridge Juddians.
Stortford, meanwhile, have lost their last four, but the character Tom Coleman’s side displayed after a difficult start against Plymouth – along with their ability to expose cracks in the league leaders’ otherwise watertight defence – will encourage them ahead of their trip to The Recreation Ground.
As for Leeds, another second-half fightback on the road built further momentum for the Tykes, who have now won five of their last six matches.
Pete Seabourne and Pete Lucock’s side welcome Birmingham Moseley (8th) to Yorkshire in Round Nine, and the visitors may fancy their chances of taking another scalp after beating Tonbridge Juddians last week.
And in the capital, Sale FC (5th) travel to London Scottish (7th), with the Exiles targeting a fourth successive victory as they look to continue their upturn in form.
National Two North
Having faced Darlington Mowden Park (2nd) in Round Eight, Chester (3rd) now turn their attention to fourth-placed Tynedale (4th), with consecutive fixtures against top-four opposition offering a good test of their early-season credentials.
Few, though, could have predicted how last week’s remarkable 25-21 victory over DMP would unfold.
Leading 18-7 with 13 minutes remaining, a Halloween nightmare threatened to engulf Rhys Hayes’ side. Two yellow cards and a red left them with just 12 players and allowed DMP to move 21-18 ahead.
But with the clock long into the red, the Cheshire outfit somehow pulled victory from the jaws of defeat, with Scott Robson finding a sliver of space to snatch an extraordinary win.
Results like that can become key moments in a season. With a trip to Tynedale in Round Nine, Chester will be hoping to add another ‘moment’ to their collection as they look to stay among the leading pack.
They will arrive at Tynedale Park fully aware of the hosts’ form. After a difficult start, which included defeats against North-East rivals Darlington Mowden Park and table-toppers Sedgley Park, Peter Southern’s side have now won five in a row.
Maximum points since the end of September has lifted them to within two points of the top two and one of Chester. With momentum behind them, can last season’s runners-up continue to climb the table?
For Chester’s Round Eight opponents, Darlington Mowden Park (2nd), last weekend will have been a tough one to take, particularly after Neil Young and Darren Fearn’s side had fought back to lead at Hare Lane.
The defeat would have been even harder to swallow with leaders Sedgley Park moving eight points clear at the summit, but DMP remain second and will be determined to respond when they host Otley (13th) on Saturday.
Since their 68-7 home defeat against Sedgley Park at the end of September, Otley have responded well, but their efforts are yet to produce a second victory of the season. Kyle Dench’s side remain in the bottom two, with a game in hand, and have lost five in a row.
Given that DMP have won all three of their home matches by an average of 41.6 points, Otley’s task does not look any easier in Round Nine.
The celebrations for leaders Sedgley Park (1st) would have been all the sweeter last Saturday, not only because their nearest rivals lost but also because of the way Scott Barrow’s side fought back to maintain their perfect start.
View this post on Instagram
Three tries in the final quarter saw the Tigers beat Preston Grasshoppers 35-27 at Lightfoot Green, making it eight bonus-point victories from eight. Next up, the table-toppers entertain Fylde (9th).
A welcome 50-13 victory over Heath in Round Eight was just the tonic the Lancastrians needed after a difficult start to the campaign. However, Chris Briers and Alex Loney’s side know they will need to raise their game again for their trip to Park Lane.
Below the top four, fifth meets sixth as Hull Ionians (5th) welcome Preston Grasshoppers (6th) to Brantingham Park.
Both sides suffered defeats last time out, but took contrasting views of their performances. Ionians boss Maliq Holden was left frustrated by his side’s costly errors in their 41-36 defeat away at Billingham, while Hoppers head coach Dan Orwin could not have been prouder of his players against Sedgley Park.
Whatever conclusions the two sides have drawn from Round Eight, their immediate aim is the same. To return to winning ways on Saturday.
Billingham (10th) were quick to recognise the importance of their bonus-point victory over Hull Ionians in Round Eight.
Head coach Dan Finney was understandably delighted after his side delivered the perfect response to difficult results against Sedgley Park and Preston before the break.
Finney spoke of Billingham rediscovering their ‘DNA’ and, with his squad close to full strength, they will be keen to build on that performance when they visit Sheffield Tigers (8th).
That is easier said than done at present. The Tigers are on a three-match winning run after beating Otley 31-21 last weekend. Having lost their opening five games, another victory in Round Nine would represent quite the turnaround for the Dore Moor outfit.
Elsewhere, this week’s Yorkshire derbies see Heath (12th) host Harrogate (7th) as the clubs renew acquaintances following promotion from Regional 1 North East, while Huddersfield (11th) welcome bottom club Wharfedale (14th) to Lockwood Park.
A late converted try from Liam Stapley earned Huddersfield a 31-31 draw against Harrogate last weekend, taking Callum Thompson’s side to nine points from their last three matches.
That leaves Field three points above the relegation play-off position, while Wharfedale head to West Yorkshire seven points behind them.
Simon Verbickas’ men are still searching for sharpness and cohesion, but a spirited fightback in their 28-20 defeat against Tynedale will encourage them. Four of their next six fixtures are against teams in the bottom half.
National Two East
Both Oundle (1st) and Jersey (14th) have enjoyed notable rises in recent years, but their immediate priorities are at different ends of the spectrum ahead of this weekend’s meeting between the division’s top and bottom clubs.
Oundle have put together eight successive bonus-point victories, with another strong second-half display against Guernsey completing the job for Aly Kachra and Gareth Collins’ side last weekend.
In fact, since losing to Old Albanian just over 12 months ago, Oundle have lost just one of their last 24 league matches as last year’s runners-up continue to set the standard in 2026/27.
Jersey know all about winning runs, having lost just once during their entire Regional 1 South Central title-winning campaign last term. But after three promotions in four seasons, Myles Landick’s side are still adjusting to life at Level Four.
A lengthy injury list has not helped, while severe travel disruption on their return from last week’s 41-12 defeat at Esher will hardly have made things easier. Now back at CoinShares Park, Jersey will be looking for a lift – and perhaps an upset.
Oundle’s trip to the Channel Islands means the current top four are all on their travels in Round Nine.
Second-placed Esher (2nd) made it seven wins in a row with victory over Jersey last week, and the EEEs are keeping Oundle firmly in their sights while tightening their grip on second spot. Another victory away at Henley (10th) would only strengthen their position.
However, that will be no easy task, with the Hawks having made Dry Leas a tough place to go for visiting teams.
Henley did lose at Dorking last time out, but they are unbeaten in eight matches (including their play-off win over Tunbridge Wells in May) on their own patch.
Esher will also remember that Luke Allen’s side produced an excellent display to beat third-placed Old Albanian in their previous home outing. An eighth successive win will be no formality.
Speaking of Old Albanian (3rd), they returned to winning ways at the first attempt with a 47-22 victory over Colchester in Round Eight, leaving them four points behind Esher.
View this post on Instagram
James Osborn and Dan George’s side now travel to Leicester Lions (11th), where Tom Varndell’s new-look outfit are showing signs of finding their feet.
The Lions came away empty-handed from their trip to Barnes in Round Eight, but pushed the seventh-placed side hard in a 29-15 defeat.
Back at Westleigh Park on Saturday, they will look to carry the positives from that performance into the weekend, alongside the memory of their 42-38 victory over Colchester in their previous home fixture.
Completing the top four are the in-form Dorking (4th), who travel to Colchester (9th) looking for a seventh successive victory.
In his pre-match programme notes ahead of last week’s 29-21 win over Henley, back-five player Will Scholes said Dorking ‘haven’t fully clicked yet’. After six successive wins, that should be an ominous thought for their rivals.
Colchester, meanwhile, continued their habit of taking something from every match this season. Three tries in the final seven minutes secured a try bonus in their Round Eight defeat at Old Albanian. Col have also won 13 of their last 14 matches at Raven Park across National Two East and Regional 1 South East.
Elsewhere, fifth-placed Guernsey (5th) are going through a difficult spell after three consecutive defeats against top four sides. Jordan Reynolds’ men will be keen to respond at Footes Lane when they entertain Havant (10th).
While Guernsey look to return to winning ways, the same can be said of London Welsh (12th), who sit two points above the bottom two after seven straight losses.
Last week, George Trimmer’s side fought back from 21 points down to trail Havant 31-28, but ultimately left Hooks Lane with another defeat.
The Exiles now welcome Canterbury (6th) to Old Deer Park, with the visitors having quietly won three of their last four matches.
One of those victories came against Kent rivals Westcombe Park (13th) last Saturday. Despite sitting in the automatic relegation places, Combe will have taken plenty of positives from their 46-33 defeat.
In Round Nine, they entertain Barnes (7th), who travel to Goddington Dene on the back of three successive wins.
National Two West
With just a single point separating the top four, the title race in National Two West could hardly be better poised as we enter November’s trio of fixtures.
Redruth (1st)‘s 15-8 loss against Hinckley last weekend is the reason the leading pack are now bunched together, with Richie Kevern’s side tasting defeat for the first time this season.
Nevertheless, the Reds remain in pole position and, as scrum-half Sam Bray said this week, they will be keen to take the lessons from their Round Eight setback into another significant encounter away at seventh-placed Cinderford (7th).
Although the sides are at different ends of the top half, Cinderford are only eight points behind their visitors, having enjoyed an impressive run of five wins from their last six matches.
A hard-earned 28-20 victory at sixth-placed Taunton last time out was an excellent result for Clive Stuart-Smith’s side, who will now be looking to repeat the 32-22 success they enjoyed over Redruth in this corresponding fixture almost exactly 12 months ago.
Luctonians (2nd) and Clifton (3rd) will be watching with interest, with both sides level on points with Redruth after securing maximums in Round Eight.
Lucs will be targeting a third successive win when they welcome Barnstaple (11th) to Mortimer Park, while Clifton are chasing a fifth straight victory when they host bottom-two side Exeter University (13th) at Station Road.
In a curious quirk of sport, despite ending Redruth’s seven-match winning streak last week and securing a seventh successive victory of their own, Hinckley (4th) dropped from second to fourth in the standings. In truth, that is unlikely to concern Alex White’s side too much.
View this post on Instagram
They sit just one point behind the top three and are the league’s form side ahead of their meeting with Lymm (8th) on Saturday.
The visitors from the North-West produced a superb first-half display against Hornets in Round Eight to return to winning ways (a 47-31 victory), and Andy Davies’ side are just eight points behind leaders Redruth.
Just above them in a tightly congested top eight are Old Redcliffians (5th) and Taunton (6th), who meet at Scotland Lane this weekend. Four successive victories have seen Dan Cox’s side steadily climb the standings, with the resilience and determination of the Bristolians coming to the fore during this impressive run of form.
They will be keen to maintain that momentum against a Taunton side looking to bounce back once again. The Titans head into November having lost three of their last four matches, with all three defeats coming against sides currently above them in the table. Tony Yapp’s men will be eager to buck that trend in Round Nine.
Elsewhere, an opportunity may present itself for Loughborough Students (9th) as they entertain bottom club Devonport Services (14th).
A glance at recent results shows Martin Webdale’s side have collected 17 points from their last five matches, including two victories and last weekend’s 29-29 draw against Bournville.
Having led 29-17 with 25 minutes remaining, the African Violet may have been frustrated not to see the game out at Bournville, but a home meeting with a Devonport Services side still searching for their first victory of the season offers Loughborough a chance to continue moving in the right direction.
Just below them are Hornets (10th), who return to The Nest to take on 12th-placed Bournville (12th).
Hornets claimed a pulsating 51-45 victory over Loughborough in their last home outing, while Bournville will look to harness the effort that helped them fight back to earn last weekend’s draw as they target just a second win of the campaign.
Make sure you follow National League Rugby on social media!
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Threads
Leave a Reply