Either Leicester Lions or Esher will avoid the drop in National One, Clifton are in pole position for promotion to the third tier and strap yourselves in for several twists and turns in National Two North. (Photo Credit: Mike Craig)

National One

Of course, the title race was all wrapped up in Round 24 with Richmond sealing promotion to the Championship, so all eyes will be on who follows Darlington Mowden Park down to National Two.

Going into the final day, Leicester Lions (12th) ultimately know that their own result at home against ninth-placed Bishop’s Stortford matters most as they look to book their place in the third tier for a third successive campaign.

Two league points or more at Westleigh Park will see the Lions safe but in simple terms, another victory in a superb resurgence for Gareth Collins’ side will seal the deal.

In the middle of February, Leicester Lions were in the bottom two and 13 points from safety – having played a game more than relegation rivals Esher – but fast-forward seven matches, and the tables have completely turned in their favour.

Over the last two months, the Lions have picked up 20 points (bearing in mind they had recorded only 22 points from their first 18 matches) and within this revival, they have failed to pick up two or more league points at home on just one occasion (against newly-crowned champions Richmond in Round 19) so on paper, it seems like Leicester hold all the cards.

Permutations 

– 2 points or more for Leicester Lions would secure their safety and relegate Esher

– Anything less would open the door for Esher, but Esher must win to stand any chance of surviving

In addition, what happens in the East Midlands could also dictate the fortunes of rivals Esher (13th). Peter Winterbottom’s side are clinging onto the dream of playing National One rugby again next season, but for that to become a reality, the Lions must stumble against Bishop’s Stortford and the EEEs must win at home against Sedgley Park (11th).

For all of Leicester Lions’ upturn in results, they have been aided by Esher’s dramatic dip in form. The Molesey Road outfit have been hit by a huge amount of injuries this term but eight straight defeats leaves them perilously close to an immediate relegation back to the fourth tier.

It would be the second time in the last four seasons that Esher have come up to National One and gone straight back down but if they are to halt this ‘yo-yo nature’, they know they must pick up a first home success since the end of January if they are to stand any chance of surviving.

So what about the opponents of both Leicester Lions and Esher?

Well, Bishop’s Stortford are more than capable of upsetting the Lions as Tom Coleman’s side are ending the season incredibly strongly. Five straight victories have them potentially eyeing a top-half finish while Sedgley Park come into Round 26 off the back of a nine-try 63-24 win against already relegated Darlington Mowden Park.

This time last year, Leicester Lions beat the drop on the final day. Will they repeat that feat or will Esher pull off an escape?

Final Day Fixtures: Darlington Mowden Park (14th) v Rams (6th), Dings Crusaders (10th) v Birmingham Moseley (8th), Esher (13th) v Sedgley Park (11th), Leicester Lions (12th) v Bishop’s Stortford (9th), Richmond (1st) v Blackheath (5th), Rosslyn Park (3rd) v Rotherham Titans (2nd), Sale FC (7th) v Plymouth Albion (4th).

National Two North

Like in National One, the interests in National Two North are centred around the relegation battle but this time, there are far more moving parts.

The bottom four clubs – Harrogate (14th), Preston Grasshoppers (13th), Hull (12th) and Billingham (11th) – are separated by just four points and with just one team from this division dropping through the trapdoor, the tension will be palpable on the final day.

So let’s start with Billingham and work down.

Four wins from their last five games has lifted Peter Evans and Dan Finney’s side to a position where they require just one point in Round 26 to confirm their safety. Twelve months ago, the North-East club were in the exact same scenario and survived, and their run of results since Christmas has led them to this situation again.

Permutations 

– 1 point or more for Billingham would secure their safety

– 2 points or more for Hull would secure their safety

– 3 points or more for Preston Grasshoppers would secure their safety

– If one of their rivals slip up, the door would open for Harrogate, but Harrogate must record at least 3 points to stand any chance of surviving

Six of Billingham’s nine wins this season have come since the turn of the year, and now they are in control of their own fate when they visit Harrogate (yes Harrogate!) on the final day.

In Round 25, the Aces fell to the foot of the table following a 31-17 loss away at Leeds Tykes but the failure to record any league points from their visit to the newly-crowned champions might prove to be fatal.

Picking up bonus points (especially at home) has been a talent of Harrogate’s throughout this campaign but the crux of the matter is that successive defeats in April – combined with the upturn in fortunes of some of their rivals – leaves the Yorkshire outfit needing a minimum of three points or more against Billingham to stand any chance of avoiding the drop.

And it has been the upturn in the fortunes of Hull which have dented the survival hopes of others.

After a winless and pointless March for Mike Umaga’s troops, back-to-back maximums in April mean Hull now require just two points from their final day outing at Otley (10th) to remain in National Two North.

At the beginning of the month, their significant 31-26 success away at Harrogate reignited Hull’s season and they followed it up with a dramatic 29-22 win over Tynedale (5th) two weeks ago.

Now they take the trip to West Yorkshire with their tails up, but Otley won’t make it easy for their visitors, with Kyle Dench’s side determined to end the campaign strongly after confirming their own survival in Round 25.

And the final character in this relegation scrap is Preston Grasshoppers, who visit Chester (7th) on Saturday. Seven straight defeats for Dan Orwin’s men has sucked them into this battle and Preston know that three points or more from their trip to Hare Lane will be enough to confirm their safety.

But with them sitting in 13th-place and with Harrogate at home to Billingham (4 of Harrogate’s 5 wins this season have come at home), Preston could be feeling the pressure, especially when you consider they have won only twice on the road this term.

However, the fight and character on display in recent narrow losses to Hull Ionians (8th) and Lymm (3rd) will be something Hoppers will look to harness on what is set to be a final day full of twists and turns.

Final Day Fixtures: Chester (7th) v Preston Grasshoppers (13th), Fylde (4th) v Sheffield (2nd), Harrogate (14th) v Billingham (11th), Lymm (3rd) v Hull Ionians (8th), Otley (10th) v Hull (12th), Sheffield Tigers (9th) v Wharfedale (6th), Tynedale (5th) v Leeds Tykes (1st).

National Two West

Following just one win from their first five matches of this season, Clifton (1st) sat 10th in the table and any thoughts of challenging for top spot again seemed like a distant dream. Prior to this campaign, the Lavender and Blacks had finished third in each of the last three years but their stuttering start immediately had them on the back foot.

However, Clifton rediscovered the winning feeling in Round Six and since then, they have not looked back, and some.

Matt Salter and Luke Cozens’ side have won 19 of their last 20 games to leave them on the cusp of promotion to National One, and the opportunity to write a new chapter in the 153-year history of Clifton awaits on Saturday when the league leaders welcome Exeter University (11th) to Station Road.

Not since 1996-97 have the Bristol outfit operated at ‘Level Three’ and according to chairman Aftab Hamid, the last time his team won a league title was in 1994.

But right here, right now, Clifton know victory in Round 26 against Exeter University will see them become champions and if you really want to be precise, three league points or more will clinch the title.

Permutations 

– 3 points or more would seal the title for Clifton

– Anything less would open the door for Camborne, but Camborne must record at least 3 points to stand any chance of winning the league

The table-toppers have suffered just one defeat in their last 19 home games so they are ultimately in the driving seat going into the final day.

However, nearest challengers Camborne (2nd) – who sit three points behind Clifton – will be hoping Exeter University can do them a favour, with Steve Larkins’ men travelling north to face 12th-placed Macclesfield. For Town, put simply, victory is a non-negotiable in Cheshire.

Back-to-back away defeats in March and April against Luctonians (7th), and significantly against Clifton, could prove to be the difference for Camborne, but the fact that we are highlighting such fine margins emphasises the incredibly high bar both title candidates have set this term.

The only team Clifton haven’t beaten this season is Exeter University, after coming back to draw 15-15 with them on the opening day. A repeat outcome would massively open the door for Camborne, but as the curtain prepares to come down on another absorbing title race, it is those in the Lavender and Black rather than Cherry and White who are in pole position.

Final Day Fixtures: Cinderford (6th) v Old Redcliffians (10th), Clifton (1st) v Exeter University (11th), Devonport Services (14th) v Bournville (13th), Luctonians (7th) v Hinckley (9th), Macclesfield (12th) v Camborne (2nd), Redruth (8th) v Hornets (5th), Taunton (3rd) vs Loughborough Students (4th).

National Two East

All the guesswork in National Two East was completed in Round 25 as Tonbridge Juddians (1st) clinched the title following a storming win in the sunshine at The Slade.

The relegation situation was settled in Round 24 with Worthing and Colchester heading to the Regional Leagues so with all of this in mind, what jumps out of the page on the final day?

How about the fight for the silver medal and the scrimmage for a top-seven finish?

Well, for the third season in a row, Dorking (2nd) and Barnes (3rd) will end the term in the top three but only this time around, Dorking are frontrunners for the runners-up spot. Armand Roux’s side need three points from their final outing at home against newly crowned champions Tonbridge Juddians to guarantee second place while Barnes are away to Oxford Harlequins (12th).

Below them, Old Albanian (5th) and Westcombe Park (6th) – who have both had excellent campaigns – are separated by a single point, with OAs visiting Henley Hawks (8th) on Saturday while Westcombe Park go to ninth-placed Bury St Edmunds.

The aforementioned Henley will aim to break into the top half, but will only be able to achieve this if seventh-placed Guernsey hit a bump in the road away at Worthing (14th).

Guernsey have won their last two matches – including a pulsating 34-29 victory over Sevenoaks (10th) two weeks ago – and speaking of Oaks, they conclude the season against Havant (12th) at The Paddock while Colchester will be looking to sign off with a second home win of the campaign. That will be easier said than done against the force of fourth-placed Canterbury.

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