The respective fights for survival in National One and National Two North will go the distance – as will the National Two West title race – while Tonbridge Juddians are on their way back to the third tier. (Photo Credit: Mike Inkley)

National One

Survival in National One is now in the hands of Leicester Lions (12th) after their 31-26 bonus-point win over Blackheath (5th) moved them out of the relegation zone.

Three victories from their last five games has seen the Lions turn the tables in their favour, and they now sit four points above the bottom two after leapfrogging Esher (13th) in Round 25.

The EEEs slipped to an eighth successive defeat following a 59-0 hammering away at Plymouth Albion (4th) but the upward trajectory of Leicester Lions continued at Westleigh Park.

Gareth Collins’ side led 12-7 thanks to a brace from Leicester Tigers youngster Malelili Satala-Navlivou while Findlay Gilmour went over for Blackheath.

Fly-half Luke Bouchier then added a penalty for the hosts and after the interval, the Lions were able to respond to Blackheath pressure. Leicester’s Arthur Allen matched Jake Hennessey’s score before Jack Daly’s 68th-minute try for the visitors made it a five-point game.

However, the home side ultimately clinched this bonus-point success when Charlie Bemand, who looked certain to score following a kick through, was tackled off the ball leading to a penalty try being awarded.

Blackheath did depart the Midlands with two bonus points thanks to another Hennessey try but this result for Leicester Lions means, for the second time in two years, the scrap for survival will be going to the final day.

The Lions are back at home to face Bishop’s Stortford (9th) while Esher host Sedgley Park (11th). Just two points from their meeting with Bishop’s Stortford will be enough for Leicester Lions to secure their safety.

Other National One Results: Birmingham Moseley (8th) 33-35 Sale FC (7th), Bishop’s Stortford 61-24 Dings Crusaders (10th), Rams (6th) 49-40 Rosslyn Park (3rd), Rotherham (2nd) 40-38 Richmond (1st), Sedgley Park (11th) 63-24 Darlington Mowden Park.

National Two North

Hull (12th) staged a brilliant second-half comeback as they beat Tynedale (5th) 29-22 to move out of the relegation zone in National Two North.

Tyne took a 12-point lead into half-time thanks to scores from Josh Leslie and Dan Baines, which they then extended as Chris Wearmouth grabbed their third try.

But with Hull staring down the barrel of what looked like a fatal blow to their survival hopes, they clawed their way back. Three tries in eight minutes from Jake Boardman (2) and Paulos Latu wiped out Tynedale’s lead and with the scores level, Fynlay Hobson’s 76th-minute converted try decided the outcome and completed a remarkable revival.

Back-to-back victories for Mike Umaga’s side have all of a sudden lifted the doom and gloom around the Ferens Ground as Hull are now up to 12th and three points clear of the one relegation place. The Yorkshire outfit now require just two points from their final fixture of the season away at Otley (10th) to ensure their safety.

There was also a sizable victory for Billingham (11th) as Peter Evans’ penalty three minutes from time clinched a 31-28 win over Sheffield Tigers (9th).

National Two North: Relegation Battle – Final Day Fixtures

Harrogate (14th) v Billingham (11th)

Otley (10th) v Hull (12th)

Chester (7th) v Preston Grasshoppers (13th)

The North-East side came back from 15-0 down and 28-21 down to seal a fourth win from their last five matches. It means Billingham need just a single point from their final game of the season away at table rivals Harrogate (14th) to book their place in National Two North for a third successive year.

And it is Harrogate who have dropped into the relegation spot after they lost 31-17 on Friday night away at newly-crowned champions Leeds Tykes. Despite a late brace from centre Kodie Brook, The Aces couldn’t collect any league points.

Consecutive defeats for Martyn Wood and Dan Scarbrough’s side means they must pick up a minimum of three league points from their final game of the season against Billingham to stand any chance of avoiding an immediate relegation back down to the Regional Leagues.

Harrogate’s hopes may hinge on the fortunes of Preston Grasshoppers, who now sit in 13th after losing 44-31 at home against third-placed Lymm. Hoppers were leading 31-29 heading towards the final 10 minutes but scores from Isaac Millachip and Callum Morris – either side of an Alfie Simpson penalty – condemned Preston to a seventh successive defeat.

Dan Orwin’s troops are now two points above the dreaded dotted line and travel to seventh-placed Chester on the final day.

Elsewhere, any relegation fears in the back of Otley (10th) minds were banished in Round 25 as Kyle Dench’s men secured an excellent 45-22 win away at Hull Ionians (8th) to confirm their safety.

Also in National Two North, Sheffield (2nd) recorded their 21st win of the season as they beat Chester 45-20.

National Two East

Tonbridge Juddians ran in 11 tries as they beat Oxford Harlequins (12th) 69-19 to clinch the National Two East title.

A hat-trick from Joshua Tusler and doubles from Duncan Tout and Connor Lloyd helped TJs seal promotion in style.

After three wins on the spin, the league leaders knew victory at The Slade in Round 25 would see them make a return to National One for the first time since 2021/22.


And Seb Sherwood and Jordan Turner-Hall’s side did just that, but they did find themselves 14-5 down on 17 minutes after Joe Pigott and Adam Field had responded to Tusler’s opener.

However, any thoughts of Oxford Harlequins spoiling the party were quickly eradicated as Curtis Barnes, Tusler and Tout all went over before the break. TJs then went into overdrive in the second half as Lloyd, Tusler and Tout continued their scoring while Charlie Self, Vincent Everitt and Tom Kendrick all got in on the act in front of a crowd of over 1,000 in Kent.

Michael Onobhayedo did cross for Oxford Quins – who were reduced to 14 men when prop Joel Hopkins was sent off for a high tackle – but this was all about Tonbridge Juddians as they marched to a superb 22nd win from 25 matches to confirm promotion with a game to spare.

Speaking to the club website, Tonbridge Juddians chairman Darren Grasby said: “National One is where we belong. We had a plan to get back there in five years and we’ve done it sooner than that. Everyone has worked hard at the club to make it a possibility.”

Other National Two East Results: Barnes (3rd) 19-21 Henley (8th), Canterbury (4th) 42-35 Dorking (2nd), Guernsey (8th) 34-29 Sevenoaks (10th), Havant (11th) 38-12 Colchester, Old Albanian (5th) 36-38 Bury St Edmunds (9th), Worthing (14th) 40-52 Westcombe Park (6th).

National Two West

Clifton (1st) scored eight tries to remain in control of the National Two West title race as they beat already relegated Bournville 50-30 away from home.

Matt Salter and Luke Cozens’ troops now know that a victory on the final day of the season against Exeter University (11th) at Station Road will see them promoted to National One.

But in Round 25, despite 12 places and 67 points separating the two sides before kick-off, the league leaders didn’t have it all their own way at Bournville.

Clifton did secure their try bonus point before half-time thanks to scores from Tom Anderson (2), Zak Hamid and Matt Smith but Bournville were able to keep in touch.

Reiss Price and Nathan Decalmer both scooted over before a penalty try cut Clifton’s lead to 24-20 at the break.

Jacob Fewtrell further reduced that advantage with a penalty, but three tries in 10 minutes saw the table-toppers surge clear. They capitalised on a yellow card shown to Adam Shaw as half-back pairing Ollie Millner and Mitch Spencer both crossed before Anderson completed his hat-trick for a 45-23 lead.

Henry Harper got one back for a spirited Bournville but Clifton secured their eighth win in a row with Hamid’s second.

The Bristol outfit remain three points clear at the summit after title rivals Camborne (2nd) beat bottom-of-the-table Devonport Services 43-26 but like Clifton, the Cherry and Whites were also given a scare.

Camborne found themselves 19-14 down just after half-time following Devonport scores from Charlie Groves and Liam Jarvis (2) but four tries from hooker Ben Priddey across the course of the afternoon – as well efforts from Harry Larkins, Jordan Nicholls and Will Tanswell – saw Town run out winners.

Steve Larkins’ men travel to 12th-placed Macclesfield on the final day of the season hopinh Clifton slip up against Exeter University.

Other National Two West Results: Exeter University (11th) 53-38 Cinderford (6th), Hornets (5th) 36-35 Macclesfield (12th), Loughborough Students (4th) 52-26 Redruth (8th), Old Redcliffians (10th) 15-17 Luctonians (7th), Taunton (3rd) 49-47 Hinckley (9th).

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