November 23, 2025

Round 11 Review: Unrelating wind and rain fails to dampen scintillating Saturday

Despite some less than favourable weather conditions up and down the country, the final round of November action delivered plenty of excitement, with National One arguably stealing the spotlight. (Photo Credit: John + Barbara Austin)

National One

Plymouth Albion (4th) edged past league leaders Rotherham Titans 22–21 thanks to a late penalty from Iwan Jenkins.

Round 10’s Player of the Week kept his cool from the tee in injury time to seal the deal for Albion, leaving Ryan Lamb’s side four points off the top in an increasingly intriguing title race.

Rotherham held a 14-9 lead at the interval as tries from Jackson Barling and Isaac Shaw outweighed three Jenkins penalties.

The Exeter Chiefs youngster then reduced the arrears on the hour before Albion took advantage of a yellow card shown to Shaw as Shea Cornish crossed.

The table-toppers hit back when Morgan Veness powered over, but just as a hard-earned away victory looked within reach, Jenkins snatched it from them, landing the winning points with almost the final kick of the game to send the Albion faithful into raptures.

The drama didn’t end in Devon, as second-placed Rosslyn Park also fell in Round 11, losing 28-27 at The Rock to a rejuvenated Bishop’s Stortford (10th).

Park hadn’t lost at home for more than 14 months, but a Jake Morris try and a Chris Bolton penalty edged the visitors one point ahead with eight minutes remaining, as they fought back from 24-10 down.

The title contenders still had a chance to snatch victory, but Bill Johnston’s late penalty was off target, meaning Stortford rounded off November with three wins from three.

Park remain one point behind Rotherham, while Blackheath (3rd) moved to within three thanks to a controlled 31-3 victory over Sedgley Park (8th) in filthy conditions at The Utilita.

National One’s leading try-scorer Billy Harding grabbed another hat-trick to take his tally to 23 for the season.

Fifth-placed Sale FC are also firmly in the mix after completing a perfect November with a narrow 15-13 win against Birmingham Moseley (13th) at a sodden Billesley Common. Nathan Langdon’s second-half try proved decisive in the Midlands.

Rams (6th) captain Max Hayman starred in his side’s first win since Round 7, scoring four tries in a 38-24 victory at Leicester Lions (14th), who couldn’t live with the forward dominance of their visitors.

There were also excellent away wins for Clifton (9th) and Leeds Tykes (11th), both of whom continue to build momentum.

The Lavender and Blacks claimed a fourth win on the bounce – and the Bristol bragging rights – with a 35-24 victory at Dings Crusaders (12th) while Tykes boss Pete Seabourne described his side’s 38–31 triumph at seventh-placed Tonbridge Juddians as “magnificent” as Leeds recorded a fourth win from six.

National Two North

Sheffield (1st) passed the latest test of their title credentials with a gritty 14-8 win at fourth-placed Tynedale.

The league leaders fell behind early to Alex Dryden’s score, but a penalty try sent them into the break ahead.

Tynedale ended the first half with 13 men following yellow cards for Will Nankivell and Archie Rattray, but despite some superb resistance, Sheffield eventually made their advantage count when Will Smith crossed after the interval.

Confronted by a stubborn home defence, Callum Posa resorted to a drop goal, but his effort was off target and although Tyne’s Cam Grant reduced the deficit to six with a penalty, the hosts couldn’t find another way through as Sheffield secured a 10th straight win.

This was the latest away day success for Sheffield against one of their table rivals, and the Steel City side also have to go to second-placed Darlington Mowden Park on the penultimate weekend before Christmas.

DMP currently sit two points behind Sheffield (the leaders have a game in hand against bottom club Scunthorpe next weekend) but only after surviving a scare in a 27-24 home win over 13th-placed Hull.

The visitors, who have won just once all season, led 17-14 at half-time and then responded strongly after Flynn Ward’s penalty and James Bent’s try had given DMP some breathing space.

 

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Former Super League star Tom Lineham scored his fourth try in two games, but Ward’s late penalty broke Hull hearts in the North-East.

Macclesfield (3rd) – who are DMP’s next opponents – moved into the top three with a third consecutive maximum as they defeated Wharfedale (9th) 43-15 away from home.

With the scores level at 12-12 after the opening quarter, Macc took control at The Avenue, running in five tries which included full-back Dan Leake completing his hat-trick.

Fylde (5th) enjoyed further away day success as the boot of the excellent Dan Cassidy punished two Otley (8th) yellow cards. A pair of late penalties secured a 24–20 win, making it five victories from five on the road.

Billingham (7th) backed up last week’s win over Rossendale with another battling performance, this time away at bottom-of-the-table Scunthorpe.

The hosts led 19-17 heading towards the final 10 minutes, but Luke Wilson’s penalty and intercept try at the death earned Billingham a 27-19 victory and a full five points.

Sheffield Tigers (10th) enjoyed a November to remember, making it three wins on the bounce with an excellent 36-12 success over Preston Grasshoppers (11th). Winger James Norman now has three tries in two games since returning to Dore Moor on loan from Rotherham.

And Rossendale (12th), by contrast, fell to a seventh straight defeat following a heavy 53-0 home loss to sixth-placed Hull Ionians.

National Two East

Sevenoaks (12th) produced arguably their best performance of the season, stunning league leaders Old Albanian 45-12 at Knole Paddock.

OAs arrived on a six-game winning streak and with an eight-point buffer at the top, but had no answer to an outstanding Oaks display.

Playmaker Ben Adams put the hosts ahead from the tee, and two tries from Kenny Lee – either side of an Adams drop-goal – helped to build an 18–0 advantage.

Charlie Fleckney replied before the break, but further penalties from Adams and a try from Edward Shepherdson kept a fearless Sevenoaks firmly in control.

Late scores from Scott Sedgwick and Lucas Hutton rubber-stamped a fourth win of the season for Sevenoaks, with Josh Skelcey grabbing a consolation for OAs.

A first defeat since Round 4 for the table-toppers allowed the chasing pack to close in, with Oundle (2nd) now leading the hunt after a perfect November.

A 35-11 victory at Esher (10th) made it three bonus-point wins on the bounce, cutting the gap at the top to four points.

Dorking (3rd) also continued their rise, making it four consecutive victories with a deserved 22-12 win at table rivals Westcombe Park (6th). A late penalty from Tom Hardwick denied the hosts a losing bonus point.

Bury St Edmunds climbed to fourth following a 24-14 win over Barnes (5th), with second-half tries from Ruaraidh Williams and Ben Cooper securing the result.

But Guernsey Raiders’ (7th) seven-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt halt after a 42-17 loss at London Welsh (9th).

As they did at the end of September and October, The Dragons concluded the month with a victory in front of the Old Deer Park faithful thanks to this six-try win.

Elsewhere, Havant (11th) secured a much-needed win as they edged past Henley (13th) 16–8 at Hooks Lane.

Joel Knight’s boot put Havant ahead in difficult conditions, and although Liam Goodison’s unconverted late try threatened a comeback, Wesley Dugan crossed in the corner to seal a first victory since Round Two.

And Canterbury (8th) continued climbing the table with a seven-try, 42–19 win away at bottom club Oxford Harlequins, who now sit 11 points adrift of safety.

National Two West

Syston (14th) ended their National League Rugby drought by securing their first win of the season – a 34-28 home victory over Hornets (7th).

Winger Austin Nevitt scored in both halves, with Edward James, Luke Williams, and the returning William Hutchings also crossing for the fully amateur outfit.

Hornets No.8 Corey Baker registered a hat-trick, but the visitors couldn’t convert their strong home form into an away result. They had led 28-22 after 55 minutes before Syston went on to halt their 10-match losing run.

At the top, Camborne (1st) responded immediately to last week’s setback by beating third-placed Barnstaple 34-22 at The Recreation Ground.

Their 100 per cent start ended in Round 10 at Taunton Titans, but doubles from Sam Matavesi and Ben Priddey helped them bounce back despite Barum’s best efforts.

Just six miles away, second-placed Luctonians earned a bonus-point victory with a commanding 54–19 win at Redruth (9th).

Despite receiving two yellow cards and trailing 19–14 just after half-time, Lucs ran in six unanswered tries to maintain their perfect away record. They return to Cornwall in Round 13 for a top-of-the-table showdown with Camborne.

Lymm (4th) protected their unbeaten home record after edging Taunton Titans (8th) 39-33 in another high-octane contest at Crouchley Lane, while Hinckley (5th) continued their purple patch with a fourth straight win. Six first-half tries set up a 55-26 victory at Chester (11th).

Cinderford (6th) also extended their momentum with a 38-17 win away at Loughborough Students (13th), and Old Redcliffians (10th) climbed out of the bottom two thanks to a crucial 29-20 home win over Exeter University (12th).

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