February 1, 2026

Round 18 Review: Big wins catch the eye on weekend of superb entertainment

With English rugby’s top tier on pause for the Six Nations, Round 18 in National One and Two arguably stole the spotlight with big results and pulsating action. (Photo Credit: Ian Clark)

National One

Four clubs in the bottom half claimed crucial victories in Round 18, including Leeds Tykes (13th), who boosted their survival hopes with a 34-19 win over table rivals Clifton (12th) at Station Road.

Leeds surged into a 22-5 half-time lead courtesy of tries from Kieran Davies (2), Seth Eley and Charlie Venables, who marked his 100th appearance for the club in style.

Further scores from Venables and Will Dennis put the result beyond doubt and sealed a vital victory for Pete Seabourne and Pete Lucock’s troops.

Despite remaining second from bottom, the Tykes are now just three points behind 11th-placed Dings Crusaders with a game in hand, which comes against Sedgley Park on Friday night.

Clifton, who replied through Freddie Myatt and Tom Anderson in the second half, have slipped into the bottom three but also hold a game in hand.

Birmingham Moseley (10th) moved five points clear of the relegation zone after holding off a spirited second-half fightback from Rams (6th) to win 31-24 at Billesley Common.

Moseley’s commanding 28-7 advantage was threatened when Rowan Grundy, Max Hayman and Willo Bicknell crossed within a 13-minute spell after the break.

However, even with Jack Jolly in the bin, a late Tommy Taylor penalty settled the contest, with Mose having now lost just one of their last six matches.

Sedgley Park (9th) secured back-to-back bonus-point victories following a 24-14 away win over bottom club Leicester Lions (14th).

Tries from Adam Mallinson, Andy Riley, Danny Rylance and Rhys Henderson ensured Sedge moved six points clear of the bottom three.

For Leicester, defeat leaves them 18 points adrift of 11th-placed Dings Crusaders, with time running out.

Bishop’s Stortford (8th) complete the quartet of victorious sides as they sealed a dramatic 26-21 win over Sale FC (4th), thanks to Fraizer Kiff’s last-gasp try.

Sale had recovered from 14-0 down to level the scores before Andy Hughes’ second try of the afternoon gave them a 21-19 lead just after the hour.

However, Kiff powered over late on to halt Sale’s push towards the top two.

In the promotion race, Rotherham Titans (2nd) claimed their first-ever National League Rugby victory at Rosslyn Park (5th), departing The Rock with an impressive 36-26 win.

The Titans capitalised on two second-half yellow cards shown to Park, with Jackson Barling and Mitchell Lacey crossing to establish a 33-19 lead.

Lloyd Hayes then sealed the deal with a penalty, leaving Roth four points off the top with a game in hand.

League leaders Plymouth Albion (1st) remain relentless as Lucas Gulley’s hat-trick powered them to a 52-24 away win over Dings Crusaders (11th).

Albion ran in eight tries to record a ninth successive victory as they continue their title charge.

Rotherham are set to fulfil their game in hand at home to Clifton on Saturday, and Albion are likely to remain top unless the Titans secure a bonus-point win.

Blackheath (3rd) also remain firmly in contention after a 31-19 victory away at Tonbridge Juddians (7th).

After falling behind early to Tom Kendrick’s try, a Sam Morley penalty sparked a dominant spell, with tries from Raphael Hollister, Ed Scragg, Billy Harding and Luke Pollock opening up a 31-7 lead shortly after half-time. ‘

Club then saw out the result to stay seven points off the top.

National Two North

Winger Christian Hooper marked his 100th appearance for Sheffield (1st) with his 100th try for the club as the league leaders defeated Fylde (6th) 29-17 at Abbeydale Park.

Hooper’s milestone moment came after 38 minutes as Sheffield carried a 12-3 lead into the sheds.

The try was his 21st of the season, and he also had a hand in his side’s opening score which Zak Poole finished off.

After the break, Jack Dawson and Poole extended their lead either side of a try from Fylde’s Leo Gilliland.

The visiting wing then scored again on the 71st minute to reduce the arrears to 26-17, but Callum Posa’s penalty put the result beyond doubt to keep Sheffield four points clear at the top with a game in hand.

Macclesfield (2nd) continued their relentless run of form with a 45-19 win over Hull (12th) at Priory Park.

Leading 21-14 at half-time, the Blues pulled away after the break as Samson Shute, Harry Blackwell, Ciaran Shone and James Oliver all crossed to seal a ninth consecutive bonus-point victory.

Macclesfield now sit eight points clear of third-placed Tynedale, whose five-match winning run was ended for the second time this season by Hull Ionians (4th).

The I’s also became just the second side to win at Tynedale Park this campaign, with tries from Cameron Burnhill, Sam Pocklington and a superb solo effort from George Mewburn securing a 21-19 victory in difficult conditions.

Tyne did have chances to snatch the win late on, but two long-range penalties from Cam Grant fell agonisingly short.

In the bottom half, Billingham (9th) built on last week’s success by edging Otley (10th) 19-18 at Cross Green.

Tries from Eldon Myers, Joe Scarborough and Adam Brown proved decisive in a closely fought encounter, with both sides missing late penalties.

Rossendale (13th) were unable to add to their survival push as Wharfedale (7th) impressed once again at The Avenue, running out 52-17 winners.

Jack Cherry and Bradley Viner both scored braces as Wharfedale claimed a fourth consecutive home victory, while Rossendale remain in the bottom two.

Elsewhere, Sheffield Tigers (8th) secured back-to-back wins with an impressive 42-27 victory over Darlington Mowden Park (5th).

Despite trailing 17-3 midway through the first half, tries from Tom Calladine, Dominic Santamaria and Barney Goatley turned the game around.

Late scores from Jamie Rudd and James Norman sealed the win for Stephen Roberts’ side.

Scunthorpe (14th) vs Preston Grasshoppers (11th) was postponed.

National Two East

League leaders Old Albanian (1st) scored twice in the final 10 minutes as they claimed a thrilling 45-38 victory over Dorking (6th) to strengthen their title bid.

The opening three fixtures of January had already tested OAs, and this contest followed a similar pattern. Tries from George Head, Bryan Hotston and Stephen Howorth handed Dorking a 24-17 half-time lead.

OAs responded by punishing a yellow card shown to Hotston, with Charlie Fleckney and Alessandro Ricci scoring in quick succession to move 31-24 ahead.

Dorking then capitalised on Elliot McPhun’s yellow card, as Caleb Falloon and Calum Barrett put them 38-31 in front.

However, the table-toppers showed their promotion credentials as tries from Archie Radovanovic and then McPhun completed the turnaround at Harpenden Rugby Club.

OAs now lead Oundle (2nd) by four points after they battled to a 21-3 victory over Henley (13th).

It was far from pretty at Occupation Road, but two tries in the final quarter from Grant Snelling extended Oundle’s unbeaten run to 10 matches.

Bury St Edmunds (3rd) and Canterbury (4th) both lost ground on the top two following defeats on the road.

A late Max Brown penalty secured a pulsating 30-29 win for Westcombe Park (7th) over Bury.

Leading 27-19 entering the final 10 minutes, Combe were pegged back by a Clark Macfarlane converted try and a Ben Penfold penalty, before Brown struck the decisive blow two minutes from time.

As for Canterbury, their eight-match winning run ended at Havant (8th), who continued their resurgence with a 28-21 victory.

Dylan Evans’ 67th-minute try proved to be the difference as Rob Matthews and Will Knight’s side claimed a fifth successive win.

Elsewhere, Barnes (5th) eventually pulled clear to beat bottom club Oxford Harlequins (14th) 53-26 away from home.

Oxford Quins trailed just 27-26 approaching the final quarter, but tries from Dan Robertshaw, George Hamblin, Joe Henry and Caelan Stanton sealed the win.

At the other end of the table, Sevenoaks (12th) moved six points clear of the bottom two with a timely 22-15 victory over London Welsh (9th).

Second-half tries from Scott Sedgwick and Matt Engelbrecht, followed by a Ben Adams penalty, delivered a clinical Oaks their first win since Round 13.

And Guernsey Raiders (10th) made it back-to-back wins for the first time since October as Anthony Armstrong’s late try secured a 19-17 success at Esher (11th).

The result continues Guernsey’s upward momentum, while Esher are now just four points clear of Sevenoaks after a winless January.

National Two West

Old Redcliffians (8th) staged a thrilling comeback to edge out Loughborough Students (13th) 50-49 in a helter-skelter National Two West contest.

The Students led 21-19 at half-time, with converted tries from Rhys Hulse, Matt Sell and Connor Cross outweighing scores from Harrison Murphy, Lewis Eaves and Jack Weston.

Ben Webb’s kicking remained influential as he converted tries from Harry Fernandez-Ford and Louis Callow, with Old Reds replying through Renico Bailey, though both of his scores went unconverted.

When Ben Roberts crossed just after the hour, Loughborough led 42-29 but a stunning spell saw Haydn Barnes (2) and Oliver Stratton score three tries in seven minutes to swing the contest the way of Old Reds.

Although Connor Van Lille crossed late on to set up a tense finale, Old Redcliffians held firm to secure a third successive win and move 13 points clear of the bottom two.

At the summit, Camborne (1st) extended their winning run to eight matches with a nine-try 59-19 victory over Syston (14th).

Hooker Ben Priddey bagged another hat-trick to reach 200 tries for the club, while Andrew Hussell (2), Josh and Sam Matavesi, Kyle Moyle and George Wacokecoke also crossed.

Camborne remain eight points clear after Luctonians (2nd) snatched a dramatic 26-19 win over Taunton Titans.

Despite a difficult week off the field, Taunton were level at 19-19 heading into the final 10 minutes thanks to tries from  Matt Whitlock, Ben Rogers and Reece Malone, but Joe White’s last-minute score earned Luctonians maximum points.

There was also late drama at Hare Lane as Hornets (6th) edged Chester (9th) 27-26.

Harrison Vare’s try appeared to have won it for Chester, but a yellow card for Morgan Bagshaw was punished as Jed Soper’s late, converted score turned the contest.

Chester’s James Hampson then narrowly missed a penalty to snatch it back.

Hinckley (3rd) climbed into third place with a commanding 48-21 win away at Lymm (10th).

Leading 19-14 at the interval, second-half tries from Will Callan, Nick Tarr, Oliver Bee and Travis Bennett-Allcock sealed a third win in their last four outings.

Four second-half tries also powered Cinderford (5th) to a 41-24 victory over Barnstaple (4th) at Bell Sport & Rugby Park.

With the scores level at 19-19 at half-time, tries from Sam Smith, Nathan Taylor, Josh Horrobin and Reeve Brighty secured the Foresters’ third straight home win.

Redruth (11th) vs Exeter University (12th) was postponed and will be played this coming Saturday.

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