Round 21 Preview: Season-defining weekend for some as February finale provides crucial clashes
With just five rounds remaining after this weekend, this Saturday could prove pivotal in shaping promotion hopes, play-off ambitions and survival battles. (Photo Credit: Nick King)
National One
The National One title race is entering its crescendo period.
Twenty rounds have been played, yet automatic promotion to ‘Champ Rugby’ may come down to the next three weeks.
With a potential rousing top-of-the-table clash between Rotherham Titans (1st) and Plymouth Albion (2nd) to come in Round 23 – as well as Roth’s trip to Blackheath (3rd) seven days earlier – first up is Plymouth’s meeting with Blackheath.
Albion’s 11-match winning run has illuminated the battle for promotion, a sequence that began in the middle of November after losing to this Saturday’s opponents.
Plymouth haven’t missed a beat since, cranking up the pressure on leaders Rotherham, and while they have also won their last 10 matches at Brickfields, Blackheath won’t make life easy for them in Devon.
With the league’s top try-scorer in their arsenal – hooker Billy Harding – ‘Club’ possess the power and set-piece accuracy to hurt Plymouth, just as they did in their Round Nine 40-28 victory when their lineout functioned superbly.
The wider picture for Blackheath is that they sit in the top three, six points clear of fourth-placed Sale and eight behind Albion.
If ‘Club’ become the first side to win at Plymouth in just over 11 months, it could be a season-defining twist in the title race.
But if Plymouth claim another victory to extend their streak, it will only add to the growing momentum behind them.
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Six straight bonus-point victories have kept Plymouth at bay, and they will want to continue that run heading into the penultimate month of the regular season.
Saturday sees them host 11th-placed Birmingham Moseley, who sit in the ‘relegation play-off spot‘.
With a game in hand, Adam Balding and Ollie Thomas’ men control their own destiny, but with the fight for survival intensifying, they won’t be sitting comfortably.
Perhaps the defining fixture in the bottom half in Round 21 comes at Station Road, where Clifton (13th) take on Leicester Lions (14th).
Leicester could be relegated if results go against them, while Clifton will recognise the significance of this contest – and all their remaining home games – if they are to preserve their National One status.
Clifton, who are six points from safety, also have to host Dings Crusaders and Moseley, making Round 21 a prime opportunity to halt a run of one win in nine.
As for the Lions, time is seemingly running out. It would take something extraordinary for them to escape trouble, but a victory in Bristol would certainly dent Clifton’s hopes.
Dings (12th), who are one point adrift of safety in the final relegation place, boosted their belief with a 19-0 win over table rivals Sedgley Park last time out and now visit Sale FC (4th), who have lost just twice at home all season.
Sedgley Park (10th) hover just above danger after three successive defeats. With five of their final six matches against top-half opposition, they will be looking to ignite a spark starting with Saturday’s visit of Tonbridge Juddians (7th).
Elsewhere, fortunes are steadier for Leeds Tykes (9th) and Bishop’s Stortford (8th).
Three consecutive away wins have lifted Leeds three points clear of the drop zone ahead of hosting Rosslyn Park (5th), while Stortford travel to Rams (6th) nine points above the trapdoor.
National Two North
When last week’s headline clash between Sheffield (1st) and Macclesfield (3rd) was postponed, it seemed National Two North had lost its main storyline at the top of the table.
But Tynedale (2nd) quickly stepped in to compose their own narrative, which has added a sense of intrigue around the play-off position in this division.
Their 34-26 win over Fylde, highlighted by a stunning hat-trick from Will Roberts, was Tyne’s eighth victory from their last nine games and it lifted them into second place, one point clear of Macclesfield.
Macclesfield, of course, have a game in hand against leaders Sheffield, but interestingly, that comes after their trip to Tynedale on March 14th.
So there is a scenario whereby if Tyne beat Macc and deny them any points at all, the destiny of the play-off spot could be in the hands of the North-East outfit.
First, though, Round 21 sees Tynedale travel to second-from-bottom Hull (13th), who are scrapping for survival, while Macclesfield (3rd) host Scunthorpe (12th).
Three points clear of Tynedale – and with three games in hand – are Sheffield (1st), who return to action by visiting Billingham (9th).
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We touched briefly on Hull and Scunthorpe, who swapped positions last Saturday following the latter’s 41-32 win over their table rivals.
The Greens are now out of the bottom two, one point clear of the drop zone and have three games in hand.
As for bottom club Rossendale (14th), they host an in-form Sheffield Tigers (8th) this weekend.
The Stags are currently six points off Scunthorpe – who sit in the ‘relegation play-off spot’ – having played two games more while Sheffield Tigers have won their last four matches, conceding just five tries.
Preston Grasshoppers (11th) may be feeling the pressure as they take on Darlington Mowden Park (5th).
Impacted by injuries this season, Hoppers have gone seven matches without a win and sit seven points clear of Scunthorpe, having played two games more.
A victory at Lightfoot Green would be a welcome boost heading into March.
Elsewhere in Round 21, Otley (10th), who put some clear water between themselves and danger last week, visit Hull Ionians (4th), while a fourth victory in five for Wharfedale (7th) would see them move ahead of their opponents Fylde (6th), who are aiming to halt a seven-match winless run.
National Two East
The National East title race took centre stage last week but in Round 21, the spotlight shifts to the foot of the table and to a huge clash at Dry Leas.
Henley (13th) host Sevenoaks (12th) in what could be a season-defining encounter, with just a single point separating the two sides.
Both picked up losing bonus points in Round 20 and while last week’s 22-17 setback at 11th-placed Esher would have been disappointing to take, Henley can move out of the bottom two with a positive result on Saturday.
The Hawks will be aiming to replicate their last home performance, a 54-12 victory over Oxford Harlequins, while Sevenoaks will be hunting a crucial second away win of the season.
Adam Bowman’s side have been involved in some tight contests in recent weeks, and if that is to be the case again, a repeat of November’s dramatic 27-26 win over Henley would be an ideal outcome.
Esher (11th) – who created some breathing room between themselves and relegation jeopardy last week – travel to Dorking (6th) in Round 21, who ran riot against bottom club Oxford Harlequins (14th) last time out.
Armand Roux’s troops scored 11 tries in a 65-24 victory to further slash Oxford Quins’ remaining time in National Two East.
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Pete Davies’ side continue to fight, though it won’t get any easier against league leaders Old Albanian (1st), who will be looking for a reaction.
OAs’ advantage at the top was cut to a single point after last week’s 45-14 defeat at title rivals Oundle.
Of course, automatic promotion is still in the hands of OAs – and they are favourites to keep it that way heading into March – while the aforementioned Oundle (2nd), who are now unbeaten in 12, conclude this month with a tricky trip to Canterbury (5th).
Despite suffering three straight defeats, the hosts could be a dangerous proposition at The Marine Travel Ground.
Bury St Edmunds (3rd) are firmly in the title conversation after last week’s bonus-point win over Canterbury.
James Shanahan’s side are three points off the summit and travel to London Welsh (9th), who have won six of their last seven at Old Deer Park.
Elsewhere, Barnes (4th) host Westcombe Park (7th), while two sides with top-half ambitions – Guernsey Raiders (9th) and Havant (8th) meet at Footes Lane, with the visitors having won six of their last seven games.
National Two West
Attention may shift to the battle behind leaders Camborne this week, as Round 21 could add a twist or two to the race for the play-off place.
Luctonians (2nd) travel to Hinckley (3rd) and, at first glance, Saturday’s meeting at Leicester Road might not seem that pivotal.
Lucs hold a 15-point cushion, but Hinckley have a game in hand – at home to Taunton next week.
So, with that in mind, the ideal fortnight for Hinckley would be to reduce that 15-point gap down to just five and, having won 10 of their last 12 matches, that isn’t out of the question.
Lucs, though, will have other ideas. A hard-fought 15-11 victory over Cinderford last week kept them firmly in the play-off position, and they will now be eager to avenge November’s 26-22 home defeat to Hinckley.
Win and, at the very least, a shot at National One will be within touching distance for Luctonians, but a defeat could leave them with Hinckley right on their heels.
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Camborne (1st) will no doubt have one eye on events in the Midlands because if Hinckley prevail and the table-toppers secure their desired result at Hornets (6th), they would be on the cusp of the title.
That, however, is easier said than done. ‘Town’ are on an excellent 10-game winning run, but Hornets have won nine of their last 10 home matches, and were narrowly beaten 34-31 in this corresponding fixture last term.
At the other end of National Two West, bottom club Syston (14th) continue their fight against in-form Old Redcliffians (8th), who have won four of their last five.
With head coach Alex White set to depart at the end of the season, and his side 18 points adrift of 12th-placed Exeter University, Syston will want their final six games to deliver positives.
Just above them, intrigue remains.
Loughborough Students (13th), who currently occupy the final relegation spot, boosted their survival hopes with a 45-35 win over Hornets last time out.
That result has left Martin Webdale’s troops one point behind Exeter as they travel to an in-form Taunton (4th), who this week bid farewell to Nick Mason, who has hung up the boots after 209 appearances for the Titans.
As for Exeter (12th) – ‘who sit in the relegation play-off spot’ – they enter a crucial period with three successive fixtures against bottom-half opposition.
First up are Lymm (11th), who are only eight points clear of Saturday’s opponents.
The Cheshire side have won just twice in nine games, and Director of Rugby Adam Fletcher admitted this week they “need to find some form quickly” ahead of a challenging run-in.
Elsewhere in Round 21, Redruth (10th), part of a congested bottom half, visit Barnstaple (5th), while Chester (9th), buoyed by last week’s win over Barnstaple, travel to Cinderford (7th).
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