March 15, 2026

Round 22 Review: Explosive weekend sees leaders stumble, promotion races shaken and survival battles heat up

The run-in began with a bang as three league leaders suffered setbacks, while promotion races and survival battles only intensified. (Photo Credit: John and Barbara Austin)

National One

This absorbing National One title race took another twist as Blackheath (3rd) secured a 22-15 victory over leaders Rotherham Titans (1st) at The Utilita.

Noah Sloot’s surging finish gave the hosts an early advantage, which Billy Harding quickly added to after just seven minutes.

Rotherham – who lost scrum-half JB Bruzulier shortly before kick-off – responded almost immediately when Jackson Barling set up Lloyd Hayes, but the visitors still trailed 12-5 heading into the sheds.

Just before the hour mark, Tom Hughes slid into the corner to stretch ‘Club’s’ lead. A Hayes penalty briefly reduced the deficit, but Harding’s second try – his 41st of the season – restored Blackheath’s control.

Barling’s try six minutes from time ensured a nervy finish, yet the hosts held firm to add another chapter to this gripping title battle.

Blackheath now sit five points behind Rotherham after beating both of the top two in successive matches.

The Titans will attempt to respond in Round 23 when they host second-placed Plymouth Albion in another huge clash in the promotion race.

Speaking of Plymouth (2nd), they moved to within a point of Rotherham thanks to a commanding 60-26 victory over Rams (6th), inspired by a Ben Moa hat-trick.

In front of a National One record crowd of 4,631 at Brickfields, Ryan Lamb’s side bounced back from defeat to Blackheath with an eight-try display.

Noah Fenton, Huw Taylor (2), Jack Oulton and Gabe Mead also crossed as Albion produced a timely response ahead of next weekend’s showdown with Rotherham.

Sale FC (4th) are 11 points off the summit after staging an impressive comeback to beat Tonbridge Juddians (8th) 41-33 away from home.

‘The Dogs’ – who still have to face all of the current top three – found themselves 19-0 down after 22 minutes. However, a brace from Tom Walsh and a score from Mark Dixon dragged them back into the contest.

Curtis Barnes opened the scoring for TJs after the break, but Sale then seized control as Evan Mintern, Corbin Thunder and Harry Davey all crossed within a devastating seven-minute spell.

Barnes completed his hat-trick to narrow the gap to three, before Andy Hughes sealed victory for Sale eight minutes from time.

Rosslyn Park (5th) edged a thrilling 13-try encounter with Clifton (13th), eventually prevailing 43-40 at The Rock.

Following the recent passing of Clifton Director of Rugby Matt Salter, it was always going to be an emotional afternoon, and the Lavender and Blacks produced a display that their boss would have been proud of.

Clifton had fought back from 31-19 down to lead 33-31, but scores from Murray Redpath and Max Fraine put Park back in front.

But in their bid to avoid the drop, Clifton departed the capital with two points thanks to Zak Hamid’s second try of the afternoon, which leaves them five points from safety.

In terms of the relegation picture, Leicester Lions’ (14th) three-year stay in National One has come to an end following a 59-35 home defeat to Bishop’s Stortford (7th).

The Lions led by four points entering the final quarter, but four unanswered tries from Jake Morris, Sevanaia Kava, Tom Hitchcock and Mason Bartley-Ford sealed their fate.

Sedgley Park (12th) slipped into the drop zone after a narrow 22-20 defeat to table rivals Birmingham Moseley (10th), who moved out of the relegation play-off position.

In a cagey encounter at Billesley Common, Moseley’s two second-half tries from Anthony Egodo and Aquile Smith were both converted – a decisive factor as Sedge only managed to add the extras to one of their scores.

A fifth defeat in a row for an injury-hit Tigers leaves them three points from safety but a single point off the relegation play-off spot, which is now occupied by Dings Crusaders (11th).

Dings climbed out of the bottom three with an emphatic 62-31 victory over Leeds Tykes (9th).

Toby Baker and Matt Jones both grabbed doubles in a 10-try performance from the Bristolians, who travel to Clifton next weekend hoping to further strengthen their survival push.

National Two North

Tynedale (2nd) are in control of the National Two North play-off race as Ben Haigh’s hat-trick powered Peter Southern’s side to a 36-14 victory over rivals Macclesfield (3rd).

The bonus-point win – in which they also denied their visitors any league points – gives Tyne a six-point cushion over Macc, with the Cheshire side still having a game in hand.

Haigh set the tone early, crashing over after six minutes and he completed his hat-trick before the half-hour mark.

Jake Rodgers added a penalty to give Tyne a commanding 24-0 half-time lead.

Macclesfield responded after the break through Immanuel Shute and Harry Oliver, but replies from James Telford and Joe Hanning ensured victory for the hosts.

Tynedale travel to league leaders Sheffield in Round 23, while Macclesfield welcome Wharfedale to Priory Park. The Blues then go to Sheffield a week later to fulfil their game in hand.

Sheffield (1st) continued their remarkable campaign by recording a 20th successive victory with a 55-31 win away at Scunthorpe (13th).

The table-toppers didn’t have it all their own way though – trailing 19-14 at one stage – but tries from Christian Hooper – who went on to score a hat-trick – Lewis Taylor, and George Castledine helped them into a half-time lead.

Both sides swapped scores after the break before Zak Poole, Will Archer and Felix Crapper sealed Sheffield’s latest success, which keeps them eight points clear at the summit.

Scunthorpe did collect a valuable try bonus, but they slipped into the bottom two after Rossendale (12th) secured a crucial 29-24 victory over Billingham (9th).


Early red cards for Jack Wilkinson and Anthony Jackson for their involvement in a fracas saw both sides reduced to 14 men, but it was Rossendale who led 22-12 with George Stephens, Luckas Sableman-Blue and Owen Boxall going over.

Sableman-Blue’s second try on 67 minutes ultimately proved decisive despite two late Billingham scores, as The Stags registered this potentially vital win in their fight for survival.

Hull (14th) now sit at the foot of the table, four points behind Rossendale, after a 43-31 defeat at Wharfedale (7th).

Hull had led 19-17 at half-time, but four second-half tries from Jack Pinder, Alfie Weston, Sid Holden and Oli Cicognini swung the game in Wharfedale’s favour.

Noah Marshall and Josh Ratuvou ensured Hull left with a try bonus, but for the second season running, it looks like Dec Cusack’s side will be battling for their National Two status in the final month of the campaign.

Preston Grasshoppers (10th) eased any relegation concerns with a 29-11 victory away at Otley (11th).

Sam Freeman, Owain Williams and Tom Ailes all scored in a dominant first half before Harrison Causey secured the bonus point after the break.

Back towards the top, fourth-placed Hull Ionians remain in the play-off conversation after Ben Smith’s late penalty secured a dramatic 24-23 victory away at Sheffield Tigers (8th).

The Tigers had not lost at Dore Moor since October and had led 20-7 at the break, while the I’s are still in the hunt for second place, particularly with the top three facing one another across March.

And Fylde (6th) recorded back-to-back wins for the first time since December with an entertaining 52-38 victory at Darlington Mowden Park (5th).

National Two East

Old Albanian’s (1st) title hopes suffered a setback as Esher (11th) moved closer to safety with a 41-34 victory at Molesey Road.

Jacob Morris, James Botterill, Pierre Thompson and Player of the Match Josh Thorne all crossed in the first half as Esher stormed into a 27-7 lead.

Olly Norris extended the EEEs’ advantage after the break, but three second-half yellow cards – two shown to Thompson – opened the door for an OAs fightback.

Charlie Fleckney (2) and Alex Noot reduced the deficit to 34-22 before Anthony Pedlar steadied Esher’s nerves with another try.

Late scores from Noot and Jonathan Ilori ensured OAs claimed two bonus points in defeat, keeping them top of the standings.

Bury St Edmunds (2nd) are now level on points with OAs after a thumping 69-14 win over Guernsey Raiders (10th).

Alex Earnshaw, Matt Hema and Clark Macfarlane all scored braces in an 11-try display from James Shanahan’s side, who are pushing hard for automatic promotion after just one defeat in their last 12 matches.

Oundle (3rd) are two points off the top two after producing a dominant performance to relegate Oxford Harlequins (14th).

The Northamptonshire side ran in 11 tries in a 71-21 victory at Occupation Road, with Rian Hamilton scoring four and scrum-half Lewis Finlay claiming a hat-trick.

After an impressive campaign to secure survival last season, fully amateur Oxford Quins will now return to the Regional Leagues.

 

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In terms of who might follow them through the trapdoor, Sevenoaks’ (13th) survival hopes were dented following a 44-21 home defeat to Dorking (4th), coupled with Henley’s (12th) 25-19 away victory at Westcombe Park (7th).

Jasper King (2), Max Coyle, Harry Barker and Harry Elbrow all crossed in the first half as Dorking raced into a 32-7 lead, which they never relinquished.

Benjy Hewitt and Barney Stone replied for Oaks, but the hosts were unable to register any league points.

The result leaves them seven points behind Henley, who occupy the relegation play-off spot, after they came from behind to win at Westcombe Park.

A 72nd-minute try from Leo Webb and a Toby Howe penalty secured back-to-back victories for Henley and their first away success of the season. Luke Allen’s side are now four points behind 11th-placed Esher.

Elsewhere, Hooks Lane hosted a breathless encounter as Havant (8th) defeated Barnes (5th) 48-38.

Barnes made a flying start, racing into a 21-0 lead after 25 minutes before Havant fought back to trail 26-17 shortly after half-time.

Three tries in 10 minutes from Sean Shepherd, Jack Colbourne and Will Perry swung momentum in Havant’s favour as they moved 38-26 ahead.

Both teams continued to trade scores, while yellow cards for Colin Sisk and Armandus Morgan – either side of a Barnes try from Dan Robertshaw – kept the contest finely poised before Joel Knight’s 77th-minute penalty sealed the victory.

There was also drama at Old Deer Park where Harry Breeze’s 79th-minute try – converted by Matt Hodgson – earned London Welsh (9th) a 22-21 win over Canterbury (6th).

National Two West

Taunton (4th) inflicted back-to-back defeats on league leaders Camborne (1st) with a 38-31 victory at The Recreation Ground.

Camborne had not lost at home since April 2024, but having beaten them in November, Taunton again got the better of the promotion hopefuls.

Tries from Ben Priddey, Alex Ducker, Shaun Buzza and Robin Wedlake-Millecam helped Camborne build a 26-11 lead.

Scott Gibson’s try gave the visitors impetus before Archie Spokes crossed to cut the deficit to 26-25 at half-time.

Priddey grabbed his second to restore Camborne’s cushion, but Taunton produced a late surge.

Ratu Vakalutukali’s converted try put them ahead before two Tom Putt penalties made Taunton the first side in 24 matches to win at Camborne.

Luctonians (2nd) reduced Camborne’s lead at the top to 10 points after pulling away to defeat Chester (11th) 55-28.

Lucs – who still have to host Camborne on the penultimate weekend of the season – capitalised on two yellow cards shown to Chester shortly after the hour.

With the score finely balanced at 29-28, tries from Ben Link, Charlie Grimes, Francis Kelly and Rob Bray secured the bonus-point win.

Third-placed Hinckley maintained the pressure with a seventh successive bonus-point victory, beating Old Redcliffians (10th) 33-27 at Scotland Lane.

 

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After edging 19-15 ahead at the break, tries from Ben Pointon and George Patten established an 18-point advantage. Old Reds hit back late on through Tom Ford and Ethan Doyle, but Hinckley held on.

At the other end of the table, Exeter University (12th) remain outside of the drop zone after a crucial 22-15 victory over bottom club Syston.

Exeter led 8-0 at half-time thanks to Josh Golden Clark’s try and a Freddie Hirst penalty before Ratu Peni Ralogaivau extended the lead.

Syston responded through converted tries from James Rudkin and Morgan Wayte-McPherson to set up a tense finish, but Harry Woodman’s late try settled the contest.

Defeat leaves Syston on the brink of relegation, while Exeter remain just above the dotted line – only ahead on ‘Games Won’ – after Loughborough Students (13th) defeated Barnstaple (6th) 54-40.

Martin Webdale’s side are now level on points with Exeter after a see-saw contest that was tied at 28-28 at half-time.

The African Violet took control in the second period, scoring four consecutive tries through George Worthington, George Payne, Louis Nancekivell and Ben Turpin.

In Round 23, Exeter host Old Redcliffians while Loughborough travel to Cinderford (7th), who were beaten 31-19 by Redruth (8th).

Despite two first-half yellow cards, Redruth led 21-14 at the break thanks to a Chris Rovey brace before Jack Simmons and Jack Counter sealed their first win in four.

Elsewhere, Hornets (5th) fought back to defeat Lymm (9th) 32-26 to record their third away win of the season.

Trailing 19-0 after 27 minutes and 26-12 early in the second half, Hornets produced a comeback. They scored 20 unanswered points through tries from Corey Baker, Tom Bailey and Connor Vickery, with Jack Gapper adding a conversion and penalty.

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