October 3, 2025

Round Five Preview: Standout Fixtures Set to heighten or dampen Early-Season Aspirations

Clashes like Rosslyn Park vs Plymouth Albion, Macclesfield vs Fylde, and Oxford Harlequins vs Guernsey Raiders already feel like big matches, even at this early stage of the campaign. (Photo Credit: Gareth Lyons)

National One

With September wrapped up, October kicks off with a heavyweight clash as Rosslyn Park (3rd) host Plymouth Albion (2nd) in what promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the National League Rugby weekend.

Like league leaders Rotherham Titans – who travel to second from bottom Leicester Lions in Round Five – both Park and Albion have begun the season with four wins from four, each collecting maximum points along the way.

In terms of hosts Rosslyn Park, they have perhaps faced the sterner tests, most notably last week’s trip to Blackheath, where they secured all five points with an impressive 31-27 comeback win.

Once again, full-back/wing Luke Mehson provided the spark, dazzling with the pace and flair that has quickly made him one of the league’s most dangerous weapons.

Plymouth Albion will arrive in South-West London brimming with confidence. Ryan Lamb’s side have been impressive and ruthlessly efficient, but with three of their four wins coming against the current bottom three, some may see this as a bit of a litmus test of their title credentials. 

Albion haven’t won in their last eight visits to The Rock (two draws and six defeats), while Park haven’t lost at home for over a year but one thing is certain: clashes between these two quality sides are always fiercely competitive, and this weekend should be no different.

As mentioned, table-toppers Rotherham Titans travel to Leicester Lions, while just outside the top three, Blackheath (4th) head to Dings Crusaders (10th), looking to bounce back from their Round Four defeat.

Dings, themselves, will hope to build on last week’s solid opening win over Birmingham Moseley, while Clifton (12th) will aim for a similar outcome when they host sixth-placed Sale FC at Station Road.

Leeds Tykes (14th) will also be eager for a slice of success. Pete Seabourne and Pete Lucock’s side remain the only team in National League Rugby yet to register a point, as they welcome fifth-placed Rams to Yorkshire. The expected wet and windy conditions created by Storm Amy could play a significant role in Saturday’s match.

Elsewhere, Tonbridge Juddians (7th), who were comfortably beaten by Rams last weekend, return to The Slade to face Birmingham Moseley (11th) while Sedgley Park (8th) will look to recover from their Round Four loss to Clifton when they travel to Bishop’s Stortford (9th), who themselves conceded 11 tries in a heavy 71-12 defeat to Rotherham last time out.

National Two North

With a Met Office Amber warning in place across much of the north, strong winds and heavy rain created by ‘Storm Amy’ are expected to influence this weekend’s National Two North fixtures.

But the weather won’t dampen the excitement, as October promises to be a fascinating block of the season.

At the heart of it are arguably fourth-placed Fylde, who enter the month unbeaten.

The Lancashire side have three wins and a draw to their name, but they face the league’s top three before the November break. 

They kick off with a trip to Macclesfield (3rd) this weekend, before taking on league leaders Sheffield and second-placed Tynedale.

In terms of Saturday’s opponents Macclesfield, Matt Coleridge and Rhys Davies’ side are thoroughly enjoying their return to National Two North, having won all four of their matches to date.

Like Fylde, the Blues also host Sheffield over the next four weeks, so October is certainly set to impact the current dynamic at the summit.

As for Sheffield (1st) and Tynedale (2nd), they carry their 100 per cent records into home fixtures in Round Five. Table-toppers Sheffield take on Preston Grasshoppers (6th), while Tynedale face Rossendale (7th) in the North-East. The away side impressed on their recent visit to Sheffield and won’t make things easy for their hosts.

At the other end of the table, Scunthorpe (14th) and Hull (13th) are eager to get off the mark after a winless opening month. Scunthorpe return to Heslam Park – where they have started games strongly this season – to face Hull Ionians (8th), while Hull host 11th-placed Billingham, offering Dec Cusack’s side a chance to ignite their campaign.

Just above the bottom two, Sheffield Tigers (12th) will aim to build on the positives from a strong first 40 minutes against Tynedale last week when they visit Wharfedale (10th), who claimed their first win of the season in Round Four.

That 21-20 victory came at the expense of Otley (11th), who travel to fifth-placed Darlington Mowden Park for a first meeting between the sides since April 2014.

National Two East

Having looked at the top of National One and National Two North, we turn to National Two East, where Round Five features a potentially pivotal clash near the foot of the table.

Round Four provided a morale boost for Oxford Harlequins (12th) and Guernsey Raiders (13th), as both secured their first wins of the season. Oxford Quins edged London Welsh 24-22 on the road, while Tom Ceillam’s last-gasp try saw an injury-hit Raiders narrowly defeat Oundle 24-21 at Footes Lane.

The two sides now meet at the Horspath Sports Ground, each aiming to build on their recent success. With Oxford Quins set to face two of the current top four before the November break, a win to start October would be another shot in the arm for Pete Davies’ side.

London Welsh (14th) may be desperate to join the winners’ lounge, as early-season positives threaten to turn into frustrations at Old Deer Park. 

In Round Four, Cai Griffiths’ side had to settle for another losing bonus point, leaving them eager to start October on the right side of the scoreboard. This weekend, they face a tough test on the road against second-placed Esher, who saw their perfect record ended at Bury St Edmunds last week.

Table-toppers Old Albanian also lost their unbeaten run in Round Four, falling 22-21 at Barnes. James Osborn and Dan George’s men will look for an immediate reaction when they host Henley (10th), who continue to endure a tricky start.

Barnes (3rd) are now the only side yet to taste defeat in National Two East and travel to Oundle (8th) on Saturday, while a standout Round Five clash sees Dorking (4th) host Canterbury (5th), the latter winning this fixture 35-34 last season.

Elsewhere, Havant (6th) aim to return to winning ways against Westcombe Park (11th) – who have lost their last three matches in the final minute – and two teams with momentum, Sevenoaks (9th) and Bury St Edmunds (7th), meet at Knole Paddock, with both chasing a third successive victory.

National Two West

After two rounds on the road, Camborne (1st) return home this weekend with their perfect record intact.

Following victories in the Midlands against Loughborough Students and Hinckley, Tom Kessell’s troops remain four wins from four and stand as the only unbeaten team in National Two West.

The Cherry and Whites, having played three away fixtures in September, are back at The Recreation Ground to face Lymm, who are currently fifth in the table.

New Camborne signing Frankie Nowell – brother of former England international Jack – will make his debut from the bench, but he is no stranger to National League Rugby, having featured for both Redruth and Plymouth Albion in recent years.

As for Lymm then, they arrive in high spirits, having won three of their first four matches since their ‘level transfer’ to National Two West. The Cheshire side have adapted quickly and their third-place finish in National Two North last season suggests they will still be formidable opponents, despite the challenges of this campaign.

Lymm’s only defeat so far came away at Redruth in Round Three, but with Camborne boasting 14 consecutive home wins, leaving Cornwall with a victory on this occasion will be a tough challenge.

As for the sides sandwiched between Camborne and Lymm, second-placed Cinderford will be looking to bounce back after their winning start ended at Hornets in Round Four.

Clive Stuart-Smith’s side host ninth-placed Taunton on Saturday, while Barnstaple, sitting third, will aim to maintain their positive vibes.

The newly-promoted side have claimed three wins from their first four games and welcome Hinckley, 11th, to Pottington Road in Round Five. Meanwhile, two in-form teams, Luctonians (4th) and Hornets (6th), clash at Mortimer Park.

It promises to be a big afternoon in the Midlands as the bottom two go head-to-head at ‘The Crumb’. Syston (14th) make the 11-mile journey to face Loughborough Students (13th), with both chasing their first win of the season.

Old Redcliffians (10th) will carry confidence after securing their maiden victory in Round Four when they travel to Redruth (7th), who have impressed with three wins from four to start the campaign.

And finally, Exeter University (8th) make the trip to Chester (12th), rounding out a busy weekend of National League Rugby action.

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