Round Two Review: Familiar Faces in the Ascendancy, Derby Delight and Late Drama
The second round of the National League Rugby season delivered everything from nail-biting finales to derby delight, with familiar contenders underlining their ambitions and newcomers making their presence felt. (Photo Credit: Phillipa Hilton)
National One
Five of last season’s top six [excluding champions Richmond] have set the early pace with back-to-back bonus-point victories.
Blackheath – who finished sixth last term – produced the most dramatic finish of the weekend, edging Bishop’s Stortford 33-31 in a thriller at The Utilita.
Hooker Billy Harding’s hat-trick looked to have secured the spoils before Harrison Langworthy’s late converted try nudged Stortford ahead. But new signing Ed Dunford – who had missed four conversions – kept his composure when it mattered most to slot a match-winning penalty with the final kick.
And there it is – the last kick of the game, a penalty that sealed the win ❤️🖤 pic.twitter.com/1XtcoGAtG1
— BlackheathRugby (@Blackheath_1858) September 13, 2025
Elsewhere, Plymouth Albion were in a ruthless mood once again, dispatching Clifton 62-5 with 10 tries to entertain the 1,490 fans at Brickfields. Rotherham Titans also flexed their muscles, shaking off a competitive opening half to overwhelm Leeds Tykes 52-12 at Clifton Lane.
Rams ran in seven second-half tries to hammer Dings Crusaders 73-24 (their highest ever score in National League Rugby), while last season’s runners-up Rosslyn Park showed their resolve with a professional 29-22 win at Tonbridge Juddians.
Birmingham Moseley mounted the comeback of the weekend, turning a 21-9 interval deficit into a 49-21 triumph over Leicester Lions thanks to six unanswered second-half tries. Whatever was said in the sheds by Director of Rugby Adam Balding certainly rubbed off.
And in the Manchester derby, Sedgley Park’s efficient first-half effort – which included a brilliant score from centre Zane Ainslie – proved enough to beat Sale FC 27-22, though the visitors salvaged two bonus points thanks to Nathan Langdon’s late score.
National Two North
Friday night’s North-East derby opened Round Two as Tynedale outgunned Darlington Mowden Park 48-38, their first half display proving decisive despite a late DMP flurry. The first meeting between the clubs since 2015 also drew in a crowd of over 1,100 at The Darlington Arena.
On Saturday, Fylde extended their unbeaten run over foes Preston Grasshoppers to 10 matches as they edged a see-saw contest 24-20 at Lightfoot Green thanks to an inspired performance from scrum-half Gabe Maguire.
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Elsewhere, Rossendale and Macclesfield shared 13 tries in a high-octane clash, with the Cheshire side prevailing 53-41, Hull Ionians continued their encouraging start with a 35-19 derby victory over Hull, while a powerful Sheffield effort saw them claim the Steel City bragging rights by beating Sheffield Tigers 29-9.
Also in National Two North, Billingham staged a superb comeback to beat Wharfedale 21-16, while Otley also recorded their first win of the campaign, running in nine tries – including a hat-trick for hooker Tom Howard – in a 59-8 rout of Scunthorpe.
National Two East
If entertainment was the theme, National Two East delivered in spades.
New boys Oundle clinched a remarkable and hard-fought 47-43 win away at Bury St Edmunds, with late tries from Taylor Gourlay and Rian Hamilton proving decisive in a breathless encounter.
Esher also pulled off an unlikely comeback at Westcombe Park, scoring through Fergus Donnelly in the final four minutes before Oli Burgess landed a penalty to seal a scarcely believable 31-29 win.
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Old Albanian left it late at London Welsh, with Asa Stewart-Harris scoring in the 78th minute to secure a 33-28 victory, while Henley fought back to draw 20-20 at Barnes, though a last-gasp conversion to win it went off target.
In the Kent derby, Canterbury overturned a 17-0 deficit to beat Sevenoaks 42-37, Tom Williams grabbing a hat-trick in the process.
Elsewhere, early leaders Havant celebrated Wes Dugan’s 100th cap with an 11-try, 71-15 thrashing of Oxford Harlequins, while Dorking impressed on their trip to Guernsey with a 39-22 success.
National Two West
Camborne claimed Cornish bragging rights once again, with a strong first-half display setting up a 38-17 derby victory over Redruth in front of nearly 3,000 at The Recreation Ground.
Exeter University continued their strong start with a 43-26 win over Barnstaple, while Lymm’s first-half dominance proved crucial in a 27-24 victory over Chester, who rallied well in the second 40.
Cinderford staged a superb comeback, recovering from two first-half yellow cards and a 19-point deficit, to edge Old Redcliffians 34-29. Jonny Holliday’s late try and a Luke McMahon drop goal sealed the turnaround.
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Hornets were in free-flowing form, running in nine tries in a 57-22 win over West Country counterparts Taunton Titans, with winger Josh Sheppard bagging a hat-trick.
Hinckley’s hookers stole the show in their 38-26 win over Loughborough Students, with Tom Haywood and Dale Bowyer sharing five tries between them.
And, Luctonians skipper Ben Link led from the front with a hat-trick of his own. The Herefordshire side overcame spirited new boys Syston 50-34, who made the visitors work hard for their first triumph of the season.
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