The Preview: ‘Derby Weekend’ and local clashes take centre stage in Round Two
With National One and National Two once again representing the highest levels of English domestic rugby available to fans this weekend, expect healthy attendances and high-quality action up and down the land. (Photo Credit: Ian Clark)
National One
Round Two in National League Rugby is littered with local rivalries, but few in National One immediately catch the eye quite like Plymouth Albion’s visit to Camborne.
Devon against Cornwall brings the obvious county bragging rights, although in rugby terms the River Tamar is far from the only thing that has separated these two clubs over the past decade.
When Plymouth were last competing in the Champ – a level they are keen to return to – Camborne were finishing sixth in what is now known as Regional 2 South West, the sixth tier of the English game.
Eleven years on, and after journeys marked by highs and difficult lows, the clubs meet at the Recreation Ground with winning starts behind them.
Albion’s 61-17 victory at Rosslyn Park was arguably the result of the opening weekend. Ryan Lamb’s side crossed for nine tries against one of the teams tipped to challenge near the top of the division, with their strength and physicality particularly evident.
Camborne had to find a different route to victory at Leeds Tykes.
‘Town’ trailed 29-14 at half-time but turned the match on its head, moving seven points clear by the hour. Leeds responded once more, only for Rory O’Kane to settle the contest with a penalty six minutes from time.
It gave Camborne their first-ever National One victory and capped a memorable afternoon, which also saw Josh, Sam and Joel Matavesi named in the starting line-up.
There will be familiar faces on both sides when the teams meet on Saturday in front of the ClubberTV cameras, and the same theme will be present in Cambridge, when the Blood and Sand welcome Bury St Edmunds to Ellgia Fields.
The likes of centre Matt Hema were a key part of Cambridge’s National One title-winning campaign in 2023 before moving on to Bury, while Wolfpack fly-half Ben Penfold previously wore the Cambridge No 10 shirt at this level.
Bury Director of Rugby James Shanahan also has his own history with the club, having played for Cambridge whilst also guiding them to Level 3 in 2006.
All of these connections will be put to one side once the whistle goes, with both teams looking for their first league victory.
View this post on Instagram
Cambridge were beaten 38-33 by Birmingham Moseley last weekend, although Ben Gibson’s late try secured two bonus points. Discipline will need to improve if Craig Newby’s men are to record a first league victory since December 2024.
For Bury, their National One debut against London Scottish offered encouragement despite a 53-27 defeat. The Wolfpack led 22-17 shortly after half-time before the visitors pulled away, and now another former Champ side awaits.
Sheffield and Leeds Tykes will renew a rivalry forged in National Two North when they meet at Abbeydale Park.
The Tykes finished eight points clear in the 2024/25 title race before securing promotion, with Sheffield following them into National One last season. Their first meeting at this level therefore carries some recent history with it.
Sheffield will take confidence from the way they fought back at Tonbridge Juddians last weekend to claim two bonus points in a 31-26 defeat. More striking, though, is their record at home where they have won their last 22 matches.
The last side to beat them on their own patch? Leeds Tykes in October 2024.
Elsewhere, Sale FC and London Scottish both began the campaign with victories and now face tests of a different kind.
Sale were particularly impressive in putting 50 points on Rams last weekend and welcome a Birmingham Moseley side who also emerged from Round One with plenty of credit.
Scottish, meanwhile, return home for the first time since their Champ Rugby Accession Final defeat against Blackheath in May. Tonbridge Juddians are the visitors, who will be looking to build on their pleasing win against Sheffield.
Over at Silver Leys, Bishop’s Stortford will aim to add to their 52-42 win over Dings Crusaders when they entertain Rosslyn Park.
For Park, it is a chance to respond after Plymouth’s nine-try assault last weekend. There is also some recent history between these sides, with Stortford winning this corresponding fixture 59-33 last season.
And lastly, Dings Crusaders and Rams, both beaten in Round One, meet at Shaftesbury Park looking to open their accounts for 2026/27.
National Two North
The first day of the season is rarely a true barometer for what’s to come, but Chester and Sedgley Park will be more than pleased with how Round One went.
After being level-transferred back to National Two North, Rhys Hayes’ side reintroduced themselves with a well-rounded 35-7 win over Wharfedale.
Back home this weekend, the challenge goes up a notch with Sedgley Park the visitors.
With some chatter about the Tigers looking for an instant return to National One, Scott Barrow’s side got off to an ideal start with a 47-26 victory over Darlington Mowden Park.
Sedge’s ‘Burnley Italian’, Alessandro Minozzi, scored a hat-trick on debut, so the away side will be hoping for more of the same at Hare Lane.
Up in the North-East, Tynedale and Darlington Mowden Park will add plenty of spice to ‘derby weekend’, with both harbouring ambitions for this season.
DMP’s link with Newcastle Red Bulls makes them ones to watch, despite indiscipline hampering them against Sedgley Park, while Tyne, who finished second last season, got off the mark with a 28-19 win at Sheffield Tigers.
To do so without captain Oscar Caudle (who is back for this weekend) and first-choice scrum-half James Telford would have been doubly pleasing for boss Peter Southern. His side will now be hoping for a repeat of last season’s corresponding fixture, when Tynedale ran out 39-0 winners.
View this post on Instagram
Over in Lancashire, the classic fixture of Fylde v Preston Grasshoppers takes place at Woodlands after both sides were made to work hard for their opening day successes.
Fylde ground out a 17-7 win at Billingham, while the boot of Sam Freeman saw Hoppers squeeze past newly-promoted Heath 27-26 at Lightfoot Green.
The Preston full-back has been an influential figure for his side in recent times, including in last year’s dramatic 22-22 draw at Fylde, when he kicked the crucial last-gasp conversion to tie the game.
Speaking of Heath, there will be plenty of plus points to take despite their heartbreaking loss last time out.
Chris Johnson’s side certainly impressed and they will undoubtedly be excited by their maiden National League Rugby fixture at Stainland Road against Hull Ionians, who were on the right side of late drama in a 31-24 win against Huddersfield in Round One.
For Huddersfield, they return to Lockwood Park, similarly to Heath, aiming to build on the positives. They entertain Sheffield Tigers, who showed plenty of encouraging signs against Tynedale on opening weekend.
Elsewhere, new boys Harrogate got off to a winning start, and you get the sense Jake Brady’s side aren’t just settling for safety.
In the week, the Aces boss told local press that Harrogate didn’t even hit top gear in their determined 24-21 win over Otley, so what can they produce when they host Billingham in Round Two?
And as for the aforementioned Otley, they make the trip further north to face local rivals Wharfedale.
National Two East
Of all the rivalries taking place across National League Rugby this weekend, there is something special about Jersey RFC’s meeting with Guernsey Raiders.
As Jersey’s press officer Tom Innes reliably informs us, away from the annual Siam Cup meetings between the sides, Saturday’s clash at CoinShares Park will be their first league fixture since 1994/95.
Back then, teams only played each other once a season, and it was Jersey who clinched a 19-9 victory in what turned out to be a promotion-winning campaign from tier nine of the English game.
Now at Level 4, and with Guernsey’s recent 35-27 Siam Cup win fresh in the mind, the sides collide on the league stage once again.
Hosts Jersey fought back well in their season opener to earn a try bonus point from their 33-22 loss against London Welsh, while Guernsey’s power up front laid the platform for a solid 40-19 away win at Leicester Lions.
There might also be a family feel to Saturday’s clash, with brothers Anthony and Matthew Armstrong (Guernsey) and Lance (Jersey) set to line up against each other.
There will also be some familiarity at Occupation Road when Oundle entertain Leicester Lions.
After seven years as head coach of the Lions, Gareth Collins took on a new assignment with Oundle this season, but he now finds himself facing his old club just a few months after leaving Westleigh Park.
Collins’ new side got off to a winning start but had to work for their 52-31 victory over Mike Brown’s Esher, with five tries in the final half-hour securing a bonus-point success for last year’s runners-up.
View this post on Instagram
As for the Lions under new boss Tom Varndell, they were overpowered by Guernsey and could be in for a similar afternoon against a well-oiled Oundle pack.
In terms of the aforementioned Esher, their display against Oundle will give them reasons to be positive as the EEEs welcome Havant to Molesey Road on Saturday.
The visitors opened their account with an entertaining 43-35 win over Dorking, and now Rob Matthews and Will Knight’s side will want to translate their notable home form – from over the past 12 months – onto the road.
Havant won just three times away from home last season, two of which came against the relegated pair of Sevenoaks and Oxford Harlequins.
Elsewhere, it looked like it could have been a long afternoon for new boys Colchester in Round One. After 28 minutes away at Barnes, they were 26-0 down, but Mike Haywood’s side rallied in the second period to depart the capital with a try bonus point in a 45-28 defeat.
Colchester now return to Raven Park to face Westcombe Park, who recorded a 38-35 triumph over Henley last weekend.
Combe were strong on both sides of the ball, with their power up front catching the eye once again. Despite seeing Henley fight back to earn two bonus points, it was a pleasing opening outing for the Goddington Dene side.
Also in Round Two, Dorking and Canterbury meet at The Big Field aiming to put first-day defeats behind them, while Henley host London Welsh.
The 3.30pm kick-off sees two of last year’s top four go head-to-head, with Old Albanian hosting Barnes.
OAs, despite nearly letting a 21-point lead slip at Canterbury, began with an excellent 34-31 away win, while Barnes’ attacking prowess was in full swing in Round One.
National Two West
Smooth seas do not make skilful sailors, so Round One comeback wins for both Clifton and Old Redcliffians might well stand them in good stead for the long season ahead.
The Lavender and Blacks found themselves 24-12 down away at Cinderford, but their return to National Two West ended on a winning note, with five second-half tries sealing a 48-31 victory.
As for Old Redcliffians, the latest chapter of their South West rivalry with Hornets was never going to be a dull affair.
Six yellow cards and a red preceded a dramatic conclusion as Old Reds full-back Finn Murphy scooted over for his second of two late tries to snatch a 27-24 win for Dan Cox’s men.
The two sides now do battle at Station Road this weekend, almost exactly two years on from their previous meeting, which Clifton won 36-28 after another fightback.
Round Two also sees both newly promoted teams return home after difficult opening outings back at this level.
View this post on Instagram
For Devonport Services, an encouraging opening 35 minutes in what ultimately proved to be a 53-17 loss at Taunton Titans last Friday night will give Ben Russell’s side something to work with as they prepare to host Redruth.
The last time ‘The Sporting Blues’ were in National Two, their first win of the season came against the Reds, so Devonport Services will be hoping lightning strikes twice at The Rectory.
Redruth, meanwhile, flew out of the blocks with a commanding 61-10 win over Bournville, but now the aim for Richie Kevern’s men is to find form and consistency on the road.
Last term, Redruth won just once on their travels so if they are to climb the standings this season, that statistic will need to improve.
Bournville are the other new boys alongside Devonport Services, and boss Alex Grove described last week’s first half against Redruth as ‘a wake-up call’.
The Chocos found themselves 40-0 down at the break but, back at Avery Fields, they will be hoping to make amends, with Lymm the visitors to the Midlands.
Andy Davies’ side got off to a winning start, eventually seeing off Loughborough Students 50-27 at Crouchley Lane while two sides who were victorious in Round One, Barnstaple and Taunton, collide at Pottington Road.
As for Loughborough Students, they entertain Hinckley in Round Two, with the away side looking to respond to an opening day 27-19 loss against Luctonians.
Exeter University host Hornets in the other 2pm kick-off, while, last but certainly not least, Luctonians face Cinderford at Mortimer Park.
Make sure you follow National League Rugby on social media!
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Threads
Leave a Reply