The Preview: Teams towards the bottom battle for key results as leading sides face stern tests
Round 10 brings crucial fixtures for teams looking to steer clear of relegation trouble, while a couple of the leading sides face a test of their credentials. (Photo credit: Daniel Kerr)
National One
To describe the next two weeks as crucial might be a little over the top, but with fixtures against two fellow table rivals to come before December, Sheffield (13th) will fancy a couple of early Christmas presents.
Anthony Posa’s side will have had plenty to reflect on after suffering a gut-wrenching 43-38 home defeat against 10th-placed Dings Crusaders last weekend, having built a 33-17 advantage.
Another defeat against a side around them in the standings would be tough to take for the National One newcomers, while Saturday’s hosts, Bishop’s Stortford (9th), will be in no mood to hand out any gifts.
The fixture list has not been particularly kind to Tom Coleman’s side, with their last four matches coming against the current top four, but after five consecutive defeats, Stortford will be eager to get back to winning ways.
Segments of their performances against the likes of Tonbridge Juddians, Plymouth Albion and last week at Camborne should provide them with encouragement, but with Stortford sitting just five points clear of Sheffield, a victory on Saturday would undoubtedly be a significant boost.
The other three sides around Stortford and Sheffield – Cambridge (14th) and Rams (12th) in the bottom two, and Bury St Edmunds (11th) in the relegation play-off position – all face top-five opposition in Round 10.
Cambridge, who currently prop up National One, travel to Sale FC (5th) still searching for their first victory of the campaign.
Craig Newby’s side have conceded 72 tries across their nine defeats so far, including 10 in last Saturday’s 66-21 loss away at Rosslyn Park. Speaking to BBC Radio Cambridge’s Steve Jackson this week, Newby identified defence as a key area for improvement.
With Sale having scored the third-highest number of points in National One, Cambridge will need to be at their best. The hosts also head into the weekend on the back of successive victories.
The last meeting between Sale and Cambridge came in January 2023, when both clubs were involved in a memorable title race. Cambridge won 35-19 in the North West before going on to earn promotion from National One. Right now, that success might feel like a world away for the men from Grantchester Road.
As for Rams, they return to Old Bath Road to face Camborne (3rd).
After going 21-0 down inside the opening eight minutes away at Plymouth last weekend, head coach Seb Reynolds admitted he was “thinking of the Homer Simpson meme where he’s moving back into the hedge”. However, Rams showed determination and character despite eventually suffering a third consecutive defeat.
The 35-21 loss in Devon also saw the Berkshire club drop into the bottom three, but going into this weekend, Rams know both of their victories this season have come at home.
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Camborne will be aware of that threat, but the Cherry and Whites have been faultless on their travels so far. Five away wins and 35 points collected explain much of why they sit third, just five points off the summit.
For Bury St Edmunds, the challenge is a home clash with Leeds Tykes (4th), who have won their last four matches and six of their previous seven.
Director of Rugby Pete Seabourne described last weekend’s 33-19 victory over Birmingham Moseley as “probably one of Leeds’ best performances of the season”, so the Tykes will travel to Suffolk full of confidence.
Bury, meanwhile, showed plenty of resilience against Tonbridge Juddians last Saturday. Missing the experience of half-backs such as Pete White and Ben Penfold, the Wolfpack fought their way back into the contest at 31-27 before ultimately falling to a 41-27 defeat at The Slade.
James Shanahan’s side are back on home soil this weekend, where they have won two of their last three matches.
Dings Crusaders (10th) now have a three-point cushion over Bury St Edmunds and the bottom three following their important victory against Sheffield last time out.
They also face top-half opposition in Round 10, welcoming London Scottish (7th) to Shaftesbury Park. The visitors have looked a more cohesive outfit with each passing week, so they will be hoping that continues in Bristol.
And finally, what about the top two of Plymouth Albion (1st) and Tonbridge Juddians (2nd)?
Leaders Albion maintained their 100 per cent record as another scintillating start helped them to a ninth successive bonus-point victory over Rams in Round Nine. However, they will know all about the threat posed by hosts Birmingham Moseley (8th) at Billesley Common.
Just a fortnight ago, Ollie Thomas’ side ended Tonbridge Juddians’ perfect record, with a blistering opening 15 minutes laying the foundations for their fourth home win of the campaign.
Having failed to build on that result at Leeds last weekend, Moseley will be keen to respond and perhaps claim another notable scalp.
As for TJs, who sit four points behind Plymouth, they return to The Slade to face Rosslyn Park (6th), who have picked up two excellent victories during this four-match block.
Greater consistency in selection, alongside an away win at Bury St Edmunds and a home victory over Cambridge, has lifted spirits at The Rock and strengthened Park’s position in the top half. Having lost just once on the road all season, they will present a significant challenge to the high-flying hosts.
National Two North
Sedgley Park (1st) continue to boast a 100 per cent record after The Tigers racked up a half-century of points in their 52-27 Round Nine victory over Fylde.
Scott Barrow’s side didn’t have everything their own way en route to a ninth consecutive bonus-point win, but the result will have kept them sharp ahead of a trip to old foes Hull Ionians (4th).
When Sedgley earned promotion to National One in 2022-23, they were competing with the I’s for the title before the Yorkshire side fell away after Christmas.
This season, however, Hull Ionians are firmly in the conversation for a top-two finish. Last week’s emphatic 48-14 victory over Preston Grasshoppers was an excellent response to successive defeats, and Maliq Holden’s side remain four points off second place with a game in hand.
Interestingly, Ionians also face Darlington Mowden Park and Tynedale, the other two sides in the top three, before Christmas. It is shaping up to be a significant few weeks in their season.
Speaking of Darlington Mowden Park (2nd), they bounced back from their heartbreaking Round Eight defeat against Chester with a convincing 36-12 victory over Otley.
After producing some dazzling rugby at times this season, DMP went ‘back to basics‘ last weekend to secure their seventh win of the campaign.
Next up is a reunion with near-neighbours Billingham (12th), who lost both meetings against DMP by 10 points last season. Peter Evans and Dan Finney’s side will be hoping home advantage at Greenwood Road can make a difference, with all three of their victories this term coming on their own ground.
Around 60 miles down the road, fellow North-East side Tynedale (3rd) will no doubt keep a close eye on proceedings between their regional rivals as they travel to bottom club Otley (14th).
Tynedale have put together a run of six consecutive victories to move within two points of DMP, with their most emphatic result of the campaign arriving last weekend.
An eight-try 59-12 success over table rivals Chester felt like Peter Southern’s side sending a clear message to the rest of the division that last year’s runners-up mean business again.
Tynedale were impressive on both sides of the ball in Round Nine, something that will make for difficult reading for an Otley side looking to turn their grit and spirit into points.
Last Saturday’s defeat at Darlington Mowden Park was their sixth in a row, leaving them eight points behind Billingham, who occupy the relegation play-off position.
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With Sedgley Park the only side to have shown better form than Tynedale in recent weeks, the task of securing just a second win of the campaign looks like a tough one for the Cross Green outfit.
At Otley’s expense, Wharfedale (13th) climbed off the foot of the table in Round Nine following an excellent 34-29 victory at Huddersfield.
Dale were on the front foot for large periods before a Huddersfield revival, but the result and five points were ultimately the most important thing for Simon Verbickas’ side.
Now just four points from safety, Wharfedale will be targeting back-to-back victories for the first time this season when they welcome Heath (10th) to the Avenue.
The fellow Yorkshire outfit were also celebrating last weekend after coming from behind to beat Harrogate 34-33.
A third victory of the campaign for Chris Johnson’s side keeps them moving in the right direction in their first season at this level. With just four points separating ninth and 13th, wins in these bottom-half contests are becoming increasingly valuable.
The aforementioned Huddersfield (11th) are in that group and, after a below-par start against Wharfedale, Callum Thompson’s troops will be eager for a response in Round 10.
Field travel to Chester (5th), who will also be looking to bounce back after a chastening afternoon against Tynedale last time out. Rhys Hayes’ side have won four of their five home matches this season, while Huddersfield are still searching for their first away victory.
Two mid-table clashes to finish, with Preston Grasshoppers (6th) hosting Sheffield Tigers (7th) and Harrogate (8th) entertaining Fylde (9th).
Despite a tight first half that ended 7-7 against Hull Ionians, Hoppers were eventually overwhelmed in Round Nine and will be keen to respond at Lightfoot Green. However, the visitors are among the form sides in the league, having won their last four matches, including a 47-21 success over Billingham last weekend.
As for Harrogate, despite a winless run of four games, head coach Jake Brady has been able to take positives, particularly from their recent fixtures against Huddersfield, a 31-31 draw, and Heath, a narrow 34-33 loss.
Speaking to the Harrogate Advertiser, Brady said he was still pleased with “five points from a possible 10” as the Aces continue their positive return to National Two North.
Fylde may feel similarly encouraged. A try bonus point in defeat against unbeaten leaders Sedgley Park followed their Round Nine victory over Heath, so Chris Briers and Alex Loney’s side will be keen to continue building momentum on the road.
National Two East
There may have been mixed emotions for Westcombe Park (14th) and Leicester Lions (12th) after Round Nine.
Both sides showed fight and determination against Barnes and Old Albanian respectively before falling to defeats, but with just three points now separating them ahead of their Round 10 meeting at Goddington Dene, this is a fixture both clubs will have circled.
Westcombe Park’s difficult season has yielded just one victory so far, their opening-day success against Henley. Leicester Lions have won twice but are still searching for their first away victory.
Both teams also face table rivals London Welsh between now and Christmas, while Westcombe Park travel to Jersey in Round 13. The coming weeks could prove key in shaping the battle for survival.
As for Jersey (13th), they travel to Havant (9th) in Round 10. After the agonising heartbreak of losing to unbeaten leaders Oundle last weekend, they will look to take the positives from that performance into their trip to Hampshire.
The reaction online to their last-gasp 26-19 defeat spoke volumes, with supporters using words such as “proud” as Myles Landick’s side came within a whisker of halting the Oundle machine.
Saturday’s opponents Havant also saw their 36-28 defeat against Jersey’s rivals Guernsey confirmed late in Round Nine, after Rob Matthews and Will Knight’s side had fought back from 19 points down to take the lead at Footes Lane.
Bryce Stockton’s 79th-minute try clinched victory for the Raiders, meaning both sides at Hooks Lane will be keen to put narrow defeats behind them.
The same can be said of 11th-placed London Welsh (11th), who were involved in a rollercoaster Round Nine contest against Canterbury.
Having led 12-0, drawn level at 17-17 and then fallen 15 points behind, in a game where Welsh also received four yellow cards and a red, they eventually had to settle for a 39-34 defeat at Old Deer Park.
It was another near miss for George Trimmer’s side during this block of fixtures, and their attention now turns to a London derby against near-neighbours Barnes (7th), who are enjoying a resurgence.
Four consecutive victories have lifted Jack Heald’s side into the top half, and they will be keen to exact revenge on their rivals from down Lower Richmond Road after Welsh won 7-0 on their own patch last December.
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From a Welsh perspective, a similar result would provide a huge boost as they sit just one point above the relegation places.
At the top, as mentioned above, Oundle (1st) maintained their 100 per cent record thanks to their last-gasp heroics at Jersey.
A ninth bonus-point victory from nine matches was secured by Chester Owen’s try, and the league leaders now return to Occupation Road to face Henley (10th).
The Hawks have shown they can trouble the leading sides in this division, as demonstrated by their Round Seven victory over third-placed Old Albanian. Their performance in spells against second-placed Esher last weekend also offered encouragement, but they will need another strong showing if they are to take anything from the table-toppers.
For just over an hour last Saturday, Esher (2nd) were top of National Two East. However, Oundle’s late, late show ensured they remained in the play-off position after an eighth consecutive victory.
They had to withstand a spirited Henley challenge before eventually earning a 38-27 win at Dry Leas, but the EEEs showed no signs of letting their good form slip in Oxfordshire.
They return to Molesey Road this weekend looking to maintain the pressure on Oundle, who sit four points ahead, when they entertain Colchester (8th).
The visitors will arrive with plenty of confidence after what head coach Mike Haywood described as “one of the best wins during his time at the club” in Round Nine.
Their 36-33 triumph over Dorking at Raven Park ended the visitors’ six-match winning streak. Can Colchester produce something similar again this weekend?
The chasing pack will certainly hope so, with the four sides immediately below Esher facing one another on Saturday.
Third-placed Old Albanian (3rd), fresh from beating Leicester Lions 40-26 last time out, travel to Dorking (5th), while Guernsey (4th) visit Canterbury (6th).
Despite returning to winning ways in Round Nine after three consecutive defeats, Guernsey head coach Jordan Reynolds knows there is still room for improvement from his side. Canterbury, meanwhile, will want to raise their levels from their victory over London Welsh if they are to make it three wins on the spin.
National Two West
A league is only as strong as the teams competing in it, and right now National Two West is providing plenty of evidence of that.
With the points gap between the leading sides having been incredibly tight over the past few weeks, the same remains true as we head into Round 10.
The top three of Luctonians, Clifton and Hinckley are separated by just one point, partly because of Redruth (4th) and their agonising back-to-back defeats.
After seeing their seven-match winning run ended by Hinckley, a late 22-16 defeat at Cinderford in Round Nine saw the Reds slip from top spot down to fourth.
That said, Richie Kevern’s side remain just four points off the summit and will look to get back on track this weekend against Old Redcliffians (5th).
However, that is easier said than done against an Old Reds side who have won five matches in a row. Their latest success, a 31-14 victory over Taunton, was arguably the pick of the bunch, with their powerful rolling maul once again proving decisive.
Hooker Tom McLean has moved to the top of the try-scoring charts (13), with head coach Dan Cox revealing that Old Reds have scored 17 tries from their maul this season.
One of the foundations of Redruth’s excellent start has also been their own maul, so a physical contest is expected at The Recreation Ground on Saturday.
As for the sides above Redruth and Old Redcliffians, leaders Luctonians (1st) travel to Exeter University (13th).
Rob Lewis and George Thomas’ side moved to the summit following a commanding 53-7 victory over Barnstaple, their eighth win of the season, and will look to produce another strong performance against bottom-half opposition on Saturday.
Despite Exeter’s position in the bottom two, the fight they have shown in recent defeats against top-half sides should encourage head coach Gareth Elliott. They gave Clifton a scare last week before eventually losing 35-29.
Speaking of Clifton (2nd), they travel to Taunton (7th) with a sixth consecutive victory in their sights. The Lavender and Blacks are level on points with Luctonians but, on paper, face the more difficult Round 10 assignment.
Confidence levels between Clifton and Taunton may be at opposite ends of the scale, with the Titans entering Round 10 having lost four of their last five matches.
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All four defeats have come against sides above them in the table, so Tony Yapp’s side will be eager to mark their annual Armed Forces Day with a return to winning ways at Summerfield Stadium.
Third-placed Hinckley (3rd), who sit one point behind Clifton and Luctonians, return to Leicester Road to take on Hornets (10th) this weekend.
Whatever Alex White told his side at half-time against Lymm last week clearly had the desired effect, as Hinckley scored 24 unanswered points in the second half to secure a 36-15 victory and an eighth consecutive win.
The Midlands outfit will be looking to extend that run against Hornets, who have won two of their last three matches, including last week’s emphatic 57-17 victory over Bournville.
Cinderford (6th) sit eight points behind Hinckley, and their victory over Redruth continued an impressive run of form. Clive Stuart-Smith’s side have won six of their last seven matches, while their defensive performances in their last two victories will have been particularly pleasing.
Conceding just three tries across matches against Redruth and Taunton is something Cinderford will be keen to maintain when they travel to Lymm (8th). However, the hosts have been potent at Crouchley Lane, averaging just over five tries per game this season.
Andy Davies’ side will have taken plenty of encouragement from their first-half performance against Hinckley last weekend, and they will look to reproduce and build on that display against another of the division’s form sides.
In the bottom half, Loughborough Students (9th) continued their upturn in form in Round Nine with a 54-26 victory over Devonport Services. The African Violet are now just three points off the top half after losing only once in their last four matches.
They travel to Barnstaple (11th) on Saturday, with the hosts sitting just one point above the relegation play-off position. Barum will be well aware of how important the coming weeks could be.
After Round 10, they face fellow strugglers Bournville and bottom club Devonport Services, making this a run of fixtures they will be desperate to take advantage of as they look to move clear of relegation trouble.
The same applies to Bournville (12th), who travel to Devonport Services (14th) this weekend before rounding off the month with that home meeting against Barnstaple.
The Chocos occupy the relegation play-off position and now visit the Rectory Field, the venue of their last away victory at this level in April 2025.
Although Bournville celebrated a 47-29 victory on their way back to the Midlands that day, both clubs had already been relegated by that stage. It is a situation neither will want to repeat this season.
Devonport Services know their next four matches are against the sides directly above them. With Ben Russell’s side currently eight points behind Saturday’s opponents, an opportunity presents itself to secure their first victory of the campaign.
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