The Review: Quality of National League Rugby shines through (again) thanks to eye-catching results
Historic victories, healthy attendances and absorbing contests underlined the excitement of National League Rugby in Round Two. (Photo Credit: Andrew McCumiskey)
National One
A second-half blitz from Bury St Edmunds (6th) secured their maiden National One win as they beat local rivals Cambridge (13th) 38-31 at Ellgia Fields.
Tries from Ben Alexander, Jacob McCay and Ted Warner helped Cambridge into a 19-14 lead, before Ben Penfold’s penalty cut the deficit to two points. Alexander’s second score on the stroke of half-time gave Cambridge a cushion.
However, the Blood and Sand were left shell-shocked as Bury scored three tries in nine second-half minutes.
Euan Rees, Ruaraidh Williams and Tim Andrew all crossed as James Shanahan’s side moved 38-26 ahead with 13 minutes remaining. Elias Caven got one back for Cambridge, but Bury held on for a historic victory.
History was also made at Abbeydale Park as Sheffield (5th) claimed their first-ever National One success, beating old foes Leeds Tykes (14th) 19-12.
Cuchulain Livingstone and Will Archer put Sheffield ahead at the break before Chris Hooper made it two tries in two games. Jack Hamilton’s late effort secured Leeds a losing bonus point.
London Scottish (4th) suffered defeat in their first home National One fixture as Tonbridge Juddians (3rd) edged a thrilling 39-38 contest at The RAG.
TJs led 22-7 just after half-time, with Jack Walsh once again at the double, but Scottish hit back with three quick-fire tries from Jonathan Smith (2) and Joe Harmen to move 26-22 ahead.
Sam Morton-Smith’s converted try was followed by Theo Vukasinovic’s score as Scottish regained the lead at 31-29, but a Steff James penalty and Morton-Smith’s second put TJs 39-31 up with less than five minutes remaining.
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Will Rigelsford’s late effort ensured Scottish collected two bonus points, but this was a fabulous win for Tonbridge Juddians against a side relegated from the Champ last season.
TJs, Sale FC (1st) and Plymouth Albion (2nd) are the three sides with 10 points from 10 after two games.
Sale came out on top in a 15-try bonanza against Birmingham Moseley (8th), winning 66-35 at the Morson Stadium. David Opoku-Fordjour, Tom Walsh and Andrew Lamb all scored twice as Sale’s attack continues to impress.
Plymouth defeated Camborne (9th) 32-21 in front of more than 2,600 spectators at The Recreation Ground. They moved into a 27-0 lead shortly after half-time thanks to Cameron Doak, Noah Fenton (2) and Man of the Match Harry Wilkinson.
Camborne’s Ben Priddey did respond, but a second for Man of the Match Wilkinson put the game to bed, despite late scores from Jordan Nicholls and Sam Matavesi.
Rosslyn Park (10th) produced the ideal reaction to last week’s heavy loss against Plymouth, surging to a 61-30 win at Bishop’s Stortford (7th).
Luke Mehson scored a hat-trick as Park led 42-6 at half-time, before Tom Hitchcock, Tom Mills (2) and Alex Osborn helped Stortford reduce the arrears to 42-30. However, the visitors pulled clear once again to secure the win.
And Dings Crusaders (11th) and Rams (12th) played out a 24-24 draw, with both sides collecting three points at Shaftesbury Park.
Rams led 24-17 after two quick-fire tries from Pete Austin and Willo Bicknell, but replacement Josh Lloyd’s try nine minutes from time, converted by Louie Sinclair, earned Dings a share of the spoils.
National Two North
Huddersfield (5th) claimed their first win back in National Two North with an absorbing 42-36 victory over Sheffield Tigers (11th).
Tigers raced into a 21-7 lead after 17 minutes, but Huddersfield fought back to level before the sides continued to trade scores.
Jamie Rudd’s penalty put Tigers 31-28 ahead – while Tom Hainsworth was in the sin-bin – but Liam Stapley and Kian Stewart then crossed to give Huddersfield the lead for the first time.
Shay Lewis’ try a minute from time set up a nervy finish, but Huddersfield held on to maintain an unbeaten record at Lockwood Park which stretches back to September 2024.
Over in the North-West, Preston Grasshoppers (4th) secured their first league win away at rivals Fylde (10th) in 25 years thanks to a 31-12 victory at Woodlands.
In front of a crowd of over 1,100, Sam Kyle-Clay scored twice, with Jacob Browne (2) and Declan Norrington adding second-half tries, as Preston also claimed their first win over their neighbours since 2018.
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Darlington Mowden Park (6th) responded to last week’s defeat to Sedgley Park in style, beating local rivals Tynedale (9th) 55-12. Mark Williams, Alfie Warwick and Man of the Match Junior Newton all scored twice.
Harrogate (3rd) are one of three teams with maximum points after beating Billingham (13th) 41-31.
Billingham led 31-28, with the impressive Charlie Evans scoring a hat-trick, but tries from Conor Miller and Sam Parsons-Bastiman turned the game around for Harrogate before Jack Mallinson’s late penalty denied the visitors a losing bonus point.
Sedgley Park (1st) also made it two bonus-point wins from two with a 32-13 victory at Chester (8th). Luke Cole scored twice, with Harry Lewis and Beltus Nonleh also crossing, while new fly-half Ciaran Shone kicked 12 points.
Hull Ionians (2nd) maintained their 100 per cent record with a battling 28-14 win at newly promoted Heath (12th), while there was away-day joy for Otley (7th), who clinched a thrilling 37-29 success at Wharfedale (14th).
Oli Cicognini’s converted try made it 29-29 on 64 minutes before Daniel Reed’s penalty put Otley ahead. Tom Howard’s try four minutes from time sealed the win.
National Two East
Henley Hawks (7th) fly-half Oli Snook hit a last-minute drop goal to clinch a dramatic 30-29 victory over London Welsh (6th).
Henley took a 13-12 lead into half-time thanks to tries from Scott White and Cornell Kinniburgh, with Snook also landing a penalty.
Tom Marshall and former Henley man Lailand Gordon had gone over for London Welsh, and it was first blood to the visitors after the restart following Buster Wilkins’ score.
White responded with his second, but an Ed Morgan penalty and a second for Gordon had Welsh 29-20 up on the hour.
On 63 minutes, Marcus Lowe stormed over to bring Henley back into the contest before Snook kept his cool to slot the last-gasp, match-winning drop goal.
Guernsey Raiders (2nd) made it back-to-back bonus-point wins with a 36-19 victory over rivals Jersey (12th) at CoinShares Park.
In the first league meeting between the sides in 32 years, Jersey led early through Daniel Hawkes, but Guernsey went into half-time 15-14 ahead.
Two Jersey yellow cards then helped the Raiders pull clear, with Matt Creber, Jon Dawe and Matt Armstrong crossing after the break. Mark Boarer did go over for Jersey, but the afternoon – and the bragging rights – belonged to Guernsey.
Like Guernsey, Oundle (1st) and Old Albanian (3rd) can boast 100 per cent records after Round Two.
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Oundle scored four tries in the final 13 minutes to beat a resolute Leicester Lions (14th) 40-10, while Old Albanian came from 26-15 down to defeat Barnes (5th) 32-26.
In the final quarter, Elliot McPhun, Toby Ponsford and Kahil Oreagba all crossed to hand OAs the lead with four minutes remaining.
A wave of Barnes pressure followed, and Jack Heald’s side thought they had snatched it late on, only for the referee to rule that the ball had been held up.
Newly promoted Colchester (9th) claimed their first win back in National Two East with a 40-12 victory over Westcombe Park (10th).
Fin McCartney, Max Clark, Ethan Cole, Edward Reid and Jonah Varela all crossed for Colchester, who led 19-7 at half-time.
Col took until November to win their first game on their last spell in this division in 2024/25, so head coach Mike Haywood will have been delighted with this impressive display.
Elsewhere, both Canterbury (4th) and Esher (8th) responded to opening-weekend defeats.
Canterbury beat Dorking (13th) 38-15 away from home, with Harry Sloan and Lucas Eule both scoring twice, while Esher ran in eight tries in a 48-12 win over Havant (11th).
Scrum-half Pierre Thompson was at the double for Esher, while Havant had Colin Sisk sent off just after the hour.
National Two West
Bournville (10th) bounced back from last week’s tough result at Redruth to claim their first win on their return to this level, beating Lymm (5th) 43-38 in a thriller.
The Chocos raced into a 24-0 lead before the half-hour through Will Tanner, Adam Shaw and Oscar van Deventer, with Jacob Fewtrell also adding a penalty.
Lymm fought back either side of the break, with Ben Lilley, James Cope and Alex Mukherjee all crossing, before both sides traded two tries apiece.
A brace of converted scores from Lymm’s Jack Reynolds cut the deficit to 36-35 with 10 minutes remaining, but Sam Grimshaw delivered the winning try for Bournville. A late Tom Shard penalty ensured Lymm took at least two bonus points back to Crouchley Lane.
Luctonians (3rd) built on last week’s victory at Hinckley with a statement 47-0 win over Cinderford (13th).
George Thomas and Rob Lewis’ side led 33-0 at the break, with Bryn Goodall, Owien Harriott-Davis and skipper Ben Link scoring twice across the afternoon.
Redruth (1st) and Clifton (2nd) are the only two sides with 100 per cent records in National Two West.
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The Reds surpassed 60 points for the second successive week, beating Devonport Services (14th) 68-33. Redruth scored 10 tries, with Sam Bray and Rob Baragwanath both claiming doubles, while Devonport took full advantage of two Redruth yellow cards to help them to a try bonus.
Clifton prevailed in a hard-fought contest against Old Redcliffians (7th), winning 35-26 at Station Road.
Locked at 21-21 heading into the final quarter, Clifton moved clear through Dylan Power and Jack Grundy in a five-minute spell. Archie Stapleton responded for Old Reds with seven minutes remaining, but Clifton held on.
Taunton (4th) made it back-to-back wins with a 24-12 victory at Barnstaple (8th).
Ewan Guy and Connor Vickery put the visitors 14-0 ahead, but Max Moore and Cameron Johnson helped Barnstaple close to 17-12 with seven minutes remaining. Alfie Johns then crossed to put the game beyond doubt.
Hornets (6th) responded to last week’s late defeat to Old Redcliffians with an entertaining 54-36 win at Exeter University (11th), while Hinckley (9th) also bounced back with a 26-17 victory over Loughborough Students (12th).
Ed James scored a hat-trick for Hinckley, who moved 19-5 ahead before Alex Catchside secured the bonus point.
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