Last weekend we witnessed key wins, remarkable fightbacks and dramatic conclusions so can Round 17 follow suit? (Photo Credit: John Watkins)

National One

All of the top four sides in National One find themselves on the road in Round 17, and perhaps the trickiest test on paper could be for third-placed Rotherham Titans who travel to Bristol to face Dings Crusaders (8th). 

The hosts have enjoyed almost all of their success this term at Shaftesbury Park and are currently unbeaten in six on their own patch. Earlier this season, they drew 31-31 with leaders Richmond and more than played their part in a pulsating National One clash against Rams (2nd) in September where they eventually fell to a 44-36 defeat.

However, Rotherham come into this one with confidence flowing through their veins. Despite seven wins from their last eight matches, boss Harvey Biljon is disregarding any sort of title talk as the Titans continue to shine following promotion back into the third tier last year.

The Yorkshire outfit currently sit five points behind leaders Richmond who visit Sale FC (11th) on Saturday. The hosts are without a win in six but certainly pushed the aforementioned Rotherham close in Round 16 during their 23-17 loss. Meanwhile, second-placed Rams – who are one point off Richmond – are away at Leicester Lions (12th) and an in-form Rosslyn Park (4th) will be seeking a fifth win on the spin when they face Esher (13th) at Molesey Road.

Also across National One, fifth-placed Blackheath go to bottom of the table Darlington Mowden Park, Plymouth Albion (6th) will be targeting a fifth success on the bounce when they visit Birmingham Moseley (7th) and after no home fixture since the beginning of December, Bishop’s Stortford (9th) entertain Sedgley Park (10th).

National Two North

Last week felt like a key weekend towards the bottom of National Two North. Billingham (13th) and Preston Grasshoppers (9th) both picked up morale-boosting victories, and it looks like we could be set for a fascinating fight to stay in this division.

As it stands, just six points separate the bottom five with Harrogate (14th) – who are propping up the table – facing a tough assignment in Round 17 when they host title candidates Lymm (2nd). It is a similar story for Billingham who – after beating Hull 34-17 last week – visit table-toppers Leeds Tykes while Preston will be looking to build on Round 16’s 38-31 success over Harrogate when they travel to Tynedale (6th).

For Otley (10th) and Sheffield Tigers (12th), they both have home fixtures. Otley – who have won just one of their last seven – welcome title-chasing Sheffield to Cross Green while the Tigers will actually be targeting a third consecutive win at Dore Moor when they entertain Chester (8th), who beat fourth-placed Fylde 25-19 last time out.

Speaking of Fylde, they will be eager to return to winning ways when they host Hull Ionians (7th) at Woodlands while fifth-placed Wharfedale will be aiming to back up last weekend’s 42-28 derby day success against Otley when they take on 11h-placed Hull, another side embroiled in this intense bottom half.

National Two East

The postponement of Tonbridge Juddians’ (1st) trip to Guernsey (5th) due to a waterlogged pitch and expected heavy rain could’ve taken the shine off Round 17 in National Two East but fear not, there are still six excellent games to get stuck into.

With TJs not in action, both Barnes (2nd) and Dorking (3rd) will be looking to cut the advantage of the table-toppers. As it stands, Barnes sit six points behind the leaders (having played a game more) and Jack Heald’s side travel to bottom of the table Worthing this weekend.

As for Dorking – who are eight points off the top (having played a game less than TJs) – they are once again in the mix towards the summit and on this week’s National League Rugby Preview Show, Director of Rugby Armand Roux and Chairman Shaun Hammond didn’t shy away from their promotion ambitions. However, they know many challenges lie ahead starting with the visit of Henley Hawks (8th) to The Big Field on Saturday.

Towards the other end of the table, 13th-placed Colchester – who were hit with further injuries during last week’s 38-12 defeat at Old Albanian – will be looking for a morale-boosting display in the East Anglian derby against Bury St Edmunds (7th) while Oxford Harlequins (12th) are back at the Horspath Sports Ground where they will welcome an-form Westcombe Park (7th). 

Elsewhere, Canterbury (4th) – who have won six of their last seven matches – go to Havant’s (10th) Hooks Lane and Old Albanian (9th) will be targeting a third win in a row when they visit 11th-placed Sevenoaks.

National Two West

The action in National Two West begins on Friday night with not one but two fixtures in this division.

After their quite simply remarkable fightback and victory against third-placed Taunton last time out, Bournville (11th) will have a spring in their step ahead of their Midlands derby away at Loughborough Students (8th). 

Matt Price’s side scored two tries in the final two minutes – including a length-of-the-field winner from winger Nathan Decalmer – to clinch a 50-43 win in Round 16 and the team they overcame – Taunton (3rd) – are involved in the second game of the evening.

The Titans renew their acquaintances with Exeter University (12th) under the lights at Vertias Park, with Tony Yapp’s side itching to improve on a run of just one win from their last five games. As for their opponents, Exeter sit just one place and two points above the danger zone and although Gareth Elliott’s troops have games in hand over the bottom two, a positive outcome from their visit to Somerset will, of course, be top of the agenda.


Macclesfield (13th) continue to threaten to move out of the bottom two, and they once again edged closer in Round 16 following a narrow 29-27 away defeat at Old Redcliffians. The Blues collected a valuable two points on the road but are back in Cheshire this weekend where they welcome fifth-placed Luctonians.

At the top, it feels like a pretty sizable two weeks for the leading duo of Camborne (1st) and Clifton (2nd). The pair meet next weekend in Cornwall for the first showdown between the title candidates and both would love to enter that mouth-watering tie on the back of another victory.

In terms of Camborne, they have a not-so-straightforward visit to ninth-placed Hornets. The home side are unbeaten in six at The Nest and ran Camborne close in a 33-27 defeat in the reverse fixture back in Round Five while Clifton will be aiming to extend their 10-match winning streak against Hinckley (10th) at Station Road.

The Lavender and Blacks are the form team across the whole of National League Rugby, but the last side to beat them were Hinckley back at the beginning of October so will that have any bearing on Round 17’s encounter?

Also on Saturday, fourth-placed Cinderford will be looking to return to winning ways away at bottom of the table Devonport Services while an in-form Redruth (6th) – who have lost just one of their last seven games – take on an Old Redcliffians (7th) side who are eyeing up a third successive triumph.

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