Plus, Luctonians show their credentials in National Two West and healthy attendances dotted around tiers three and four. (Photo Credit: Chris Farrow)

The late, late show…

Here at National League Rugby, we like to think levels three and four are renowned for edge-of-the-seat, entertaining rugby often enhanced by large helpings of late drama.

Derby weekend is the perfect recipe for this and Richmond, Fylde and Dorking provided the necessary ingredients in Round Two.

We’ll begin in National One where Richmond’s ice-cool Lewis Dennett slotted over a dramatic drop-goal to clinch a narrow 21-19 victory over Rosslyn Park.

In this corresponding fixture in 2023/24, Henry Chessman’s last-gasp try snatched the win for Rob Powell’s troops and it was the visitors who once again delivered the gut-wrenching blow to their hosts.

Richmond, who opened their season with a victory at Blackheath last week, led 18-14 with tries from David Massey and Callum Torpey.

Rosslyn Park’s efforts had come via Benji Marfo and James Cordy-Redden and on the hour, they edged themselves in front through Josh Amadi. Richmond thought they had passed up the opportunity to secure victory when Callum Grieve’s 78th-minute penalty was off target but fly-half Dennett was to be the hero.

Over in National Two North, the Fylde faithful would have been toasting Jordan Dorrington who scored a converted try two minutes from time to help seal a 22-20 win over Lancashire rivals Preston Grasshoppers.

In front of a crowd of nearly 1,500 at Woodlands, Fylde recovered from losing a 15-3 lead to extend their unbeaten run to eight games over Hoppers.

Matt Garrod, Toby Harrison and Lewis Quinn crossed for the hosts but either side of half-time, Preston roared back thanks to scores from Harry Holden (2) and Sam Russell.

But just like in Round One, it was to be heartbreak for Hoppers as former Preston man Dorrington dotted down before Patrick Bishop held his nerve to sink the match-winning conversion.

And in National Two East, it was yet another tight affair between Dorking and Barnes with Armand Roux’s side prevailing 29-24 thanks to a debut try from Gareth Stephens. It means in the last five meetings between the clubs, the average winning margin has been just over three points.

Toby McRae, Tom Howe and Max Coyle scored for Dorking in the opening period, with Josh Archer and George Dean going over for Barnes.

After the break, Jacques Birch and McRae exchanged tries before a penalty on 68 minutes from Jack Martin pushed Barnes back in front.

But Dorking had the final say with Stephens going over to secure the victory.

Home is where the heart is for newly-promoted pair

When clubs move up a division, making your home ground a fortress could be a key element in any success you have during the season.

So victories at Shaftesbury Park for National One’s Dings Crusaders and at Priory Park for Macclesfield in National Two West sounds like the ideal start for both teams.

In terms of Macc, they picked up all five points in a 31-28 win over Bournville in what turned out to be a thrilling contest in Cheshire.

The hosts, who were playing their first home fixture in National League Rugby for five years, led 14-7 at half-time through Harry Hughes and Harry Oliver.

Dan Rundle had begun the scoring for Bournville but the visitors looked down and out heading into the final quarter as Hughes, Jamie Harrison and Christian Hone all touched down.

However, the Chocos set up a nervy finale as Rob Knox, Rundle and Freddie Morgan went over but the home side held on to seal their first victory at this level since they beat South Leicester in April 2019.

Last year, Macc won all but one of their games en route to the Regional 1 North West title and Dings Crusaders did the same on their way to National Two West promotion.

The Crusaders entered National One with 12 consecutive victories under their belt and opened their account in the third tier with a 46-29 success over Plymouth Albion.

Centre Joe Jenkins scored twice with Harry Tarling, Harry Rowson, Kofi Cripps, Tom Foot and Tom Gollop all going over.

Emerging England talents using National League Rugby to shine

Many of England Under-20s’ recent World Championship winners appeared in National League Rugby throughout the 2023/24 season and one of the nation’s brightest young stars has already made an impact in levels three and four this term.

After scoring a hat-trick on his England U20 debut against Argentina during the aforementioned U20 World Championship, Jack Bracken made his bow for Loughborough Students against Hinckley in Round Two.

And it took the winger just five minutes to light up the Midlands derby, scoring with his first touch of the ball. Bracken went on to match the feat he achieved with England by scoring a hat-trick for the Students in a 50-21 victory as Martin Webdale’s men made it two victories from two.

Luctonians remain humble but deliver statement of intent

In a couple of interviews over the last 12 months, Luctonians boss Ryan Watkins has played down any discussion of his side targeting promotion to National One.

For a large portion of last year, the Herefordshire outfit were seemingly in control of the National Two West title race until a blip in form between February and March opened the door for Dings Crusaders to swoop in and claim the title.

However, Lucs already look like they could be in the tussle for top spot again after two hard-fought but notable victories in the first two rounds of the season.

After losing at home to Hinckley in 2023/24 – which was one of the results which damaged their title bid – Luctonians battled to a 27-17 win away at the Midlands outfit last week and they backed it up by going to Cinderford – who were relegated from National One last term – by clinching a narrow 15-13 triumph on Saturday.

Travelling to Leicester Road and The Beavis Memorial Ground will be difficult places to go this season so for Luctonians to pick up two very positive results has caught the eye.

If they can follow it up by defeating the unbeaten Clifton at home in Round Three, the noise around Luctonians and their possible promotion ambitions will only increase.

Derby day delivers healthy crowds

National One and National Two were the highest level of men’s rugby union you could watch on Saturday so combine that with ‘derby weekend’, and it was encouraging to see some healthy attendances in Round Two.

As expected, there was a bumper crowd down at Redruth for the Cornwall derby against Camborne. 

Nearly 2,500 people were packed into The Recreation Ground as the visitors powered their way to a 43-35 victory despite Redruth mounting a fightback in the second half while 1,490 watched Fylde edge past Preston Grasshoppers in National Two North.

There was another four-figure attendance at Esher (1,032) for their first home fixture since returning to National One. Despite their best efforts, Peter Winterbottom’s men couldn’t mark the occasion with a victory as Rams RFC ran out 43-24 winners at Molesey Road.

And over 900 spectators saw Taunton bounce back from their opening day loss to Loughborough Students as Tony Yapp’s side eventually shrugged off Hornets 34-19 at Vertias Park.

Results

National One: Rosslyn Park 19-21 Richmond, Leicester Lions 7-21 Birmingham Moseley, Dings Crusaders 46-29 Plymouth Albion, Sale FC 24-18 Sedgley Park, Esher 24-43 Rams, Darlington Mowden Park 28-45 Rotherham Titans, Bishop’s Stortford 10-39 Blackheath

National Two North: Chester 19-51 Lymm, Fylde 22-20 Preston Grasshoppers, Harrogate 29-35 Wharfedale, Hull 18-55 Hull Ionians, Otley 20-24 Leeds Tykes, Sheffield Tigers 13-22 Sheffield, Tynedale 19-19 Billingham

National Two East: Colchester 26-48 Tonbridge Juddians, Dorking 29-24 Barnes, Guernsey 37-26 Westcombe Park, Henley 20-17 Bury St Edmunds, Oxford Harlequins 32-38 Old Albanian, Sevenoaks 14-27 Canterbury, Worthing 34-40 Havant

National Two West: Cinderford 13-15 Luctonians, Clifton 36-28 Old Redcliffians, Devonport Services 19-59 Exeter University, Loughborough Students 50-21 Hinckley, Macclesfield 31-28 Bournville, Redruth 35-43 Camborne, Taunton 34-19 Hornets.

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