Round 21 had all the ingredients to become a pivotal weekend in the ‘run-in’ and sure enough, it didn’t disappoint with promotion ambitions and survival hopes front and centre. (Photo Credit: Rowena Burridge)

National One

Richmond (1st) hold a five-point advantage at the top of National One after a thrilling fightback from Birmingham Moseley (8th) on Friday night meant the league leaders had to settle for a 35-35 draw.

The table toppers led 21-7 at the break through Josh Addams’ neat finish while Luke Spring and Will Goffey also barged over.

But Moseley reacted in the second half. Anthony Egodo and Ollie Allsopp traded tries with Spring and Addams before the hosts made things level in the final 10 minutes.

Ethan Priest and Allsopp both dotted down to set up a grandstand finale under the lights at Billesley Common and with Richmond pressing for the winner, Lewis Dennett saw a last-gasp drop-goal attempt sail off target as both sides shared the spoils in the Midlands.

The result meant that title challengers Rotherham Titans (2nd) could have cut Richmond’s lead down to a single point on Saturday if they had beaten an in-form Plymouth Albion (4th) but Harvey Biljon’s side were edged out 23-20 at Brickfields as Albion stretched their superb winning sequence to 10 matches.

Plymouth remain in the title conversation as they sit 11 points off the summit with a trip to Richmond to come in Round 22, while Rosslyn Park (3rd) are also in the running for top spot as they made it eight victories from their last nine games following a 40-28 success away at Bishop’s Stortford (11th).

Elsewhere, the title hopes of Rams (5th) suffered another blow as the Berkshire outfit lost 34-33 following a superb contest at Sedgley Park (9th). Rams did lead 28-7 just after half-time but the Tigers roared back and held on for the victory after Oliver Rhoads’ last-minute try for Rams went unconverted.

Below Sedge in the table, there were some key victories for Dings Crusaders (10th) and Leicester Lions (13th). Dings defeated 13th-placed Esher 47-35 to take a giant step towards safety while Leicester Lions have their survival hopes a boost after thrashing bottom club Darlington Mowden Park (14th) 75-0 at Westleigh Park.

Also in National One, three tries in the opening nine minutes saw Blackheath (6th) return to winning ways as they beat Sale FC (7th) 33-19 in the North-West.

National Two North

Sheffield’s (2nd) promotion dreams suffered a setback in Round 21 as Wharfedale (5th) once again tasted victory at The Avenue following a 36-21 win.

Jake Armstrong, Bradley Viner and Oli Riddiough crossed in the first half before the latter and Elliot Stockton ultimately sealed a ninth home success of the season for Dale.

Cameron Catleugh and Alex Pegg did respond for the title candidates, but Sheffield headed back to South Yorkshire empty-handed.

The result for Anthony Posa’s men now leaves them nine points behind leaders Leeds Tykes, who took full advantage with a comprehensive 52-10 victory over third-placed Lymm.  After both sides had scored two tries apiece, the table-toppers then accelerated away from their visitors as they scored six unanswered tries to secure a 12th win on the spin.

 

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The Tykes now need 16 points from their final five games to be crowned champions of National Two North.

At the other end of the standings, there were big wins for bottom two clubs Harrogate (13th) and Billingham (14th). Both enjoyed home success in Round 21 with The Aces coming from behind in the final 11 minutes to defeat Hull Ionians (8th) 35-23 while Billingham clinched a 29-19 bonus-point win over Preston Grasshoppers (11th) thanks to  Joe Scarborough’s try seven minutes from time.

The bottom three clubs are now separated by just four points after 12th-placed Hull were beaten 40-17 at home by Chester (7th), with the visitors scoring 29 unanswered points to overturn a 17-11 deficit.

Elsewhere, Tynedale (6th) bounced back after successive defeats by beating Sheffield Tigers (10th) 43-38 while Otley (9th) stretched their winning run to four matches as Callum Irvine’s late penalty secured a 19-18 victory over Fylde (4th).

National Two East

Barnes (2nd) blew the National Two East title race wide open as they defeated leaders Tonbridge Juddians 32-23 away from home.

A seventh successive victory for Jack Heald’s troops means the gap at the top is now down to a single point, but TJs do have a game in hand to come at the end of the month against ninth-placed Guernsey Raiders.

A Connor Lloyd penalty initially put TJs in front but four first-half tries from Barnes saw them take complete control of proceedings. Ethan Sikorski (2) and Jacques Birch went over and when Will Holling and Isaac Ridge were yellow-carded for the hosts, the away side capitalised with Birch grabbing his second for a 22-6 lead.

Barnes extended their advantage on 51 minutes through the powerful Ryan Nixon and even though Holling (2) and Tom Kendrick responded for TJs, they ended the game empty-handed as Elliott Haydon landed a second-half penalty for the visitors.

The leading pair are now preparing for away trips this coming Saturday with TJs travelling to an in-form Old Albanian (6th) – who made it five wins in a row after coming from 18-0 down to beat Canterbury (4th) 21-18 in Round 21 – while Barnes go to fifth-placed Westcombe Park.

And speaking of Westcombe Park, they were on the wrong end of a last-minute defeat as bottom two club Colchester (13th) not only exacted their revenge but also boosted their survival hopes with a pulsating 45-41 win.

Back in Round Nine, a late Harry Hudson try snatched a 39-36 victory for Combe over Colchester but it was roles reversed on Saturday as Cameron Kerr dotted down to clinch a first home win of the term for Mike Haywood’s men.

Fellow bottom two side Worthing (14th) were close to joining Colchester in the winners’ lounge but suffered late heartbreak at home to Oxford Harlequins (10th). After seeing a 32-17 lead dissolve in the final quarter, the Raiders regathered themselves to move 35-29 ahead but with three minutes remaining, Zack Taylor’s try and Ross Cooke’s conversion snatched a fourth successive bonus-point win for Pete Davies’ side.

Elsewhere, Dorking (3rd) are now six points off the top (albeit with Tonbridge Juddians having a game in hand) after Finn Osborne’s hat-trick propelled them to a 27-5 win at Sevenoaks (11th), Bury St Edmunds (8th) secured back to back victories for the first time in 2025 as they narrowly beat Havant (12th) 35-32 away from home while Anthony Armstrong’s hat-trick helped Guernsey Raiders (9th) come from behind to defeat Henley Hawks (7th) 45-38 at Footes Lane.

National Two West

Exeter University (11th) took another big step towards booking their place in National Two for next season as they defeated struggling Bournville (13th) 52-27 in the Midlands.

Tyler Bayley, Harrison Hall (2), Finlay Usher and Conor Byrne went over before the break for Exeter, who led 31-10 with Reiss Price and Jonjo Fanning touching down for the hosts.

After the interval, Nathan Decalmer and Billy Benson traded tries before Bournville’s Nick Murphy muscled his way over on two occasions to cut the lead to 11 points with 10 minutes remaining.

However, a weaving finish from Joe Rees-Weldon and a brilliant try from Byrne sealed the victory for Exeter, who are now 12 points clear of the danger zone with five matches left to play.

 

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As for Bournville – who parted ways with head coach Matt Price last week – it is now 12 defeats from their last 13 games and they remain four points off 12th-placed Macclesfield who picked up a try bonus-point in a 54-29 home loss against Hinckley (10th).

After successive home triumphs, bottom club Devonport Services were unable to add to their points total in Round 21 as they were beaten 34-13 away at fifth-placed Redruth, meaning Ben Russell’s side are currently 11 points from safety.

In terms of the title race, it is as you were as leaders Camborne produced a professional eight-try display to see off Old Redcliffians (10th) 40-12 while Clifton (2nd) once again displayed their promotion credentials as a consummate away performance clinched a 26-7 win at Taunton (4th). The gap between the leading duo remains at six points.

Elsewhere, an in-form Loughborough Students (6th) made it four wins from their last five games as they dispatched third-placed Cinderford 60-24 in the Midlands while Hornets (7th) further cemented their position in the top half after beating Luctonians (8th) 36-28 at The Nest.

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