Despite the cold weather we have experienced over the last few days, the National League Rugby campaign is really starting to heat up. (Photo Credit: Chris Farrow)

National One

Over the next month, the combination of fixtures in National One absolutely falls under the bracket of ‘an early Christmas present.’ From this weekend right up until December 21st, two of the current top four sides will face one another.

After next Saturday’s break, league leaders Rams host second-placed Richmond under the Friday Night lights of Old Bath Road but this fascinating sequence of matches begins this Saturday in South Yorkshire with the table-toppers visiting Rotherham Titans (3rd).

Two seasons ago – when Seb Reynolds’ troops took the title race right down to the wire – they began the term with 11 wins from 11 and the Berkshire outfit will be aiming to do exactly the same this weekend as they head into a crucial phase of the campaign.

Their professional display in Round 10’s 33-14 win over Blackheath was a solid one and having impressively passed every test of their title credentials up to this point, their impending trip to Clifton Lane may be their toughest examination yet.

Upcoming ‘Top 4’ Clashes

23rd Nov: Rotherham vs Rams

6th Dec: Rams vs Richmond

14th Dec: Richmond vs Rotherham & Rosslyn Park vs Rams

21st Dec: Richmond vs Rosslyn Park

The first three months back in National One have been excellent for Rotherham. Eight wins and two defeats leaves them nine points behind Rams and their latest victories against Plymouth Albion (8th) (18-17) and Sedgley Park (12th) (35-30) displayed character and fight to keep them towards the top of the division.

The Titans have also only lost once at home in 19 months (that coming against Bishop’s Stortford back in Round Seven) so this has all the ingredients to be a cracker. A first meeting between the teams since February 2020 and one which is highly anticipated.

And it is a clash which second-placed Richmond will almost certainly be keeping tabs on when they host Sedgley Park (12th). Rob Powell’s troops will, of course, be aiming to stretch their 10-match unbeaten run but if the cards fall their way, they could be the new league leaders heading into December.

Meanwhile, fourth-placed Rosslyn Park – who will have a major say in the dynamic of the title race over the next few weeks – will be aiming to return to winning ways when they entertain Plymouth Albion (8th).

Blackheath (5th) will be targeting a fifth successive home win when they welcome Dings Crusaders (9th) to The Utilita while Esher (11th) will be hoping to maintain their upward trajectory by securing a third consecutive victory when they take on Bishop’s Stortford (10th).

Sale FC (7th) are back at Heywood Road to take on Leicester Lions (13th) while Birmingham Moseley’s (6th) visit to bottom-of-the-table Darlington Mowden Park has been postponed due to the cold weather.

National Two North

Rewind the clock back to the beginning of April and Leeds Tykes (2nd) were leading the way in a gripping title race.

After suffering a defeat following a titanic tussle with rivals Rotherham Titans, Pete Seabourne’s men entered the final month of the season with a two-point lead at the summit. However, on paper, when comparing the Tykes’ run-in to that of the Titans, it did seem trickier – and so it proved.

In any other campaign, Leeds would have been more than deserving winners of National Two North but an 18-15 defeat away Fylde (4th) in Round 25 proved to be a decisive factor in the title heading to South Yorkshire rather than to the west of the county.

“It was a huge game for Leeds, wasn’t it?” Fylde joint-head coach Alex Loney told this week’s National League Rugby Preview Show. “From our side, we just wanted to play well against a good side. We felt that there was good performances in us and I think something which has been a part of the culture at Fylde is really wanting to perform well against top teams in the league and we managed to get that win.”

Replicating that result and outcome will be on the mind of Loney and Fylde this Saturday when the teams meet again at Woodlands. The Lancashire club had been ticking along more than nicely heading into Round 10 after six consecutive wins but their run was halted by Hull (10th) last time out.

A 23-21 defeat means they will be eager to return to winning ways but after losing to title rivals Lymm (1st) in Round Nine, the Tykes grabbed their very own opportunity to bounce back with both hands as they hammered Chester (8th) 75-31.

Last season’s result at Woodlands was arguably the highest water-mark for Fylde and a repeat performance would be right up there again heading into December.

Table toppers Lymm currently hold a four-point advantage over Leeds Tykes and Adam Fletcher and Andy Davies’ men have the opportunity to make it 11 successive wins when they host fifth-placed Wharfedale on Saturday. Last year, the North-West club ended the campaign with 55 points to their name and they can match that tally with another bonus-point triumph but that won’t be a straightforward task.

Sheffield (3rd) are more than in the title conversation with nine wins from 10 games and Anthony Posa’s troops go to sixth-placed Preston Grasshoppers with all of the top six playing one another in Round 11.

Down at the bottom, Harrogate (14th) will be aiming to build on last week’s 33-33 draw with table rivals Tynedale when they take on Otley (9th) who were also involved in a stalemate in Round 10. A 24-24 draw with 13th-placed Sheffield Tigers meant the visitors departed Cross Green with a commendable result, something they will look to take into their clash with Hull (10th) this week.

Also across the division, Hull Ionians (7th) entertain the aforementioned Tynedale (12th) while Chester (8th) welcome Billingham (11th) to Hare Lane.

National Two East

At one stage in Round 10, it looked like it was going to go the same way.

Three penalties from Sevenoaks (12th) full-back Ben Adams – either side of a Corey Button try – had pushed the Kent outfit into a 23-21 lead against Colchester (13th).

The visitors had suffered heartbreak in Round Nine away at Westcombe Park (8th) as they saw their first victory of the campaign snatched away from them and with nine minutes to go at Knole Paddock, The Blacks were heading towards a 10th successive defeat.

“It has been a tough start to the season and every single week, the lads have been showing up, putting in the effort and we haven’t got the results we wanted,” said interim head coach Mike Haywood on the National League Rugby Preview Show.

But last Saturday, the outcome was different for Colchester.

A well-executed move ended with fly-half Gabe Jones diving over the line to clinch a 28-23 victory and a first-ever success for the Essex club in National League Rugby.

“It [the win] was great for everyone,” Colchester chairman Karl O’Brien added. “It was great for the boys who have worked really, really hard. We were so close the week before but to get over the line and get the monkey off our back was great and credit to all the boys and Mike.

“We knew it was going to be a big step up and make no mistake, it has been a step up in all respects but we have the right mentality and the right people in place.”

For now, Haywood, who began his playing career with Colchester before climbing the rugby ladder to Northampton Saints, remains in charge and he has a wonderful opportunity to conclude what has been a very positive November when his side welcome bottom-of-the-table Worthing to Raven Park on Saturday.

As it stands, Colchester are one place and two points clear of Fred Pierrepont’s troops but Worthing aren’t exactly rooted to the foot of the table.

Only Bury St Edmunds outside of the top four have picked up more bonus points than the Raiders, and that character to continue to dig deep, even if they have lost all 10 of their matches so far, will be hugely encouraging for Worthing when they make the trek east.

After next weekend’s break in play, Worthing also face table rivals Sevenoaks so victory over Colchester could be the catalyst they need but the hosts will certainly have a spring in their step after changing their fortunes in Round 10.

In terms of Sevenoaks, who sit just above the bottom two, Adam Bowman’s men travel to Westcombe Park (8th) eager to bounce back while it is 11th vs 10th with Oxford Harlequins hosting Havant as two of the newly promoted teams look to build on pretty solid starts at the Horspath Sports Ground.

In Round 10, Havant were on the wrong end of a stunning 36-28 fightback against an in-form Henley Hawks (5th). Three tries in the final four minutes – including a brace from winger Lailand Gordon – saw Luke Allen’s side earn a fifth straight victory in dramatic circumstances.

The Hawks will now be looking to add to their winning streak when they entertain sixth-placed Canterbury while league leaders Tonbridge Juddians, who will be going for an 11th consecutive success when they visit seventh-placed Bury St Edmunds. Elsewhere, Barnes (4th) take on Old Albanian (9th) and Dorking’s (2nd) meeting with Guernsey (3rd) has been postponed due to flight cancellations.

National Two West

The results and performances of Hinckley (12th) suggest their current position in the table belies what Chris Campbell’s charges are capable of. Internally at Leicester Road, they are keen to climb the standings week by week and their recent flurry of form has lit the fuse on their campaign.

After the opening month of the season, the Midlands outfit had just two points to their name but four wins from their last six matches has catapulted their term into life. Three of those aforementioned victories have come at home and it has lifted Hinckley six points clear of the bottom two ahead of the visit of Redruth (9th) on Saturday.

After falling to a disappointing result in Round Nine against bottom-of-the-table Devonport Services, The Reds produced the ideal response last time out as they came from behind to beat 13th-placed Macclesfield 34-19 at Recreation Ground.

Nigel Hambly’s side put a bit of clear daylight between themselves and the relegation battle, and a first victory at Hinckley in three games would keep them moving in the right direction. That is easier said than done though, with the hosts eyeing up a fourth consecutive win on their own patch.

Below Hinckley are Macclesfield (13th) and Devonport Services (14th). Macc’s meeting with Taunton (2nd) has unfortunately been postponed while Devonport Services, who, as we’ve mentioned, beat Redruth in their last fixture at The Rectory Field. On Saturday, they host seventh-placed Loughborough Students who will be itching for a first win since the end of September.

In fact, the last success for the Students came against league leaders Camborne and the Cherry and Whites haven’t looked back since then.

This weekend, Steve Larkins’ table-toppers head into another difficult fixture against Cinderford (4th) aiming for a seventh victory in a row as they look to maintain – or even extend – their 10-point cushion at the top.

Clifton (3rd) are one of their challengers and the Lavender and Blacks will be targeting a sixth successive triumph when they host Hornets (8th) in Round 11 while elsewhere, Old Redcliffians (6th) take on Exeter University (10th) and Luctonians (5th) face Bournville (11th).

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