Round 10 in National League Rugby offers up some big clashes at the bottom as well as a top-of-the-table contest with plenty more in between. (Photo Credit: Ian Clark)

National One

Despite just one win from their opening nine games, the message from Leicester Lions (13th) head coach Gareth Collins has remained the same.

October’s run of fixtures – which saw the Midlands outfit play four of the current top five sides in the league – ended with a quartet of losses but the Lions boss was keen to highlight the plus points in defeat no matter how big or small.

And even after last week’s 36-29 loss to bottom-of-the-table Darlington Mowden Park, Collins remained upbeat in the face of a frustrating afternoon.

Speaking to the club’s website, he said: “Obviously it’s a disappointing result but from the position we were in at half-time [26-3 down] it definitely feels like two points gained rather than four or five lost. The character we showed second half was really pleasing and we have to take that fight into another massive game next week.”

And that ‘massive game’ sees the Lions welcome Esher (12th) to Westleigh Park on Saturday with Collins’ troops currently three points behind their visitors.

On this week’s National League Rugby Preview Show, Collins admitted Round Nine’s setback against Darlington Mowden Park wouldn’t define his side’s season and he didn’t shy away from the opportunity the Lions have to claim a second victory of the campaign this weekend.

“I am not one of those people who says ‘it is just another game’,” Collins said. “Sometimes it is not and as much as we don’t want to look at the table, it is there. We are aware of it, players are aware of it so we don’t want to shy away from it being a big game. Last week’s game will stand us in good stead for this one and hopefully we will get this one over the line.”

For Collins and Leicester Lions, there will be an eagerness to turn their plus points into results, something which Esher managed to do last time out. Four tries in the final 13 minutes saw them defeat Dings Crusaders (9th) 51-32 and with 10th-placed Bishop’s Stortford to come next week, a win in the Midlands for Peter Winterbottom’s side could see them start to gather some momentum at crucial juncture in the season.

As mentioned, propping up the division are Darlington Mowden Park (14th) but they will head to Bishop’s Stortford (10th) in better spirits following their maiden win of the season while out of the teams currently in the bottom five, Sedgley Park (11th), on paper, face the most challenging fixture in Round 10 when they entertain third-placed Rotherham Titans.

The Titans are nestled in behind the unbeaten top two with second-placed Richmond and league leaders Rams continuing to set the pace. In Round 10, Richmond – who have won eight of their nine matches – have a tricky trip to Plymouth Albion (7th) to negotiate while Rams will be aiming for a 10th successive victory when they host an in-form Blackheath (4th) at Old Bath Road.

Elsewhere, Rosslyn Park (5th) will be targeting a seventh win in a row when they go to Birmingham Moseley (8th) while sixth-placed Sale FC visit Dings Crusaders (9th) for a first-ever league meeting.

National Two North

When Tynedale (12th) touched down at Dore Moor – the home of Sheffield Tigers (13th) – last week, it may have felt like the stakes were high in Yorkshire. After a winless start to the campaign – in which they played the current top six in their first eight games – the North-East outfit would have been keen to stop the rot against a table rival.

And they did exactly that as Charlie Richards’ hat-trick helped them to a crucial 29-24 away victory and they now head into another important fixture against bottom-of-the-table Harrogate with the bit between their teeth.

Given Tyne’s tough start, to come away with back-to-back wins from their first fixtures in November would be huge – especially against two clubs who are now directly below them in the standings – but Harrogate may also sense an opportunity when they head up the A1.

Last time out, Martyn Wood and Dan Scarborough’s boys displayed some excellent character to earn a bonus point from their 25-23 loss at Hull Ionians (7th), a result which leaves them two points behind Tynedale. After being edged out by Sheffield Tigers 34-33 in Round Eight, they’ll be hoping to avoid a repeat of that result as they look to earn a first away victory at this level since October 2022.

Sandwiched in between Tynedale and Harrogate are, of course, Sheffield Tigers (13th) who are back on the road in Round 10 to face an Otley (9th) side who have won their last three home games.

At the summit, league leaders Lymm would have bounced into training this week following their 30-26 top-of-the-table victory over Leeds Tykes (2nd) last time out. The fairytale start continued for Adam Fletcher and Andy Davies’ side and they take their perfect record of nine wins from nine and 45 points from a possible 45 to Billingham (10th) on Saturday.

As for the Tykes, they have more than enough quality to muster up an immediate response, especially at home where they have won their last 18 games. Pete Seabourne’s men entertain Chester (8th) this weekend while elsewhere, Sheffield (3rd) host Hull Ionians (7th) and an in-form Fylde (4th) will be going for seven wins in a row when they visit Hull (11th).

Also in National Two North, fifth meets sixth as Wharfedale take on Preston Grasshoppers.

National Two East

Setting the tempo in National Two East continues to be league leaders Tonbridge Juddians, but that doesn’t mean they have been at their electric best for all nine of their victories this term.

Of course, their free-flowing rugby has dazzled at times and their ability to flick a switch and take the game away from their opposition has been impressive.

But not for the first time this season, Jordan Turner-Hall and Seb Sherwood’s side had to dig extremely deep in Round Nine. Their last-gasp heroics to claim a 38-37 win over Guernsey Raiders (3rd) in Round Five made for a memorable afternoon at The Slade and they were at it again last Saturday as Duncan Tout’s late converted try snatched a 26-25 triumph away at Barnes (4th).

The manner in which TJs recovered from 22-7 down – combined with the late drama they conjured up against Guernsey – could be seen as a sign of possible champions but chairman Darren Grasby isn’t getting ahead of himself.

“You can only say what a fantastic start, nine [wins] from nine,” Grasby told this week’s National League Rugby Preview Show. “If anything, it has focused us a bit more. When you are nine from nine, every Saturday is a cup final because someone wants to take a scalp. That is going to make it incredibly difficult as you go through the season.

“We set our stall out during the summer that we want to be a sustainable mid-National One club. If that happens through the back end of this season and going into next season, so be it but that is what we are building towards. There are lots of games to go still which is why we are staying grounded.”

Having accumulated maximum points so far and beaten four of their fellow top-six sides, those of a Tonbridge Juddians persuasion may be beginning to think about a return to National One for the first time since 2021/22 but internally, it remains business as usual ahead of Round 10’s home clash with Old Albanian (10th).

OAs will arrive at The Slade with the hope of ending a three-match winless run but they will also want to produce a performance for their late Honorary Secretary Peter Lipscomb who sadly passed away this week.

Towards the bottom of National Two East, it feels like an important weekend for both Sevenoaks (12th) and Colchester (14th). The two clubs meet at Knole Paddock with the hosts eyeing back-to-back victories on their own patch while Colchester are still searching for their maiden win of the campaign.

Mikey Haywood’s side were incredibly close to breaking their duck away at seventh-placed Westcombe Park in Round Nine only to have their hearts broken by Harry Hudson late on. Nevertheless, the two bonus points they were able to pick up at Goddington Dene leaves them four points behind Sevenoaks and with another table rival in Worthing (13th) to come next Saturday, it could be a vital couple of weeks for Colchester.

In terms of Worthing, they have the daunting prospect of entertaining second-placed Dorking with the visitors targeting a ninth successive victory.

Also across the division, an injury-hit Guernsey Raiders (3rd) are back at fortress Footes Lane and will be aiming for a sixth straight home win when they take on Oxford Harlequins (11th) while Barnes (4th) face Westcombe Park (7th), Canterbury (6th) host Bury St Edmunds (8th) and fifth-placed Henley – who have won their last four games – visit Havant (9th).

National Two West

Whether Camborne (1st) would care to admit this or not, their strong start to the season is becoming more than just a strong start.

While Steve Larkins’ side continue to surge past teams in a ruthless and eye-catching fashion, the chasing pack are squabbling for position below. In Round Nine, the Cherry and Whites stretched their advantage at the top to 10 points – following a notable 57-19 victory away at Old Redcliffians (7th)  – but that same margin remarkably separates second-placed Luctonians and Redruth (11th).

Camborne have breathing space while others are struggling to find some clear air – and the league leaders could pull further away from the rest of the field over the next month.

The Cornwall outfit face three of their fellow top five sides between now and December 14th. Cinderford (5th) away and Clifton (4th) at home are to come, but they open what could be a season-shaping block of fixtures against Luctonians at the Recreation Ground on Saturday.

It is a clash of the top two and Lucs will head south fully aware of the red-hot form of Camborne. The hosts have scored 34 tries in their last five games but Ryan Wakins’ side do have the best defence in the league. That rearguard action will have to be on the money again if the league leaders are going to be stopped in their tracks.

 

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Luctonians come into this one after arresting a three-match winless run against Hornets (22-19) and will know victory in Round 10 would change the dynamic at the summit of National Two West.

Taunton Titans are currently in possession of third spot and Tony Yapp’s troops entertain bottom-of-the-table Devonport Services on Saturday but the visitors will arrive in Somerset in far better spirits after clinching their first victory of the season last time out.

Ben Russell’s men scored two tries in the final seven minutes to defeat Redruth 27-23 however, the task at Taunton will be a big one.

In-form Clifton (4th) – who beat Taunton in Round Nine – will be eyeing up a fifth straight success when they go to a Loughborough Students (6th) side experiencing contrasting fortunes while Cinderford (5th) take on Hornets (10th) and Old Redcliffians (7th) go up against Bournville (8th).

Elsewhere, Hinckley (12th) will be looking to build on a third consecutive home win (after beating Macclesfield 62-21 in Round Nine) when they go to Exeter University (9th) while it feels like an important game at Redruth (11th). Nigel Hambly’s charges sit just five points above the bottom two and welcome second-from-bottom Macclesfield to the West Country.

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