Interesting narratives, evolving subplots and some already sizeable fixtures await us across National One and National Two. (Photo Credit: Jonathan Knight)

National One

When Rams RFC (1st) boss Seb Reynolds said his side were under no illusions about the strength of Bishop’s Stortford (10th) last week, he was proven right. The early league leaders arrived in Hertfordshire with five wins from five and maximum points to their name but the hosts made life extremely difficult for Reynolds’ troops.

In the end, Rams departed Silver Leys with a 10-6 victory and whilst their perfect record is no more, they have still won all six of their matches and they even increased their advantage at the summit.

But perhaps their title ambitions and aspirations will be examined further this weekend when Birmingham Moseley (4th) arrive at Old Bath Road. The Midlands outfit sit five points behind Rams and have won all but one of their games this term. Adam Balding’s side displayed immense resolve in Round Six as they came back from 23-7 down at home to 11th-placed Sedgley Park – and survived a red card – to clinch a 28-26 victory.

In this corresponding fixture last term, it was actually Moseley who raced out of the blocks to hold a 22-7 lead after just 25 minutes before Rams roared back to eventually prevail 50-36 in a proper ding-dong battle.

Not to pour cold water on Round Seven’s fixture but we may not see a similar, high-scoring affair this time around. Rams and Moseley currently have the top two defensive records in the division but what is guaranteed is another intense clash between two of the early frontrunners.

Sandwiched in between Rams and Birmingham Moseley in the table are Richmond (2nd) and Rotherham Titans (3rd). Richmond – who rescued a 31-31 draw at Dings Crusaders last week to maintain their unbeaten start – host Leicester Lions (12th) while the Titans welcome Bishop’s Stortford (10th) to Clifton Lane.

Elsewhere, an in-form Plymouth Albion (5th) go to a Sedgley Park (11th) side who are still aiming for their first win since the opening day while Rosslyn Park (6th) – who have won their last three matches – take on Dings Crusaders (9th), Blackheath (7th) face Esher (13th) and bottom of the table Darlington Mowden Park will be looking to get off the mark at home to Sale FC (8th).

National Two North

Maybe Sheffield’s (3rd) head coach Anthony Posa best summed it up on this week’s National League Rugby Preview Show.

“It is going to be one humdinger of a game.”

Of course, he is referring to an early season clash between Sheffield and Leeds Tykes (1st) with both clubs still unbeaten and six wins from six in National Two North. Last term, the two clubs finished second and third behind Rotherham Titans but Sheffield’s bronze medal position was certainly one of the stories of the season.

After finishing in 10th spot in 2022/23, Posa’s side surged up the standings and have continued their upward trajectory at the beginning of this campaign. Part of achieving their highest-ever finish in National Two North was their excellent home record and they actually welcome Leeds to Abbeydale Park having not lost on their patch for over a year.

Rotherham were the last team to defeat Sheffield in their own backyard but the Tykes have all the capabilities to end that 13-match unbeaten streak on Saturday. Pete Seabourne’s table-toppers have collected maximum points (Sheffield have dropped just a single point – away at Sheffield Tigers in Round Two) and produced a very professional display to see off Wharfedale 33-12 last Friday night.

Before the start of this term, both Leeds Tykes and Sheffield were perhaps two of the favourites for the title given what both achieved last season and whilst nothing will be decided on Saturday in South Yorkshire, victory for either side would be a massive feather in the cap.

Second-placed Lymm will be interested observers but after Round Six’s last-gasp 37-32 win away at Tynedale, Adam Fletcher and Andy Davies’ men will be, first and foremost, concentrating on their own task at home against Otley (7th).

An in-form Fylde (4th) return to Woodlands to face Harrogate (12th) – who opened their account last week with a 22-16 win against Chester – while Wharfedale (5th) will be looking to arrest their mini dip in form when they take on sixth-placed Billingham.

Also across the division, Preston Grasshoppers (8th) host an improving Hull (10th) while Sheffield Tigers (14th) and Tynedale (13th) seek their first wins of the season at Hull Ionians (9th) and Chester (11th) respectively.

National Two East

It was certainly a summer of change for National Two East’s Bury St Edmunds (8th). In fact, it could be described as a rollercoaster 12 months for the Wolfpack.

It was around this time last year when Jacob Ford’s side embarked on a 10-match unbeaten run which would see them enter 2024 in third place and in the promotion picture. But Bury dramatically tailed off, losing nine of their last 11 games and finished in sixth spot.

Despite such a deflating second half of the campaign, there would have been positives to take from the entire 2023/24 term into pre-season but Bury would do that with almost a brand new squad of players.

Following 10 departures from the GK IPA Haberden, it was reported that 23 new players arrived in Suffolk – including five as part of a new partnership with Championship club Doncaster Knights.

That amount of upheaval would be a challenge for any coach and Ford is realistic about where Bury are after three wins and three defeats to begin this season.

Speaking on this week’s National League Rugby Preview Show, Ford said: “We are under no illusions. We have got a lot of development to go. We have got a new group of players coming together and that’s going to take time.

“I think it was natural in terms of the turnover of players. Those players committed to the club for three years and we wish them all the best. It is definitely a unique challenge and one that I have never had before at Bury St Edmunds but I feel like the potential of this group is massive which is brilliant.”

Ford’s optimism may stem from an upturn in form for Bury in recent weeks. Heading into this Saturday’s meeting with Worthing (12th), the Wolfpack have won three of their last four games and they will be hoping that continues as they settle into their new era.

Worthing will head to Suffolk targeting their first victory of the campaign and the trio of Colchester (14th), Sevenoaks (13th) and Oxford Harlequins (11th) will be of similar mindset heading into Round Seven.

But for Oxford Harlequins and Colchester, it is likely that only one of them will be able to open their account as the newly promoted pair meet at the Horspath Sports Ground while Sevenoaks go to ninth-placed Henley.

At the top, league leaders Tonbridge Juddians are gunning for their seventh straight win. Jordan Turner Hall and Seb Sherwood’s men haven’t put a foot wrong this term and they will take their 100 per record into Saturday’s Kent derby against Canterbury (4th). Elsewhere, Guernsey Raiders (2nd) – fresh from their dramatic win over Barnes last time out – face Old Albanian (6th), an in-form Dorking (3rd) go in search of a sixth consecutive success at Westcombe Park (7th) and Barnes (5th) go to Havant (10th).

National Two West

Luctonians (2nd) have never been one to redefine their expectations in National Two West. Externally, Ryan Watkins’ side are seemingly focused on improving season upon season and you get the sense that that message is exactly the same within the walls of Mortimer Park.

But because of the way the Herefordshire outfit have gone about their business over the last 12 months, it is hard not to chuck them into the bracket of ‘title candidates’. For so long last term, they set the pace before a blip in form allowed Dings Crusaders to swoop in and claim a historic promotion to National One.

And the manner in which Luctonians have begun this season suggests they will be in the mix again, but they head into Round Seven looking to bounce back. Lucs saw their 100 per cent record come to an end at Redruth (8th) last time out, with the home side recording a 38-29 victory after a brilliant contest down in Cornwall.

Luctonians are back at home but welcome a Taunton Titans (5th) side with momentum behind them. After relegation from National One last season, it was a mixed start to life back at level four but three successive victories have lit the fuse on their campaign.

Tony Yapp’s side are ambitious and will want to try to get back to the third tier – where they spent three seasons – but for all the talk surrounding the excellent acquisition of former Premiership star Ollie Devoto, it is the new kid on the block who is exciting Taunton supporters.

Eighteen-year-old winger Rocky Prowse is certainly an emerging talent at Veritas Park, highlighted by the five tries he scored in last week’s huge 62-29 victory over Old Redcliffians, so Luctonians – who statistically have the best defence in the league – will be out to shut him down.

Elsewhere, third-placed Loughborough Students will be looking to respond to back-to-back defeats when they take on the aforementioned Old Redcliffians (6th) but that is easier said than done with the hosts having not lost at Scotland Lane for over a year.

Current league leaders Camborne – who moved to the summit last week following a 41-19 win over Hinckley – visit a Bournville (7th) side who have won their last eight games at home while an in-form Cinderford (4th) take on Redruth (8th).

Meanwhile, Exeter University (9th) go up against Hornets (11th), Clifton (10th) – who ended a three-match winless run in Round Six – host Macclesfield (12th) and it is a battle of the bottom two as Hinckley (13th) welcome Devonport Services (14th) to Leicester Road.

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