The final month of another superb National League Rugby season is upon us, with plenty to be decided over the coming weeks. (Photo Credit: Daniel Rule Photography)

National One

There will be no grand statements and no tempting fate internally but as we begin April, National One table-toppers Richmond are closing in on promotion back to the second tier.

Round 23 saw Rob Powell’s troops extend their unbeaten run to seven matches following a 50-26 triumph away at 10th-placed Sedgley Park but more importantly, they were able to stretch their advantage at the summit.

A 30-19 away defeat for second-placed Rotherham against a rejuvenated Rams (4th) leaves the Yorkshire outfit trailing Richmond by 10 points with 15 points left on the table.

Two defeats from their last three games hasn’t dumped the Titans out of the title race just yet and whilst it would be a bold claim to declare that Richmond are one game away from greatness, they could in fact be 80 minutes away from a return to the Championship.

If they better the results of Rotherham in Round 24 – who are away to fifth-placed Blackheath – as well as Rosslyn Park (3rd) who host Sedgley Park (10th), Richmond would return to ‘Tier 2’ after two seasons at Level 3.

 

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‘Sticking to the process’ has been the message from Powell this week, but if his side do collect a full five points against Rams (4th) under the Friday night lights of The RAG, then surely they will have one hand on the National One trophy.

Of course, as witnessed against Rotherham two weeks ago, Rams are a team who are more than capable of upsetting the applecart and with zero pressure on the visitors, Seb Reynolds’ men will be out to disrupt Richmond’s promotion bid.

If they can do that, Rotherham (2nd) will feel they are back in the hunt ahead of their aforementioned meeting with Blackheath while third-placed Rosslyn Park will still mathematically be in with a shot of the title despite not being able to gain promotion this year.

As for the relegation scrap, Leicester Lions (13th) are continuing to edge closer to 12th-placed Esher. In Round 23, Gareth Collins’ side dug deep to record two bonus points in a 37-31 defeat to Sale FC (7th) which leaves them three points behind the EEEs who sit in the final safety spot.

Esher collected a try bonus from their 52-28 loss at Bishop’s Stortford (9th) but now Peter Winterbottom’s side will be desperate to arrest a run of six straight defeats when they host Birmingham Moseley (8th) on Saturday. The Surrey outfit did beat Moseley 31-24 at the beginning of February so a repeat outcome would be priceless for Esher while Leicester Lions will also be aiming to do the double away at Dings Crusaders (11th) after beating the Bristol club 22-15 back in Round 12.

Elsewhere, sixth-placed Plymouth Albion will be eyeing up a return to winning ways when they take the long trip to already relegated Darlington Mowden Park while Sale FC (7th) host Bishop’s Stortford (9th).

National Two North

On this week’s National League Rugby Preview Show, Harrogate (13th) head coach Dan Scarbrough came across as calmness personified amidst a ferocious battle to avoid the drop in National Two North.

His ‘Gate side are currently second from bottom and one point away from leaping out of the danger zone, but three victories from their last five matches – including a 24-17 derby day success away at 10th-placed Otley – may also explain Scarbrough’s composure.

However, the former England international didn’t shy away from the size of their Round 24 clash as they welcome relegation rivals Hull (14th) to The Apollo Capital Stadium. Hull sit five points behind Harrogate and while their hosts have found form at just the right time, Mike Umaga’s men are experiencing the opposite.

Hull have suffered four defeats in a row and they have failed to pick up any league points during this run, meaning their trip to North Yorkshire is simply a must-win if they are to reignite their survival hopes.

Hovering preciously above the bottom two are Preston Grasshoppers (12th) who will have to fully focus on their visit to Hull Ionians (8th). Dan Orwin’s troops have lost their last five games and have been sucked into this relegation scrap because sides like Harrogate, as well as 11th-placed Billingham, have put a sequence of results together.

Three straight victories for Billingham leaves them one point above the danger zone as they prepare for a trip to fourth-placed Fylde while at the summit of the division, Leeds Tykes (1st) look to be closing in on promotion to National One.

Pete Seaboune and Pete Lucock’s charges are on the road at Sheffield Tigers (9th) this weekend and hold a nine-point lead over nearest challengers Sheffield (2nd) who visit third-placed Lymm. Now, there is a scenario where Leeds could be crowned champions on Saturday if they win at Dore Moor and Sheffield draw or lose in Cheshire but the latter won’t be giving up the fight that easily.

Elsewhere, an in-form Wharfedale (5th) go to Chester (7th) and Otley (10th) are on their travels at Tynedale (6th).

National Two East

On the sun-kissed island of Guernsey, Tonbridge Juddians (1st) put themselves firmly in the box seat for a return to National One.

Following a comeback 41-34 victory full of character against Bury St Edmunds (9th) in Round 23, the table-toppers took full advantage of their game in hand at Footes Lane to move eight points clear at the summit.

Cast your mind back to three weeks ago when TJs had lost their last two matches and were coming under a bit of pressure from usual suspects Dorking and Barnes, but now their destiny is very much in their own hands following their 41-29 success at Guernsey.

Next up, they visit seventh-placed Henley Hawks and while the men from Dry Leas have won their last three home games – and have defeated the likes of Dorking (2nd), Canterbury (4th) and Old Albanian (5th) this term  – whether Luke Allen’s side can halt TJs’ march to the title remains to be seen. There is also an equation where Tonbridge Juddians can win the league in Round 24 if they secure a bonus-point win in Oxfordshire and Dorking (2nd) fail to win at home against Havant.

Given the current form of Dorking – who have won four in a row – it seems unlikely that we’ll see a coronation this weekend but Havant (12th) themselves have got plenty to play for with safety now within touching distance.

Rob Matthews and Will Knight’s troops picked up a vital 25-19 success over Oxford Harlequins (10th) last time out meaning they need just three league points from their final three matches to book their spot in National Two for 2025/26.

And their safety could be confirmed this weekend if bottom two sides Colchester (13th) and Worthing (14th) both lose on Saturday. Colchester sit 12 points behind Havant ahead of their home tie against Guernsey (8th) – who they did actually beat 38-36 in the reverse fixture just six weeks ago – while Worthing travel to 11th-placed Sevenoaks knowing anything other than a victory would seal their fate.

Also across National Two East, Barnes (3rd) will be aiming to keep their fading title hopes alive when they visit Bury St Edmunds (9th), while Canterbury (4th) go to an already safe Oxford Harlequins (10th) and the in-form side in the division – Old Albanian (5th) – target an eighth successive win at sixth-placed Westcombe Park.

National Two West

Over in National Two West, Camborne and Clifton are locked in a thrilling race for promotion as the pair prepare for a mouth-watering ‘title showdown’ this weekend. One point separates second-placed Clifton and league leaders Camborne after both secured bonus-point victories in Round 23.

Camborne returned to winning ways with an efficient 26-14 victory over fourth-placed Cinderford while two tries in the final eight minutes saw Clifton defeat sixth-placed Hornets 36-24 away from home. It means we are now set for a mammoth clash at Station Road on Saturday.

Hosts Clifton have won their last six games and have lost just one of their last 18 matches in their own backyard, but Camborne are in pole position and did beat the Lavender and Blacks 31-24 in the reverse fixture just two months ago. A win for ‘Town’ would see them take a significant step towards a first-ever promotion to National One while victory for Clifton would move them to the top of the pile and leave them in the driving seat for a possible return to the third tier for the first time in 28 years.

Down at the other end, time is nearly up for bottom two sides Devonport Services (14th) and Bournville (13th). The latter must gain a minimum of one point from their trip to Cinderford (4th) to avoid the drop this weekend while Devonport are resigned to relegation. Ben Russell’s troops must record a bonus-point victory at home against Hornets (6th) if they are to live to fight another day.

By contrast, Macclesfield (12th) and Exeter University (11th) are on the cusp of safety. If Devonport and Bournville fail to hit their objectives, the duo will book their place in National Two for next season but in the case of Macc, they will be safe if they can collect a bonus-point win at home against an in-form Loughborough Students (5th).

As for Exeter, two league points or more for them away at Luctonians (7th) would rubber-stamp another season in National League Rugby.

Elsewhere, the race for a top-four finish is on with Taunton (3rd) looking to nail down the bronze medal position when they travel to Redruth (8th) while Hinckley (9th) – who sit just six points behind fourth-placed Cinderford – take on an Old Redcliffians (10th) side targeting a third win on the spin.

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