National League Rugby will pause for the festivities with things beautifully posied across all four divisions after Round 14 served up some Christmas thrills and spills. (Photo Credit: Rowena Burridge)

National One

National One continues to be the gift that keeps on giving after Round 14 produced the latest twist at the top of the third tier.

League leaders Richmond saw their 13-match unbeaten run come to an end as they fell to a 25-17 home defeat against near neighbours Rosslyn Park (4th).

Round 13’s Player of the Week Harry Ledger powered over for an early try but three points from the boot of Callum Grieve – plus a penalty try – put Richmond 10-7 ahead.

Josh Bragman tied up proceedings with a penalty for Park before Joe Luca Smith’s try gave the visitors a 15-10 lead.


James Cordy-Redden’s superbly taken second-half try and a further penalty from Bragman put Kieran Power’s troops in control and despite Richmond’s Lucas Schmid scoring just after the hour, Park stood firm in defence to clinch the Christmas derby day bragging rights.

Back-to-back wins over Richmond and second-placed Rams is a very pleasing way to round off the year for Park, but the bigger picture is the impact this result has on the title race. Richmond’s failure to collect points in Round 14 means their advantage at the summit has been slashed to a single point after the aforementioned Rams secured a 31-3 success over Esher (13th) on Friday night.

After three successive losses against their table rivals, this was a welcome victory for Seb Reynolds’ side while third-placed Rotherham Titans are now just four points off the top after their battling 29-14 win over bottom-of-the-table Darlington Mowden Park. A late try from scrum-half JB Bruzulier clinched the bonus point for Harvey Biljon’s charges meaning the fight for pole position is finely poised heading into 2025.

Sedgley Park (11th) were the big winners in the bottom half of the division after clinching a 14-12 win over Sale FC (10th) in the Manchester derby. A gift of a try for Rhys Henderson just before the break and 11 points from the boot of Warren Seals ensured Scott Barrow’s side completed December unbeaten, and they are now seven points clear of the three sides below them in the standings.

Over 1,000 people were in attendance to witness back-to-back home wins for Sedge while 1,211 packed into Old Bath Road to watch Rams vs Esher on Friday Night. Plymouth Albion (6th) also exceeded 1,100 for their 31-3 triumph over Dings Crusaders (9th).

National Two North

There was a bit of swapping and changing at the top of National Two North in Round 14 with Leeds Tykes now the new leaders after their bonus-point 33-10 victory over Otley (9th) on Friday night at Headingley.

Winger Eliah Chitiyo scored the Tykes’ first try before Charlie Venables grabbed a second inside the first quarter.

Otley responded to leave the game at 12-10 with lock Chris Jackson going over, but the hosts asserted their control on this contest through their powerful pack. The second half saw a brace from hooker Adam Brown and a score for prop Toby Williams as Pete Seabourne’s side collected all five points.

Lymm remain level on points with Leeds but are up to second place after another late flurry of tries helped them to a 52-26 triumph over Chester (8th). For the second week running, the game was in the balance for Lymm heading into the final 10 minutes but scores from Rob Makin, Matt Hand and Ralph McEachran helped the hosts to the bonus-point victory.

Both Leeds and Lymm have nudged past Sheffield (3rd) who battled to a 17-12 derby day victory at Abbeydale Park over a constantly improving Sheffield Tigers (12th). Tries from Ryan Burrows and Archie Crapper helped Anthony Posa’s side to a 13th win of the campaign as the margins remain tight towards the top of the division.

Elsewhere, there was late drama at Wharfedale (5th) and at bottom of the table Billingham. Dale snatched an 18-15 victory over Harrogate (13th) thanks to a last-minute Rian Hamilton penalty while Billingham were inches away from ending their run of six straight defeats.

In a nip and tuck contest against in-form rivals Tynedale (6th), fly-half Peter Evans saw his 77th-minute drop goal attempt clatter the crossbar as Tyne held on to edge the North-East derby 26-25.

Meanwhile, as expected, there was a crowd of over 1,000 in attendance at Lightfoot Green as Fylde (4th) extended their unbeaten run against Lancashire rivals Preston Grasshoppers (11th) to nine games following a 38-12 success while Hull (10th) moved seven points clear of the relegation places after clinging on to a 37-36 victory away at old foes Hull Ionians (7th).

National Two East

Over the last two-and-a-half seasons in National Two East, Dorking (2nd) and Barnes (3rd) have delivered some fascinating contests but the latest chapter in this rivalry was perhaps the most remarkable to date.

A 14-7 victory for Dorking made it five wins from the last six meetings between the pair but it was an afternoon that saw six yellow cards and a red shown to Barnes.

Jack Heald’s side played most of the first half with 13 men – and did lead 7-0 up until the 55th minute – before ending the game with 11 players following the sending off of Josef Murphy and yellow cards brandished to Oliver Walker, Josh Archer and Jacques Birch.


From a Dorking perspective, they will be delighted to return to winning ways at the first time of asking thanks to a score from Daragh Chambers and, unsurprisingly, a penalty try.

Elsewhere in National Two East, league leaders Tonbridge Juddians further solidified their place at the summit after a 22-0 success over Colchester (13th) and there were also excellent home victories for Bury St Edmunds (6th) and Westcombe Park (7th). A strong second-half showing from Bury helped them to a 41-17 triumph over Henley Hawks (8th) while Westcombe Park made it a full house of wins for December as they edged past Guernsey Raiders (5th) 14-8 at Goddington Dene.

There was also a four-figure crowd at Hooks Lane as hosts Havant (9th) claimed a 22-19 success over bottom-of-the-table Worthing. Following promotion back into the National Leagues for the first time in 15 years, Rob Matthews and Will Knight’s side will be pretty satisfied with their first half of the season after accumulating six victories from their 14 matches.

National Two West

League leaders Camborne beat near neighbours Redruth (7th) 24-14 in an absorbing local derby to ensure they remained on top of National Two West.

The visitors – who came into this Cornwall clash unbeaten in four matches – led 7-0 at the break after Matthew Blewett had crossed on 34 minutes.

But Camborne replied in the second half as Kyle Moyle converted his own try and landed a penalty to hand the Cherry and Whites the lead before two scores in the final 10 minutes from Jack Andrew and Alex Ducker took the game away from Redruth.

As expected, the away side continued to battle – with Ed Pascoe going over late on – but it was Camborne who sealed the win in front of nearly 3,000 at The Recreation Ground.

Despite being unable to collect a bonus point, Steve Larkins’ troops are now five points clear at the top – with a game in hand – after table rivals Taunton Titans (4th) were the latest side to come unstuck away at Hornets (6th).

 

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Jack Gadd’s men extended their unbeaten run at The Nest to six games after recording a 29-19 victory, and it is a result which has moved them into the top six alongside the likes of in-form pair Cinderford (2nd) and Clifton (3rd).

The duo leapfrogged Taunton in the standings after stretching their own unbeaten streaks in Round 14. Cinderford have now not lost in six games after an excellent 22-20 success away at fifth-placed Luctonians while Cliton have won their last eight matches after clinching a 26-15 away win against Old Redcliffians (8th) in the Bristol derby.

Down towards the bottom, it is as equally as interesting as the trio of Hinckley (10th), Exeter University (11th) and Macclesfield (13th) all picked up valuable victories heading into the Christmas break.

Hinckley secured a solid six-try 46-14 win over Loughborough Students (9th) while Exeter dominated bottom-of-the-table Devonport Services to record a 45-0 success. As for Macclesfield, they claimed their first away triumph of the term as the excellent Harry Oliver guided his side to a 24-13 win over a struggling Bournville (12th) who are now just a single point above the relegation places.

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