It might be ‘Super Saturday’ in the Six Nations this weekend, but the same label can be applied to Round 22 in National League Rugby as title races and relegation battles intensify. (Photo Credit: Jonathan Knight)

National One

Over the years, a season in National One has more or less gone right down to the wire. Whether it be Caldy and Sale FC’s title tussle of 2021/22, Cambridge’s final day joy in 2023 or the four-way relegation scrap of last term, drama is almost always guaranteed.

So what about this year? Will 2024/25 follow suit?

Well, the narratives are there to suggest the answer is ‘yes’, especially when it comes to the title race.

Round 21 only added to this assumption as the top two of Richmond (1st) and Rotherham Titans (2nd) both failed to win. Richmond had to settle for a share of the spoils following a 35-35 draw with eighth-placed Birmingham Moseley last Friday night while the Titans were the latest side to be downed by an in-form Plymouth Albion, 23-20.

So Richmond’s lead at the top is now five points with five games to go, but Rob Powell’s troops face a serious test of their title credentials in Round 22 when they entertain the aforementioned Plymouth (4th).

Saturday’s meeting at The RAG is one of a cluster of fixtures between the top five sides between now and the end of April and as things stand, Albion find themselves in fourth place and 11 points behind Richmond.

However, scratch a little deeper and this Plymouth side are currently on a 10-match winning streak and have defeated both Rotherham and Rams (5th) in their last two games. Ryan Lamb’s men end the month back at Brickfields when they host Rosslyn Park (3rd) but record another victory in the capital, and the chances of another third-tier title race going right to the wire will only increase.

Richmond – who edged past Plymouth 20-15 back in Round 10 – are, of course, in the box seat and they will want to occupy this position going into the final four games of the campaign.

However, any slip-up may be pounced upon by Rotherham. Harvey Biljon’s side missed the chance to do this last week following their defeat at Plymouth but the Titans will be looking to return to winning ways – and keep the pressure on Richmond – when they host ninth-placed Sedgley Park.

But Rotherham won’t be taking Sedge lightly, who come into this one after successive wins over Blackheath and Rams, respectively. Scott Barrow’s charges – who have lost just twice since December – are certainly in a good moment as are third-placed Rosslyn Park.

Since Christmas, Kieran Power’s men have gone about their business efficiently and head into their Round 22 clash at home against Birmingham Moseley (8th) on the back of eight wins from their last nine matches. They will also be seeking a 10th home win in a row on Saturday which would absolutely keep them in the promotion conversation.

Elsewhere, Rams (5th) will be looking for a morale-boosting victory when Seb Reynolds’ side visit Blackheath (6th), while Sale FC (7th) are back at Heywood Road when they host Dings Crusaders (1oth).

And speaking of Dings, they took a significant step towards booking their place in National One for next season as their 47-35 victory over Esher (12th) kept them 19 points clear of the bottom two.

Esher (12th) themselves will be looking to do something similar this weekend in what boss Peter Winterbottom admitted was their biggest game of the season. The EEEs welcome table rivals Leicester Lions (13th) to Molesey Road knowing a win would leave them in a wonderful spot to avoid an instant relegation back to National Two.

Esher currently sit nine points clear of Leicester Lions but they are winless in four while the Lions come into Round 22 with their tails up after hammering bottom club Darlington Mowden Park 75-0 last week.

If the Lions were victorious, it would be a major boost to their survival bid. As Esher said themselves this week, it is set to be a nail-biter in Surrey on Saturday.

In terms of the wider picture, if Esher were to beat Leicester Lions, then Darlington Mowden Park (14th) would be relegated regardless of the outcome of their meeting with Bishop’s Stortford (11th) in the North-East.

National Two North

After a lengthy look at National One, let’s bring you the headlines and talking points from the fourth tier.

In National Two North, leaders Leeds Tykes will aim to solidify their grip on the title race after moving nine points clear at the summit in Round 21. A 12th win in a row over third-placed Lymm (52-10) – coupled together with promotion rivals Sheffield losing 36-21 at fifth-placed Wharfedale – has left Pete Seabourne and Pete Lucock’s side in the driving seat.

After the heartache of missing out on top spot last term, the Tykes now require 17 points from their last five games to guarantee the championship but their title bid will be tested this weekend at seventh-placed Chester, who have won four of their last five games and have picked up seven victories from their 10 home matches this season.

As for Sheffield (2nd), they continue on the road this week when they visit eighth-placed Hull Ionians, who are targeting a third successive win at Brantingham Park.

At the other end of the standings, bottom two clubs Harrogate (13th) and Billingham (14th) will be eager to build on their successes in Round 21. Harrogate defeated Hull Ionians 35-23 to record consecutive home wins and The Aces are back at The Apollo Captial Stadium on Saturday to face sixth-placed Tynedale. 

In terms of Billingham – who beat 11th-placed Preston Grasshoppers 29-19 last time out –  they sit two points behind Harrogate as they prepare to travel to Lymm (3rd).

Perched two points above the dreaded dotted line are Hull (12th) and after a fourth loss from their last five games against Chester in Round 21, they will be desperate for a positive result when they visit Fylde (4th), who they did actually beat 23-21 back in November.

Elsewhere, Preston Grasshoppers (11th) will be keen for a pick-me-up when they entertain Wharfedale (5th) while Sheffield Tigers (10th) – who like Preston might still be looking over their shoulders slightly – they take on an in-form Otley (9th) at Dore Moor.

National Two East

Over in National Two East, the title race was blown open in Round 21 after second-placed Barnes defeated league leaders Tonbridge Juddians 32-23 away from home.

A seventh successive win for Jack Heald’s troops leaves them one point off TJs, but the table-toppers do have a game in hand to come in two weeks time against ninth-placed Guernsey Raiders.

For now though, Barnes will be looking to keep the heat on when they go to fifth-placed Westcombe Park while Tonbridge Juddians visit Old Albanian (6th). Both trips for the leading duo sound tricky, especially in the case of Old Albanian who have won their last five matches and have lost just once since the middle of December.

Down at the bottom, Colchester (13th) will aim to keep their survival bid alight after last week’s dramatic 45-41 home win over Westcombe Park. Cameron Kerr’s late try clinched a second victory from their last three games for The Blacks, who are back at Raven Park on Saturday to host a Sevenoaks side (11th) who they did beat 28-23 back in Round 10.

As for 14th-placed Worthing, Round 21’s gut-wrenching 36-35 loss to Oxford Harlequins would have stung but Fred Pierrepont’s side need to dust themselves down when they visit Dorking (3rd) as positive results are starting to become a necessity.

Positive results are something 12th-placed Havant may also be craving. Seven straight defeats leaves them 10 points clear of the danger zone so this weekend, the Hooks Lane outfit will want to halt their slide when they go to Henley Hawks (7th) while elsewhere, an in-form Oxford Harlequins (10th) take on Guernsey (9th) and Bury St Edmunds (8th) will be celebrating their centenary fixture against fourth-placed Canterbury.

National Two West

And lastly in National Two West, where there wasn’t much change in the title race in Round 21 as the top two continued their very impressive pace as we race towards April.

Leaders Camborne comfortably dispatched Old Redcliffians (10th) 40-12 to stretch their unbeaten run to 10 matches but their lead at the summit remains at six points as second-placed Clifton didn’t falter again.

The Lavender and Blacks became the first side to beat fourth-placed Taunton Titans away from home this season as they showed their quality both in defence and attack to secure a 26-7 victory in Somerset.

The leading duo are set to face one another in Round 24 on April 5th (with Clifton hosting Camborne) which, at this stage, will either put the promotion battle to bed or keep it alive heading into the final two games of the campaign. However, the immediate focus for the title candidates sees Camborne visit eighth-placed Luctonians in Round 22 while Clifton welcome an in-form Loughborough Students (6th) – who have won four of their last five games – to Station Road.

In terms of the fight to avoid the drop, bottom club Devonport Services will seek more home comforts when they entertain Taunton (4th) at The Rectory Field. Despite losing 34-13 at Redruth last week – which leaves them 11 points behind 12th-placed Macclesfield – Ben Russell’s troops have won their last two games at home and a third win on the bounce would reignite their survival hopes.

Bournville (13th) are in desperate need of an upturn in fortunes because right now, the Chocos look set to fall through the trapdoor. Injuries to key personnel haven’t helped their cause this term, but one win from their last 13 matches leaves them in a very difficult position.

Crucially though, it is not a terminal one and this weekend, they could give themselves a major shot in the arm when they visit 10th-placed Old Redcliffians, who themselves are also after a pick-me-up after losing their last five games.

Occupying that key position above the bottom two at the moment are Macclesfield (12th) who will be eager to put last week’s frustrating and disappointing 54-29 home defeat against Hinckley behind them when they return to Priory Park to face Redruth (5th).

Elsewhere in National Two West, 11th-placed Exeter University will aim to take another step towards safety but that will be easier said than done against a Hinckley outfit who have won five of their last eight games while third-placed Cinderford meet an in-form Hornets (7th) at Dockham Road.

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