The tension of title races and relegation battles will be on full display across National One and National Two in Round 23. (Photo Credit: David Winn)

National One

One of the things about the third tier of English rugby is it always keeps you guessing, and 2024/25 is no different.

We could easily have hit ‘Ctrl + V’ on last week’s preview and pasted it into here as Round 22, once again, gave off ‘right to the wire’ vibes both in terms of the title race and relegation scrap.

Starting with the battle for top spot, where last week, there was a simmering fervour around Richmond’s (1st) meeting with Plymouth Albion (4th) given the fact Rob Powell’s troops were the table-toppers while Albion arrived in the capital on a 10-match winning run.

But the league leaders delivered a whopping statement of intent as they blew Plymouth away with a 54-0 victory. A six-match unbeaten run for Richmond keeps them in pole position for the title but those ‘right to the wire’ vibes which I mentioned before were enhanced by Rotherham Titans (2nd), who kept the pressure on with a 39-28 victory over Sedgley Park (10th).

Harvey Biljon’s side remain five points behind Richmond and talk of a possible ‘title decider’ has started to creep in, with Rotherham hosting the table-toppers at Clifton Lane on April 12th.

But the leading pair will know that looking too far ahead could be costly – a view echoed by Biljon last week – as both prepare for tricky challenges in Round 23.

In his post-match interview with Sedgley Park (10th) media man Vinny Morley, Biljon jokily wished The Tigers “the best of luck” as the North-West outfit host Richmond this weekend.

While nine positions and 43 points separate the two teams, Richmond will be wary of a Sedge side who have performed more than admirably against four of the current top six over the last few weeks. Included in this run of fixtures has been an away win at Blackheath and a home triumph over Rams so the hosts do have the ability to give the leaders one or two headaches on Saturday, but Richmond will be determined to enter the final month of the season in top spot.

As for Rotherham, they also face a test on the road at fifth-placed Rams. While Seb Reynolds’ side slipped to a sixth straight defeat against Blackheath (39-33) last time out, the Rams boss saw positives in their performance. Despite the difficulties the Berkshire club have been experiencing, they are more than capable of delivering a display to dent the Titans’ title bid.

The Yorkshire visitors to Old Bath Road did beat Rams 21-14 back in November and a similar outcome here would be a significant hurdle negotiated for Biljon’s boys.

Let’s not rule out Rosslyn Park (3rd) from any title chatter, either. Kieran Power’s men have won nine of their last 10 games and sit 10 points off the top ahead of their trip to fourth-placed Plymouth Albion. Including Round 23, Park have to play three of their fellow top-five sides before the end of the season meaning they could still have a say.

Down to the relegation fight where Leicester Lions (13th) gave their survival chances a major shot in the arm in Round 22.

They beat 12th-placed Esher 26-15 away from home to move to within four points of their table rivals whilst also denying the EEEs and points at all. With back-to-back wins behind them, the Lions will have their tails up when they welcome Sale FC (7th) to Westleigh Park on Saturday, a team they beat 15-12 away from home back in Round 11.

As for Esher, their trip to ninth-placed Bishop’s Stortford feels massive. Five straight defeats – combined with Leicester Lions’ resurgence – has sucked the Surrey club into this battle to avoid the drop so a positive outcome in Hertfordshire could be crucial.

For bottom club Darlington Mowden (14th), they had their relegation confirmed last week following a 41-12 home loss to Bishop’s Stortford. After 10 seasons in the third tier, the North-East outfit will be a National Two club next year and they announced on Friday that coaching duo Garry Law and Joe Cain will step down from their roles at the end of this campaign.

John Newton and Danny Brown will return to the coaching set-up for next term as DMP look to rebuild in the fourth tier but they will be keen to end a disappointing season in a positive fashion, starting with a trip to Birmingham Moseley (8th) this weekend. Elsewhere, Blackheath (6th) are on their travels at Dings Crusaders (11th).

National Two North

After being on a video call with Hull (13th) boss Mike Umaga for this week’s National League Rugby Preview Show, you immediately sense that the battle to avoid the drop has intensified.

Last week, the Yorkshire outfit dropped into the danger zone following a fifth defeat from their last six games (losing 35-13 at fourth-placed Fylde) and heading into Round 23, just one point separates the bottom three.

Right now, it is Billingham (12th) who sit one point above the dreaded dotted line after they clinched a welcome 35-22 away win over third-placed Lymm last time out. Back-to-back victories for Peter Evans and Dan Finney’s side has certainly lifted spirits ahead of their home clash with Chester (7th) this weekend but bringing it back to Hull, they require their own pick-me-up sooner rather than later.

Umaga cited ‘away form’ and a lack of bonus points as to why Hull – who were a National One club in 2022/23 – find themselves in this situation, but it has been at home where most of their joy has come this term.

As they prepare to entertain Sheffield Tigers (10th) at the Ferens Ground, five of the seven wins they have accumulated this term have come on their own patch and Umaga and his side will be desperate for some more home comforts on Saturday.

After Round 23, Hull travel to fellow bottom two side Harrogate, which gives you an insight into just how critical the next few weeks could be in this relegation fight.

In terms of Harrogate, they suffered heartache in Round 22. After leading for a large chunk of their clash against Tynedale (6th), they fell to an agonising 33-31 defeat and had to settle for two points rather than a valuable five.

But ‘The Aces’ have to dust themselves down and take the positives into this week’s local derby away at Otley (9th), a side they beat 39-7 back in Round 11.

Fine margins currently separating the bottom three then, but 11th-placed Preston Grasshoppers might be looking over their shoulder. Hoppers have lost their last four games and now sit six points clear of the danger zone but it doesn’t get any easier for Dan Orwin’s side as they visit promotion candidates Sheffield (2nd) on Saturday.

Sheffield will be keen to keep leaders Leeds Tykes in their vision as this exciting title race enters the final four games. As it stands, Leeds sit nine points clear at the summit and host fourth-placed Fylde this weekend as Pete Seabourne’s charges look to take another step towards the championship crown.

Elsewhere in Round 23, Lymm (3rd) travel to an in-form Wharfedale (5th) and Tynedale (6th) face Hull Ionians (8th) in the North-East.

National Two East

You could argue that this is the time in the season when radiating calmness can be most beneficial.

For clubs at both the top and bottom of National Two East, keeping your composure in Round 23 could be the difference between success and disappointment this term with the title race and relegation fight under the microscope this weekend.

Let’s begin with the battle at the bottom where the two sides currently in the danger zone collide at Roundstone Lane. Worthing (14th) host Colchester (13th) in what could be described as a ‘must-win’ game for the pair.

From a Worthing perspective, last Saturday’s disappointing 65-12 loss at Dorking (3rd) has left their survival hopes hanging by a thread and while Fred Pierrepont’s troops do have three of their final four matches at home, this one against Colchester feels the most sizable.

The Raiders are currently six points behind their visitors on Saturday, and one of their two wins this term did come against Colchester back in Round 11. That could be a source of inspiration for the hosts while the away side will be seeking revenge.

Colchester’s own survival bid suffered a setback in Round 22 as they saw a 20-3 lead slip away from them as they lost 27-23 at home against Sevenoaks (10th). ‘The Blacks’ do still have to play 12th-placed Havant between now and the end of April, but Mike Haywood’s side will be fully focused on gaining a positive result in West Sussex which would reignite their hopes.

As for the aforementioned Havant (12th) – who sit nine points above the danger zone – they will have a keen interest in what goes on between Worthing and Colchester but they also have a major opportunity to ease their own relegation fears when they host 10th-placed Oxford Harlequins. The Hooks Lane outfit are yet to win in 2025 (eight straight defeats) but with the bottom two playing one another this weekend, a first success since December would be very timely indeed.

In terms of the title race, Round 22 saw another twist at the top as leaders Tonbridge Juddians and second-placed Barnes both suffered defeats. TJs were on the wrong end of a stunning revival as Old Albanian (5th) came back from 28-12 down in the final 13 minutes to win 29-28 at Woollams and condemn the table-toppers to successive losses.

However, TJs are two points clear – with a game in hand – after Barnes lost 24-19 at Westcombe Park (6th). Round 23 sees Jack Heald’s side host the aforementioned – and in-form – Old Albanian (5th) while Tonbridge Juddians take on Bury St Edmunds (9th), who are looking to do the double over their hosts after beating TJs 32-21 back in November.

And the recent bumps sustained by Tonbridge Juddians and Barnes have allowed Dorking (3rd) to sneak back into the promotion conversation. Armand Roux’s men have won three on the bounce and now sit three points off the summit ahead of their trip to Guernsey Raiders (8th). Elsewhere, fourth-placed Canterbury take on Henley (7th).

National Two West

After going blow for blow since the beginning of February, the first stumble in this absorbing National Two West title race occurred in Round 22. Leaders Camborne saw their 10-match unbeaten run come to an end as they lost 25-17 at Luctonians (8th).

Not only did ‘Town’ fall to defeat in Herefordshire, but they also failed to collect any points meaning rivals Clifton (2nd) took full advantage as they eventually saw off Loughborough Students (7th) 60-36. The gap at the summit is now down to a single point and with the top two meeting in Round 24, that clash is likely to shape this promotion battle but before then, they must negotiate this weekend.

Camborne welcome Cinderford (4th) to The Recreation Ground where they will aim for a 12th successive home win but despite the patchy form of the visitors, they did beat the league leaders 43-24 back in November while Clifton travel to an in-form Hornets (5th) who have won their last five matches.

At the other end, bottom two sides Devonport Services (14th) and Bournville (13th) are entering ‘must-win’ territory. Devonport go to Loughborough Students (7th) this weekend – who they did beat 17-0 in Round 11 – while Bournville are on the road at Luctonians.

But things look much rosier for Macclesfield (12th) and Exeter University (11th). Macc’s excellent 31-14 victory over sixth-placed Redruth last time out means they are nine points clear of the danger zone ahead of their penultimate trip of the season to Taunton (3rd) while a positive outcome for Exeter at home against Old Redcliffians (10th) could see them book their place in National Two for next term.

Meanwhile, ninth-placed Hinckley – who have won six of their last nine games – visit Redruth (6th) who sit just five points ahead of them in the standings.

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