National League Rugby is back and following the first round of action on Saturday, here are five takeaways from an interesting opening weekend. (Photo Credit: Gareth Siddons)

Rotherham return with ‘outstanding’ win over Rosslyn Park

After three seasons away from the third tier, Rotherham Titans announced themselves back in National One with a gripping 31-21 victory over Rosslyn Park at Clifton Lane.

Harvey Biljon’s troops found themselves 17-7 up heading towards the break following tries from Luke Cole and John Okafor while last year’s top points scorer in National League Rugby – Lloyd Hayes – picked up from where he left off with the boot.

Jasper Cameron had dotted down from a line-out drive for Park but scores from Joe Luca Smith and ex-Titan Charlie Mulchrone – either side of a Hayes penalty – nudged the visitors in front just after half-time.

However, their lead lasted less than 10 minutes as a third Hayes penalty was followed by Callum Bustin opening his account for the season as the Titans moved 28-21 ahead.

And the boot of Hayes denied Park a losing bonus as the fly-half took his tally to 16 points with a further penalty three minutes from time.

“I am not sure you could ask for a better opening day of the season against a team that came to play and threaten us,” Biljon told Rotherham’s social media channels. “The effort Rosslyn Park put in today showed because the game went right up to the 82nd, 83rd minute.

“As a coach, you always have those difficult moments where you need players to respond, players to listen and if there was ever a day where the players stuck to task and followed through with plans, today was one of those days and I think it was an outstanding performance.”

National One Results: Blackheath 20-31 Richmond, Rotherham 31-21 Rosslyn Park, Rams 41-12 Darlington Mowden Park, Sedgley Park 65-24 Esher, Plymouth Albion 24-28 Sale FC, Birmingham Moseley 40-20 Dings Crusaders, Bishop’s Stortford 36-12 Leicester Lions.

Chester begin life back in National Two North with tense victory

Following a season in National Two West, Chester were shifted back into National Two North for 2024/25 and on their return, the men from Hare Lane got off to a winning start as they edged past Preston Grasshoppers 32-30 at Lightfoot Green.

Under the guidance of new boss and former Caldy player Rhys Hayes, the Cheshire club had surged into a 12-point lead but Owain Williams’ try for Hoppers  – along with Harry Holden’s hat-trick – levelled things up at 25-25 with 12 minutes remaining.

Chester – who had led 25-13 following scores from Rhys Hamilton (2) and Joe Heaton – regathered themselves as Josh Woods dotted down before the excellent Morgan Bagshaw landed the conversion.

However, an opening day triumph for Hayes looked like it would be snatched away from him when Cameron Wilkinson plunged over on 79 minutes but debutant and ex-Fylde fly-half Greg Smith could not add the extras for Preston.

National Two North Results: Billingham 33-12 Harrogate, Hull 12-13 Otley, Hull Ionians 27-39 Lymm, Leeds Tykes 47-5 Tynedale, Preston Grasshoppers 30-32 Chester, Sheffield 38-19 Fylde, Wharfedale 22-8 Sheffield Tigers.

Havant are ‘coming up the hill’ after Sevenoaks success

When asked about the club’s return to the fourth tier following promotion last term, Havant Director of Rugby Rob Matthews told the National League Rugby Preview Show: “What we have created and want to maintain is what we call the ‘Up the Hill’ mentality.

“I’d like to think that a few clubs are going to get pretty annoyed when we sing ‘Havant are coming up the hill’ after victories this season!”

And it took just one game for the National Two East newcomers to belt out a rendition of their victory song after they defeated Sevenoaks 25-15 at Hooks Lane.

But it was the visitors who controlled the scoreboard in the opening 30 minutes as George Montgomery’s penalty was enhanced by Charlie Corrigan’s converted try.

However, the hosts hit back inside a three-minute window as Jacob Knight’s penalty was instantly followed by Havant’s first try at this level for 15 years scored by Sean Shepherd.

The home side then moved in front thanks to Richard Janes’ score – as well as the boot of Knight – before an excellent finish from Ben Holt gave Havant a cushion. A try from Drew Forrester 10 minutes from time may have jangled a few nerves in Hampshire but Havant saw out the contest.

“A really positive start,” head coach Will Knight told Havant’s club website. “I felt we were really nervous at the start and were a little bit hesitant. As we got into the game, the set-piece started to function and gave us a great platform to play from. Defensively, I thought we were solid.”

Barnes’ bow for TJs downs Dorking

A promising second half of the season in 2023/24 for Tonbridge Juddians may well have given Director of Rugby Jordan Turner-Hall and head coach Seb Sherwood something to build on going into this term but when you add someone like Curtis Barnes to your armoury, it is always likely to bolster your ambitions.

And the new recruit made an instant impact at The Slade as the winger scored a hat-trick in TJs’ excellent 45-31 win over last year’s third-placed side Dorking. Barnes scored 14 tries last season for Worthing and already has a trio to his name as the hosts blew Dorking away in the opening period.

After finishing in fifth spot in 23/24, could Tonbridge Juddians take the next step this term?

National Two East Results: Barnes 47-22 Oxford Harlequins, Canterbury 53-13 Colchester, Guernsey 24-16 Worthing, Havant 25-15 Sevenoaks, Old Albanian 21-22 Henley Hawks, Tonbridge Juddians 45-31 Dorking, Westcombe Park 29-24 Bury St Edmunds.

Defeats for relegated duo tell us fight for National Two West top spot will be fascinating

After coming down from National One, it seems right to suggest that Taunton and Cinderford will be in the hunt for top spot in National Two West but the pair were given a taste of just how competitive this league is on the opening day.

Taunton were comfortably beaten 33-3 by Loughborough Students in the first-ever meeting between the teams – with the hugely talented No.8 Theo Mayell scoring twice – whilst Cinderford began with a 38-31 defeat away at last year’s fouth-placed side Old Redcliffians.

Old Reds have now won their last 11 matches at Scotland Lane so with that record in mind,  it was always going to be a difficult challenge for Cinderford and it doesn’t get any easier for the Gloucestershire outfit who host potential title challengers Luctonians in Round Two.

“Five points against a team that has just come down into our league, great pedigree, great players, so we will definitely take that,” Old Redcliffians Director of Rugby Dan Cox told the club’s channels. “We let ourselves down without discipline at times with three yellow cards so we need to sharpen that up.”

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