We were back to a full complement of fixtures in Round 16 but it was as if the big results and late drama had never been away. (Photo Credit: Andrew McCumiskey)

National One

The top three in National One all opened their accounts for 2025 with home victories but for Richmond (1st) and Rotherham Titans (3rd), they were made to fight hard.

In terms of leaders Richmond, they found themselves 15-12 down against 13th-placed Esher under the Friday night lights of The RAG following tries from James Botterill and Mattias Woollard, with Sam Morley also contributing five points from the tee.

But Rob Powell’s troops flicked the switch after half-time as three tries in 14 minutes from Alex O’Meara, former Rosslyn Park man Josh Addams and George Nugent put Richmond 33-15 ahead.

Morley pulled one back for Esher but Richmond rubber-stamped their victory with Alex Schwarz going over late on.

As for Rotherham, they also had to come from behind after trailing at the break. The Titans welcomed Sale FC (11th) to Clifton Lane and despite coming into this one off the back of five straight defeats, the visitors held a 17-10 advantage thanks to a brace from Mark Dixon.

However, Harvey Biljon’s side hit back and tries from Charlie Capps and Jamie Cooke – plus a penalty from Lloyd Hayes – ultimately secured another battling success for Roth. Back-row John Okafor nearly claimed a late bonus-point score for the hosts but his effort was ruled out.

The win leaves the Yorkshire outfit five points off Richmond while second-placed Rams remain just a single point behind the leaders after a solid 26-17 win over Dings Crusaders (8th) at Old Bath Road.

Round 16 marked a special day for Sedgley Park’s (1oth) Matt Riley who made his 450th appearance for the Tigers in their 25-10 victory over table rivals Leicester Lions (12th). Riley, who made his debut for Sedge in 2006, holds the record for the most appearances for a single club in the UK and across the English Channel in the professional era and he celebrated his latest milestone with a third successive home triumph for Scott Barrow’s men.

Elsewhere, bottom-of-the-table Darlington Mowden Park claimed a try bonus point in their 49-24 loss away at in-form Rosslyn Park (4th).

National Two North

Billingham (13th) lifted themselves off the foot of National Two North with an important 34-17 win over 11th-placed Hull at Greenwood Road.

The North-East outfit began the New Year without a win in seven but led 19-10 at half-time after tries from Peter Evans, Ben Walton and Louie Groark outweighed efforts from Hull’s Harry Dawkins and Adam Brankley.

Both sides had capitalised on indiscipline in the first period but after the restart, Billingham strengthened their grip on proceedings as Anthony Jackson and Martin Hopley dotted down.

Bureta Faraimo kept Hull alive with their third try on the hour but Evans’ penalty – and some excellent Billingham defence – secured a very welcome victory for the hosts, who are now four points behind 12th-placed Sheffield Tigers.

The result also means Harrogate now prop up the standings after a 38-31 loss away at Preston Grasshoppers (9th). Hoppers ended a five-match losing streak in this crucial contest while Harrogate dug deep to collect two bonus points following a late double from Sam Brady.

At the summit, all three title candidates picked up maximums with Leeds Tykes (1st) showing a cutting edge to get past Hull Ionians (7th) 33-28 at Brantingham Park while both Lymm (2nd) and Sheffield (3rd) had to come from behind against Sheffield Tigers and Tynedale (6th) respectively.

As was the case in Round Four, Lymm were put under pressure by the Tigers and the Yorkshire club actually led 26-23 on 55 minutes following scores from Joshua Redfern and Will Archer but Seb Kelly’s try 13 minutes from time ensured victory for the Cheshire outfit.

In terms of Sheffield, they found themselves 33-21 down at home against Tynedale – who entered Round 16 unbeaten in six-  but 29 unanswered points, including tries from Christian Hooper, Matty Drennan, Ryan Burrows and George Rogers, propelled them to a 14th win of the campaign.

National Two East

A last-gasp Henry Anscombe try and conversion from Tom Hardwick earned Dorking (3rd) a dramatic 43-42 victory over Bury St Edmunds (7th) in a reverting National Two East encounter.

Armand Roux’s troops recovered from 42-24 down in the final 10 minutes thanks to tries from Jasper King and Max Sheldrake before Anscombe’s score and an ice-cool kick from Hardwick completed a remarkable fightback in Suffolk.

Doubles from Will Metcalfe and Euan Rees put Bury 28-17 up at half-time, with Dorking responding via Hardwick, Tom Bloomer and Adam Musa.

 

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Samir Kharbouch and Finn Osborne exchanged scores but Metcalfe’s hat-trick touchdown gave the home side an 18-point advantage. However, Dorking, not for the first time this season, displayed their powers of recovery to clinch a stunning comeback win.

The Red and Whites remain third in the standings after Barnes (2nd) and leaders Tonbridge Juddians recorded bonus-point victories. Barnes battled past a stubborn Sevenoaks (11th) 20-17 while TJs’ class eventually shone through against a spirited Worthing (14th) as they surged to a 45-17 success at The Slade.

The table toppers remain six points clear of Barnes with a game in hand, while Dorking are eight points behind Tonbridge Juddians but they have played one less game than TJs.

Elsewhere, Canterbury tightened their grip on fourth place after a 24-15 win over Guernsey Raiders (5th) while Westcombe Park are into the top six as a strong second-half showing helped them defeat Havant (10th) 34-20 at Goddington Dene.

National Two West

Bournville (11th) clinched a thrilling 50-43 victory to stun Taunton Titans (3rd) thanks to a scintillating last-minute try from winger Nathan Decalmer.

Jonjo Fanning had levelled things up for the Chocos at 36-36 with seven minutes remaining, but an almost instant response from Taunton centre Nick Mason pushed the Titans into a seven-point lead.

Bournville went back on the offensive and were awarded a penalty try on 79 minutes to make it 43-43 before the final twist came in this remarkable conclusion at Avery Fields.

A cross-field kick from deep inside his own 22 from Bournville’s Jacob Fewtrell was collected by Decalmer on the left wing, and the 21-year-old put on the afterburners to run the length of the field and snatch the win for Matt Price’s men.

Whilst dramatic, this result was a much-needed shot in the arm for Bournville after they had entered Round 16 on the back of seven games without a victory.

Despite this gut-wrenching setback, Taunton did move up to third in the standings but their hopes of an instant return to National One took a further hit in the Midlands, especially as both of the top two recorded wins.

League leaders Camborne maintained their 100 per cent record at The Recreation Ground with a 59-28 success over Loughborough Students (8th) but they were given a scare during the first 40.

Tries from James Bennett, Oliver Fisher and Oscar Daniel put the Students 21-7 up in Cornwall but quick-fire tries before the break from Aden Brassington and Ben Priddey sparked the Cherry and Whites into life.

Six second-half tries – which included Priddey taking his tally to four for the afternoon and Alex Ducker completing his hat-trick – ensured Steve Larkins’ side maintained their four-point advantage at the summit after Clifton (2nd) made it 10 wins on the bounce away at Cinderford (4th).

The hosts had won their last five at Dockham Road but a confident Clifton outfit departed Gloucestershire with an impressive 39-18 victory.

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