As February turns into March, the penultimate month in the National League Rugby calendar is upon us and, as ever, there is still plenty left to play for. (Photo Credit: Jonathan Knight)

National One

A season-defining period?

We may not have reached ‘full crescendo mode’ quite yet but as winter turns into spring, this is where National League Rugby really comes into its own.

And in National One, we are set for another absorbing end to a campaign and when clubs like Plymouth Albion (5th) label the next month as ‘March Madness’, it only heightens the expectations for what is to come.

Despite not being right in the thick of the title race, Albion are probably best placed to describe the next four weeks as ‘mad’. Ryan Lamb’s troops sit fifth and 12 points off the summit, but crucially, they are on an eight-match winning run and also play the current top-four sides between now and the beginning of April.

So, while Plymouth aren’t a main candidate in the promotion battle at present, they can still have a major say in the destination of the title, and their first assignment sees them travel to the third-placed Rams.

Two weeks ago, Seb Reynolds’ side occupied second spot in the table and were three points behind leaders Richmond but since then, their aspirations have suffered a blow. In Round 19, the Berkshire outfit lost 19-0 away at Birmingham Moseley (7th) – which was their third successive defeat – while table rivals Rotherham Titans edged past Bishop’s Stortford (9th) 17-11 to leapfrog Rams into second.

Then last weekend, the Titans took advantage of their game in hand as a bonus-point 68-34 victory away at Esher (12th) saw them cut Richmond’s lead down to two points but also they created some breathing space between themselves and Rams.

The wider picture for Rams is that they are now eight points from the summit and with Albion visiting Old Bath Road this Saturday – and then Rotherham doing the same at the end of the month – it only enhances the notion that March could be a season-defining period.

For table-toppers Richmond, they will be aiming to build on three very efficient victories in February when they host Bishop’s Stortford (9th) on Saturday while their nearest challengers Rotherham (2nd) – who remember gained promotion back to this level after winning National Two North last year – host Birmingham Moseley (7th) looking for a seventh straight win.

In the bottom half, Sale FC (8th) are now knocking on the door of the top seven after four straight home wins and Jonathan Keep’s men will be looking to translate that form onto the road when they visit Esher (12th).

A try bonus point from last week’s loss against Rotherham leaves the EEEs 14 points clear of 13th-placed Leicester Lions who visit Rosslyn Park (4th) this weekend while time is running out for bottom club Darlington Mowden Park who host Dings Crusaders (11th).

Meanwhile, after the announcement that Director of Rugby James Shahanan would be departing the club at the end of the season to join National Two East side Bury St Edmunds, Blackheath (6th) will be determined to conclude the campaign strongly. After successive away wins, they are back at The Utilita to host Sedgley Park (10th) in Round 20.

National Two North

Since we last produced a National League Rugby Preview Show (before this week’s edition), the state of play in National Two North has continued to sizzle.

In terms of the promotion battle, Leeds Tykes’ (1st) grip on the title race has grown a little stronger after prevailing in the ‘clash of the top two’ in Round 19. Pete Seabourne and Pete Lucock’s side extended their lead at the summit to four points after edging past rivals Sheffield (2nd) 24-18.

Whilst Sheffield displayed a great desire to claim a losing bonus point – and with boss Anthony Posa remaining rightfully bullish in defeat – this victory for Leeds will have given them a psychological boost as we strap ourselves in for the run-in.

This weekend, Leeds travel to Lancashire to face ninth-placed Preston Grasshoppers while Sheffield (2nd) welcome bottom-of-the-table Billingham (14th) to Abbeydale Park in a fixture which is of equal importance to both.

From a Billingham perspective, they will be eager to begin picking up points again as successive losses has seen Peter Evans and Dan Finney’s side fall to the foot of the division. What has also hurt them is the recent results of some of their table rivals, in particular Harrogate (13th) and Otley (10th).

In terms of Harrogate, they secured an excellent 27-24 win over Fylde (4th) in Round 19 to move on to 33 points and up to 13th in the standings while superb back-to-back victories have reinvigorated Otley. Wins against Lymm (3rd) and the aforementioned Billingham (51-15 in their game in hand last week) has lifted Kyle Dench’s side nine points clear of the dreaded dotted line.

Both clubs will now be aiming to build on their respective successes with Otley travelling to Chester (7th) – who have won four of their five matches in 2025 – while Harrogate have a huge opportunity to enhance their survival chances when they visit Sheffield Tigers (12th).

The Tigers are one place and six points clear of Harrogate, and will be keen to return to winning ways at Dore Moor after back-to-back home defeats.

Elsewhere, third-placed Lymm – who have fallen behind in the title race – will be itching to arrest a run of three straight losses when they take on Hull (11th) while fourth-placed Fylde entertain Tynedale (6th) and on President’s Day at Brantingham Park, Hull Ionians will be targeting a third consecutive victory when they host Wharfedale (5th).

National Two East

Before Round 19, both Worthing (14th) and Colchester (13th) knew the importance of collecting points with the final two months of the season on the horizon.

Two weeks ago, both clubs had one win apiece to their name but as we enter March, their respective tallies have now doubled. Worthing defeated Bury St Edmunds (9th) 38-35 while despite losing 40-34 at home to table rivals Oxford Harlequins (12th), Colchester responded in their game in hand last week as they went away to Guernsey (8th) and secured an excellent 38-36 success.

A rapid start from Mike Haywood’s men – three tries in the opening nine minutes – set them on their way to victory and now both Colchester and Worthing are level on 24 points and more than up for the fight. In Round 20, Worthing visit sixth-placed Henley while Colchester go to Dorking (3rd), who once again had their title aspirations dented last Saturday.

The Red and Whites lost 29-17 in their game in hand against an in-form Old Albanian (7th) and the result has left Armand Roux’s troops 11 points off leaders Tonbridge Juddians having played a game more.

Speaking of Tonbridge Juddians, they are in the midst of a tricky run of fixtures but passed their first examination with flying colours in Round 19. A seven-try 46-23 win at Kent rivals Canterbury (4th) has kept them on course for the title but to begin March, they play two of their fellow top-five sides.

First up, is another derby day affair with a trip up the A21 to fifth-placed Westcombe Park before they host second-placed Barnes. As it stands, they have a six-point lead and a game in hand over Barnes, who themselves have sizable fixtures this month starting with the visit of the aforementioned Canterbury this weekend.

Elsewhere, there is also a fairly big fixture in the bottom half with Oxford Harlequins (12th) and Sevenoaks (10th) meeting at the Horspath Sports Ground. Back-to-back wins for Oxford Quins leaves them 12 points clear of the danger zone while six victories from their last nine outings has propelled Oaks away from the relegation scrap. A continuation of positive form could be vital for either side as they look to keep climbing away from the bottom two.

Also in National Two East on Saturday, Bury St Edmunds (9th) – who recently announced that Director of Rugby Jacob Ford would be leaving the GK IPA Haberden at the end of this season – host Guernsey (8th) while Old Albanian (7th) – who have won five of their last six games – take on Havant (11th) at Woollams.

National Two West

There may only have been one fixture in this division last weekend, but the outcome has massively raised the possibility of Macclesfield (12th) beating the drop in National Two West.

The Cheshire outfit fully capitalised on their game in hand as they beat table rivals Exeter University (11th) 27-22 at Priory Park to jump out of the bottom two. Macc’s home form has undoubtedly been key in giving them a chance of staying at level four (26 of their 35 points have come on their own turf) and the win last weekend may well be a launchpad for the most important segment of their season.

The Blues are currently two points clear of the drop zone and before facing 10th-placed Hinckley at home next Saturday, they visit bottom-of-the-table Devonport Services.

Matt Coleridge’s side won the reverse fixture 47-35 back in October but Devonport themselves are also scrapping away. Ben Russell’s men reignited their survival bid in Round 19 as they beat the aforementioned Hinckley 28-22 to claim just their third win of the campaign.


The victory leaves them 11 points shy of 13th-placed Bournville, who could well be interested in proceedings at The Rectory Field. The Chocos – who travel to Hinckley this weekend – have won just once since beating their Midlands counterparts 27-19 in Round Eight so whilst Matt Price’s side may have one eye on Devonport Services vs Macclesfield, their first port of call will be to record a crucial result of their own.

At the other end of the table, the title race resumes in Round 20 with league leaders Camborne looking to maintain – or possibly extend – their six-point advantage. Town go to Exeter University while second-placed Clifton arguably face the trickier test on paper when they host an in-form Redruth (5th).

The promotion candidates have lost just one of their 16 games at Station Road but Redruth will arrive in Bristol having won their last five games, and Nigel Hambly’s charges have also not tasted defeat since November.

Elsewhere, it is fourth vs third with Cinderford entertaining Taunton, another all top-half affair sees Luctonians (6th) take on Loughborough Students (7th) while it is derby day at Scotland Lane with Old Redcliffians (9th) hosting Hornets (8th).

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