National Two South - State of Play

The league title looks done and dusted in National Two South, with the play-off spot almost secured for this season. The real drama is happening at the bottom of the table as teams fight for their National Two lives.

Talking Rugby Union looks at the current situation in National Two South as we enter the final stretch of the 2014/15 season.

The league leaders throughout the season, Henley Hawks, took a massive step towards the league title this weekend with a 28-34 victory over third place Taunton. Henley have won seven of their last eight matches at the perfect time in the season and they have lost just three times all season.

They are now 13 points clear at the top of the table as second place Dorking once again dropped points. This time they drew 15-15 with 12th place Canterbury. Dorking do have a game in hand this weekend when they play Southend Saxons, but with six games left of the season, it will take a massive collapse from Henley if Dorking are to win the league title.

For most of the season it has been a two horse race for the championship, but Taunton, Bishop’s Stortford and Worthing would feel, if they could have put a stronger run of results together, they could certainly have challenged Dorking for that play-off spot. Dorking have a seven point lead over Taunton, but if they were to lose their game in hand this weekend, Taunton may feel they stand a chance of sneaking in under the radar.

In terms of the rest of the top half, six place Chinnor have fallen away from any promotion challenge they may have had due to two straight defeats in their last three games, whilst Cambridge and Redruth are going very nicely at the minute with both sides on winning streaks.

As for the bottom half, the Old Elthamians lost 24-26 to Chinnor last Saturday and have now only won two games in 2015. Below them, Clifton and the Cornish All Blacks look safe from relegation despite just three wins between them in the last 10 matches, but it’s those sides who are underneath, where it is starting to get interesting.

Canterbury’s draw with Dorking, proved vital as the extra two points moves them seven points clear of the relegation zone, for now.

Southend had an excellent start to the year, which included a win over league leaders Henley, but three defeats in their last four matches sees them now just three points ahead of the drop zone despite them picking up a losing bonus point against Cambridge last weekend.

The big winners from this weekend were Lyndey who won their first away match of the season as they beat Clifton 10-19. Both Southend and Lyndey have games in hand this Saturday (Lydney face Clifton again) and it could see Lydney move out of the bottom three with a win.

It does seem a lost cause for 15th place Shelford and 16th place Dings Crusaders. Shelford sit 14 points from safety and the Dings 21 points with six games remaining. Both may well have resigned to the fact that it will be National Three rugby for them next season.

Round 24 Results

Bishop’s Stortford 50-0 Dings Crusaders
Cambridge 26-19 Southend
Canterbury 15-15 Dorking
Clifton 10-19 Lyndey
Old Elthamians 24-26 Chinnor
Redruth 41-5 Shelford
Taunton 28-34 Henley Hawks
Worthing Raiders 25-13 Cornish All Blacks

This Weekend’s Fixtures (3pm Kick-Off Unless Stated)
Bishop’s Stortford v Worthing (2pm)
Dorking v Southend
Lyndey v Clifton