Encouraging attendances expected as derby weekend lights up National Leagues
After five promotions in the last seven seasons, London Welsh are hosting their first game in National Two East this weekend
©London Welsh
From the North-East down to Cornwall, derby fever grips National League Rugby this weekend, with some bumper crowds expected across the country.
National One
Two northern derbies immediately catch the eye in National One, starting at 2pm when Rotherham Titans host Leeds Tykes for a fixture steeped in recent history.
Back in 2023/24, the two Yorkshire rivals went toe-to-toe for the National Two North title, with Rotherham ultimately securing promotion. Now reunited in the third tier, the Titans may want to underline their status as title contenders, while Leeds aim to re-establish themselves at this level.
Both sides endured contrasting fortunes on the opening weekend. Rotherham impressed with a 43-28 victory at Sale FC, while Leeds suffered a tough return, falling 45-12 at home to Plymouth Albion.
Meanwhile, Heywood Road hosts another local clash as Sale FC take on Sedgley Park in the ‘Manchester Derby’.
Both will be chasing their first win of the season after Round One defeats. Sale’s slow start against Rotherham proved costly, while Sedge suffered last-minute heartbreak against Rams, conceding a decisive Zach Clow try in a 24-18 loss.
Their most recent meeting - an attritional 14-12 win for Sedge before Christmas - suggests another tight contest, though early September weather conditions may allow for more expansive rugby.
Elsewhere, two Round One standouts collide in Kent as Tonbridge Juddians welcome Rosslyn Park.
The visitors highlighted their possible title credentials with a seven-try, 45-10 demolition of Dings Crusaders, while newly promoted TJs announced their arrival in style with a 46-14 away win over a young Leicester Lions side.
With high-profile recruits Lewis Gjaltema (scrum-half) and former Premiership winner Nathan Earle already making an impact, Jordan Turner-Hall’s side look like a team who aren’t here to simply make up the numbers.
Plymouth Albion, buoyed by their emphatic win at Leeds, are back at Brickfields to host Clifton, another of the division’s newcomers. Any early Albion momentum could set the tone for a strong campaign.
Blackheath and Bishop’s Stortford also head into Round Two full of confidence after five-point hauls in their openers. ‘Club’ worked hard for a 34-17 success at Clifton, while Stortford overcame Birmingham Moseley 26-12. With half of Stortford’s wins last season coming on the road, they will travel to The Utilita with belief.
Despite adapting to a refreshed squad for 2025/26, Rams came away from Sedgley Park with that very satisfying victory last week.
Next up for Seb Reynolds’ troops is the visit of Dings Crusaders while in the Midlands derby, Leicester Lions and Birmingham Moseley will be keen to register their first success of the campaign after frustrating results in Round One.
National Two North
For the second week running, ‘Friday Night Lights’ kicks off the National League Rugby weekend, this time in the North-East.
Darlington Mowden Park welcome Tynedale to The Darlington Arena, determined to build on a renewed sense of togetherness following a turbulent 2024/25 campaign that ended in relegation from National One.
DMP's opening day result will only have fuelled their optimism. Danny Brown and John Newton’s men ran in six second-half tries in a thumping 61-29 win at newly promoted Scunthorpe.
DMP may well carry that entertaining brand of rugby forward, but Tynedale will arrive with equal confidence, having racked up a half-century of points in a dominant 50-19 victory over Wharfedale.
With this being DMP’s only home game in September, the 25,000-seater Darlington Arena provides a fitting stage to launch the weekend, whilst also giving the club a chance to strengthen ties with the local community.
On Saturday, fellow North-East outfit Billingham will look to bounce back from a 46-24 loss at Preston Grasshoppers.
Returning to Greenwood Road, Billingham’s strong home form after Christmas last season, where they won five of six matches, was key to them avoiding relegation.
The only side to get the better of them during that run were, coincidentally, this week’s Round Two opponents, Wharfedale, who will be eager to respond following last week’s defeat to Tynedale.
Round Two also serves up further derbies to whet the appetite, with another eye-catching attendance expected at Lightfoot Green when Preston host Fylde.
Last term, both fixtures attracted in the region of 1,500 supporters, and Hoppers will be hoping their strong start over Billingham can encourage more people through the gates.
As for Fylde, they may have experienced mixed emotions in Round One after leading for much of the match against Hull Ionians before being forced to settle for a 22-22 draw. A win in a local derby would be the perfect tonic to spark their season and in fact, they are unbeaten against Preston in their last nine meetings.
On Humberside, Hull Ionians and Hull renew their rivalry after trading away wins last term.
Hull will be eager to repeat last season's engrossing 37-36 triumph at Brantingham Park, particularly after a narrow 22-18 defeat to Rossendale last week.
In South Yorkshire, city bragging rights are on the line as Sheffield Tigers welcome near-neighbours Sheffield to Dore Moor.
Although The Tigers lost both encounters last season, they made life difficult for their rivals, so they will be hoping to do the same again following a Round One 46-26 defeat to Macclesfield.
Speaking of Macclesfield, they meet Rossendale in a contest layered with recent history.
Both sides collected maximum points in their openers and now resume a rivalry that defined the 2023/24 Regional 1 North West title race. Rossendale avoided defeat in both encounters that year, but it was Macclesfield who secured promotion. Now both competing at Level Four, Saturday’s clash at Marl Pits promises to be another spicy chapter.
And finally, Otley entertain Scunthorpe at Cross Green, aiming to build on encouraging moments from their 48-26 loss to promotion hopefuls Sheffield.
National Two East
Two clubs that opened the 2025/26 season with maximum points clash at Goddington Dene, as Westcombe Park host Esher.
The home side will have been pleased to start Chris Green’s tenure with a seven-try 43-22 win at Oxford Harlequins, though there are still areas they want to improve.
Esher, meanwhile, also displayed promise in their 24-12 victory over Sevenoaks. A strong first-half performance saw them lead 17-0, but centre Owen Waters admitted post-match that the team left a few opportunities out there - a detail they will be keen to address in Round Two.
Bringing it back to Oxford Harlequins, they are on the road in Round Two to face a buoyant Havant.
The hosts impressed on opening day with a 39-24 away victory over newly promoted Oundle, described on the club's website as “their best performance, home or away, over the last three years.” That confidence will be key as they return to Hooks Lane.
In the capital, Barnes take on Henley Hawks in a clash between two sides that both secured bonus-point wins on opening weekend. Home hooker Dan Robertshaw made the headlines with four tries on debut in Barnes’ 26-14 win over Canterbury, earning National Two East Player of the Week in the process.
Henley will be well aware that physicality will be vital if they are to follow up their 26-24 triumph over Guernsey Raiders. Luke Allen’s side, however, did leave Barn Elms with a 21-19 win late last season, which should give them belief heading into this match-up.
Old Albanian also made a strong start with a 27-19 bonus-point win over Bury St Edmunds and now travel to face newcomers London Welsh.
Despite a 17-10 opening day defeat to last season’s runners-up Dorking, Cai Griffiths’ troops showed resilience as they fought back in the second half to claim a bonus point. Welsh will be hoping for strong home support on Saturday, building on the impressive attendances they experienced at Old Deer Park last term.
Elsewhere, the aforementioned Dorking are the first side to board the plane to Guernsey Raiders this season, Bury St Edmunds and newcomers Oundle meet in Suffolk and the opening Kent derby of the campaign sees Canterbury take on Sevenoaks.
National Two West
National Two West serves up a mouthwatering slate of derbies this weekend, with none bigger than Camborne against Redruth at The Recreation Ground.
Both clashes between the fierce Cornwall rivals drew crowds of 2,800-plus last season, and a similar turnout is expected on Saturday.
Camborne, last year’s runners-up, opened their campaign with a 45-25 win at Chester. Trailing 20-19 shortly after the interval, the Cherry and Whites hit top gear to cross for four second-half tries.
Redruth also enter Round Two buoyed by an opening day victory, edging a 36-31 thriller against Loughborough Students. However, Richie Kevern’s side are still chasing a first league win over Camborne since their neighbours were promoted to National Two in 2023.
The Cheshire derby is next on our list as Lymm host Chester at Crouchley Lane. Both clubs were level-transferred into National Two West this season, but their meetings in National Two North last term went the way of Lymm, who scored 50 points or more in both games.
The hosts made the perfect start to life in their new division with a 24-13 win at Luctonians, a result that will only boost the confidence of Adam Fletcher and Andy Davies’ side. Backed by strong travelling support in Herefordshire last week, Lymm can expect another lively atmosphere on home turf.
Chester, meanwhile, will be eager to chalk up a positive result and head back down the M56 with the spoils.
The Devon Derby sees Exeter University host Barnstaple, with both sides enthused by impressive opening round wins.
The Students edged a Friday night thriller at Taunton, running out 37-35 victors, while Barum marked their National Two return with a hard-fought 24-17 success over Old Redcliffians.
Exeter did the double when the clubs last met in 2022/23, so can they extend that record or will Barnstaple strike back?
Two West Country derbies now, and Cinderford will look to build on their 48-19 win over Syston when they travel to Old Redcliffians, while Hornets return to The Nest aiming to back up their narrow 21-18 victory over Hinckley when they take on Taunton Titans.
Elsewhere, Hinckley meet Loughborough Students in an all-Midlands clash with both sides searching for their first win of the season and at Barkby Road, Syston mark their first-ever home game in National League Rugby by hosting Luctonians.
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