Late Bonfire Night sparks set to fly as National League Rugby returns with a bang
Rossendale of National Two North will look to rediscover the optimism they showed back in September
©Richard Watson-Hoy
The November fixtures are here. Who can seize momentum over the next three weeks with key matches coming thick and fast?
National One
If you follow National One, you’ll remember that last season, the top contenders seemed to clash quite frequently over the Christmas period.
But this year, before the likes of ‘Wham!’ and The Pogues even hit our airwaves, tasty encounters between potential title candidates are already on the menu.
The first round of November fixtures pits Blackheath (4th) against Plymouth Albion (3rd) at The Utilita, and for both sides, the next few weeks could be crucial in determining whether they can sustain a challenge towards the top.
For ‘Club’, who have begun the Tom Stradwick era with six wins from eight matches, their upcoming schedule could be seen as a real test.
They face two teams above them (Plymouth and an away trip to second-placed Rotherham) as well as both North-West clubs, Sedgley Park (7th, home) and Sale FC (6th, away).
Bearing in mind that Blackheath won only one of these corresponding fixtures last season, they’ll be eager to put that right, while Plymouth will be looking to rediscover some consistency.
October brought two wins and two defeats for Albion - with both losses coming at tricky venues like Rosslyn Park and Tonbridge Juddians - so departing the capital on the right side of the result on Saturday would be a major boost for Ryan Lamb’s side ahead of a trip to fifth-placed Rams and a home clash against Rotherham Titans.
For league leaders Rosslyn Park, on paper, this immediate run of fixtures may seem a little more serene.
But National One - perhaps more than any other league - isn’t played on paper.
Steve Neville and Kieran Power’s side currently sit one point clear at the summit after an impressive seven wins from eight, and their next three fixtures come against teams in the bottom five - starting with the visit of Leeds Tykes (13th) this weekend. However, Park will know better than to underestimate anyone in this division.
Breathing down their necks are Rotherham Titans (2nd), who bounced back in Round Eight with a resilient 38-28 win over Tonbridge Juddians. Harvey Biljon’s men travel to 11th-placed Birmingham Moseley on Saturday before facing Blackheath and Plymouth Albion in those back-to-back clashes.
With the top four covered, attention turns to fifth-placed Rams, who will be eager to return to winning ways when they visit a wounded Bishop’s Stortford (14th) side hoping for better news on the injury front in November.
Switching to the bottom half, Leicester Lions (12th) will hope their encouraging October form carries into this month after recording crucial wins over Sale FC and Leeds Tykes to round off the opening block of fixtures.
Gareth Collins’ men face another key test as they host Clifton (10th), while elsewhere, Sale FC (6th) travel to Dings Crusaders (9th) and Sedgley Park (7th) make the trip to The Slade to face Tonbridge Juddians (8th).
National Two North
Despite their lowly league positions, Sheffield Tigers (12th) and Rossendale (11th) have been involved in some entertaining as well as tight contests this season. However, both clubs will be eager to move on from any talk of hard-luck stories as we enter the second phase of the campaign.
For Rossendale, both of their victories came back in September, so Sam Bedlow’s side will be keen to put a winless October behind them. As newcomers to National Two North, The Stags will be eager to reignite their season and begin climbing the league ladder.
With a home fixture against table rivals Billingham (10th) to come in Round 10, Round Nine’s trip to Sheffield Tigers offers Rossendale the opportunity to find a late bonfire night spark in South Yorkshire.
As for the Tigers, last month could be seen as either frustrating or encouraging. There’s a strong argument that Stephen Roberts’ men could have taken wins from matches against Darlington Mowden Park, Otley, and Billingham, but instead they remain with just one victory to their name.
The positive for Tigers fans is that this young side are edging closer. They continue to pick up valuable points, but if they want to pull away from danger, they must start turning those narrow defeats into wins.
Below Rossendale and Sheffield Tigers in the table sit the current bottom two, Hull (13th) and Scunthorpe (14th), who entered the break with contrasting emotions.
Those emotions were raw as Scunthorpe edged out Hull 27-25 away from home in Round Eight, securing their first win of the season.
Tony Wilkinson’s charges will now hope to build on that success, though it won’t be easy when they host fourth-placed Macclesfield on Saturday. As for Hull, they will need to dust themselves down quickly as they head to Tynedale (3rd).
Both Tynedale and Macclesfield will be more than satisfied with their first eight games of the campaign, with Tyne in particular sitting just two points behind North-East rivals Darlington Mowden Park (2nd), who enjoyed a storming October.
Danny Brown and John Newton’s men collected a full house of bonus-point victories and head into their Round Nine clash at home to an adventurous Preston Grasshoppers (7th) on a six-match winning streak.
But it’s league leaders Sheffield who continue to set the pace. Anthony Posa’s side resume unbeaten with a 100 per cent record, and while the first block of the season was far from straightforward, eight maximums from eight have left them four points clear at the summit. They welcome Billingham (10th) to Abbeydale Park this weekend.
Despite a tough October schedule, Fylde (5th) emerged with back-to-back away victories, and the Lancashire outfit will want that momentum to carry into November as they begin this month with a trip to Wharfedale (9th). Elsewhere, Hull Ionians (6th) travel to an Otley (8th) side chasing a third consecutive win.
National Two East
When you take a break in life, it’s always nice to sign off on a positive note - and that’s exactly what Henley Hawks (10th) did in Round Eight.
With injuries mounting and results going against them, Luke Allen’s side stormed to a 47-12 victory over Esher, a result they’ll hope can act as a catalyst for their season.
A quick glance at the Hawks’ November schedule suggests there’s room to build on that second win of the term, particularly with a couple of fixtures against table rivals. They end the month away at 11th-placed Havant, but first up comes a trip to second-from-bottom Sevenoaks.
Adam Bowman’s men were competitive throughout October and could have taken victories from all four fixtures, but instead suffered four straight defeats, halting their late September momentum.
From an Oaks perspective, with two games against top seven sides to come - including the visit of impressive league leaders Old Albanian - this home clash with Henley may carry some extra weight as the men from Knole Paddock look to lift themselves away from danger.
The same could be said for London Welsh (12th) and Havant (11th).
Welsh entered the break on a real high, celebrating their 140th anniversary with a 46-32 victory over the aforementioned Havant. Cai Griffiths’ side will be keen to carry that feel-good factor into their trip to an in-form Bury St Edmunds (3rd), who have won five of their last six matches.
As for Havant, injuries haven’t helped their cause, but Rob Matthews and Will Knight’s men will hope their tight-knit group can come closer together as they begin November by hosting Guernsey (5th) - a side currently on a five-match winning run.
At the foot of the table sit Oxford Harlequins (14th), who endured a chastening afternoon in Round Eight, falling 77-7 at Dorking, and it doesn’t get any easier for the fully amateur outfit as they return to action by hosting league leaders Old Albanian.
OAs will have a spring in their step after overcoming some stern obstacles in October. They were able to stretch their record to seven wins from eight, and James Osborn and Dan George’s side now sit four points clear at the summit.
Occupying the play-off spot are Barnes (2nd), who will be targeting a fourth consecutive win, though that won’t be straightforward when they visit Westcombe Park (7th). Meanwhile, new boys Oundle (4th) remain firmly in the mix towards the top after five wins from eight, and they entertain Canterbury (9th) this weekend.
And lastly, Dorking (6th) welcome Esher (8th) to The Big Field, with the visitors aiming to halt a run of three successive defeats.
National Two West
We conclude our look across National Two by staying on brand and focusing on a key match-up towards the wrong end of the table - this time between two of the bottom three in National Two West.
Syston (14th) welcome Old Redcliffians (12th) to Barkby Road, with the fully amateur hosts now the only side across National League Rugby yet to register a win.
But that’s not for a lack of effort.
Alex White’s side continue to show visible signs of growth, but stitching those improvements together into a complete 80-minute performance remains the challenge.
Despite their encouraging displays, they have just four points to their name and now sit 11 points behind Saturday’s visitors, meaning the risk of being cut adrift is starting to loom large.
Syston will be eager to quieten that talk, while a constantly learning Old Reds side will have other ideas.
November feels like a key month for Dan Cox’s men, with all of their fixtures coming against bottom-half opposition. Securing a win in the Midlands in Round Nine would be the ideal start to this next block of matches.
Sandwiched between Syston and Old Redcliffians in the standings are Loughborough Students (13th) who, despite recording two wins in October, remain in the relegation zone. That said, both of the African Violet’s victories came at home, and they are back on their own patch this weekend when they host Taunton Titans (8th).
Turning our attention to the summit, Camborne (1st) enter November with a 100 per cent record following a flawless start to the season. The Cherry and Whites look determined to go one better than last year and have begun with real purpose - collecting eight bonus-point wins from eight.
However, Tom Kessell’s men will know their schedule only gets tougher, and this month could provide a real test of their credentials, with two of their upcoming fixtures against fellow top-five sides.
It’s worth noting that Camborne have impressively won their last 16 home matches, and among those to have been slayed are Saturday’s visitors Hornets (5th), who did actually come close to halting that run.
A penalty try five minutes from time sealed a 33-27 win for Camborne in this corresponding fixture last season, but the challenge for Hornets now is to translate their strong home form onto the road if they are to earn their first away victory of the campaign.
Second-placed Luctonians continue to keep Camborne in their sights, thanks to a wonderful seven-match winning streak.
Their only defeat of the season - on the opening day against Lymm - is now firmly in their rear-view mirror as Lucs look to maintain momentum when they host Hinckley (9th) this weekend. The visitors, however, are in good form themselves, having collected 12 points from the last 15 available.
There’s also a top-four clash to savour in Round Nine, with Barnstaple (3rd) making the trip to Redruth (4th). Barum responded well to their Round Seven defeat against Luctonians by grinding out a resilient 28-21 victory over Chester last time out.
As for the Reds - for all of their encouraging early-season form - they ended the opening block with a 44-15 loss at Taunton, so Richie Kevern’s troops will be eager to bounce back.
Elsewhere, Lymm (6th) - who enjoyed a solid first block - are back at fortress Crouchley Lane to take on Exeter University (11th) while Chester (10th) will aim to build on a positive October, which yielded two home wins, when they entertain Cinderford (8th).
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.jpg "Barnes are once again in the mix towards the top of National Two East")
