National League Rugby: Anticipation surrounds title races as expectation swirls around survival battles
Esher host Henley Hawks in a key game towards the bottom of National Two East
©Jonathan Knight
As the run-in looms, Round 20 brings decisive top-two clashes in National Two North and East, plus vital fixtures across the various relegation battles.
National One
With six of the bottom seven sides locking horns, it feels like the relegation battle in National One takes centre stage in Round 20.
Just nine points separate 13th-placed Clifton and Bishop’s Stortford (8th), and as luck would have it, the two meet at Silver Leys on Saturday.
Clifton make the trip to Hertfordshire currently in the bottom three and on a four-match winless run. Stortford, meanwhile, will hope a near three-week break leaves them refreshed rather than rusty.
Due to a scheduled rest week, followed by the postponement of last weekend’s clash against Leeds Tykes, Tom Coleman’s side have not played since their last-gasp 21-16 victory over Sale FC on January 31st.
Speaking of Leeds Tykes (11th), they ended January with momentum.
Back-to-back wins at Clifton and Sedgley Park hauled Pete Seabourne and Pete Lucock’s men out of the drop zone, and they will target further away day joy on Saturday when they head to bottom side Leicester Lions (14th).
For Leicester, the equation is stark. Gareth Collins’ side sit 19 points behind Leeds, having played a game more, and another defeat would leave their survival hopes hanging by the thinnest of threads.
Alongside Leicester in the bottom three are Dings Crusaders (12th) but as things stand, their hopes of survival seem much brighter.
They are four points adrift of safety - albeit having played a game more than 10th-placed Birmingham Moseley - and host Sedgley Park (9th) this weekend in a fixture that carries significant weight.
Dings’ recent form has included defeats to the top three, while Sedgley arrive at Shaftesbury Park following successive home losses in which they failed to pick up any points.
The Tigers remain just five points clear of danger, underlining the importance of Saturday’s contest.
The only bottom-half side facing top-seven opposition are Birmingham Moseley (10th), who entertain promotion-chasing Plymouth Albion (2nd) in the 16:30 kick-off at Billesley Common.
Moseley, like Sedgley, are not yet clear of trouble, but a three-match unbeaten run at home offers encouragement.
Plymouth, however, arrive in superb form. The title contenders have won 10 successive matches and have been good value for their brilliant run.
With a later kick-off time, Plymouth will know the outcome of league leaders Rotherham Titans’ (1st) clash at Tonbridge Juddians (7th) before taking to the field.
Harvey Biljon’s men, who are one point clear at the summit, have begun 2026 with a string of impressive victories, but a trip to TJs will test their credentials.
Tonbridge Juddians - who will be pleased with their league position - have been consistently inconsistent since returning to Level Three, yet they remain capable of unsettling the division’s heavyweights.
They beat Plymouth 35-25 in October and gave Rotherham a real test in the reverse fixture, leading 28-17 before falling to a 38-28 loss.
Elsewhere, Round 20 also delivers two compelling contests towards the top.
Third meets sixth as Blackheath (3rd) host Rams (6th) at The Utilita.
Blackheath sit eight points behind Rotherham and have won their last seven at home while fifth-placed Rosslyn Park entertain fourth-placed Sale FC in a clash that could shape the promotion narrative.
‘The Dogs’ trail Blackheath by four points and know that victory - against a Rosslyn Park side they have lost to in each of the last four meetings - would keep them firmly in top-three contention.
National Two North
Big games at both ends of the National Two North table immediately catch the eye in Round 20 as the run-in begins to take shape.
We start at the summit, where league leaders Sheffield (1st) welcome Macclesfield (2nd) to Abbeydale Park in what could be a season-defining contest.
Sheffield currently sit four points clear of Macc with two games in hand, and an 18th successive victory of the season on Saturday would tighten their grip on the title race.
That said, the table-toppers have not had everything their own way.
Last time out, they were forced to dig deep for a 24-10 bonus-point win at 12th-placed Hull - a reminder that while their record this term has been almost flawless, it has required resolve as well as quality.
Macclesfield will have taken note. Their 36-28 comeback victory over Billingham in Round 19 underlined their own resilience and intent.
The Blues know the scale of the challenge on Saturday. Sheffield have lost just once in their last 32 matches at Abbeydale Park, but a ninth away win of the season for the Cheshire outfit would certainly alter the complexion of the title race.
Third-placed Tynedale, who are just four points behind Macclesfield and the play-off spot, will keep close tabs on events in Yorkshire.
They host Fylde (6th), who themselves are seeking a response after one of the most dramatic results of last weekend.
Fylde surrendered a commanding 33-8 second-half lead at home to Scunthorpe (13th), with the visitors staging a remarkable comeback to snatch a 36-33 victory at Woodlands.
The result lifted Tony Wilkinson’s side off the foot of the table and to within three points of Hull (12th), who they entertain this weekend.
Scunthorpe also hold three games in hand over Hull and, having edged the reverse fixture 27-25, Saturday presents a prime opportunity for them to climb out of the relegation zone.
Hull, currently occupying the relegation play-off spot, will draw belief from their spirited showing against Sheffield last time out as they head to Heslam Park.
Rossendale (14th) currently prop up the standings after slipping to the bottom last week.
They are six points adrift of Hull with a game in hand, but defensive frailties are proving costly.
The Stags have conceded 156 points across their last three games and must stem the flow when they travel to Otley (11th) for a key encounter.
Otley’s 38-0 defeat to Sheffield Tigers last time out has dragged them closer to the relegation battle, so a second win since mid-November would provide a significant lift for Kyle Dench’s men.
Elsewhere, Hull Ionians (4th) make the trip to Darlington Mowden Park (5th), while Wharfedale (7th), buoyed by their superb 31-29 victory at Hull Ionians last week, host Preston Grasshoppers (10th).
Round 19 was tough for Preston. Dan Orwin’s side had built a 37-14 lead after 43 minutes against Tynedale, only to be reeled in and beaten 42-37, leaving them still nervously looking over their shoulder.
Finally, Sheffield Tigers (8th) - who have not conceded a single point in their last three home victories - return to Dore Moor to face Billingham (9th).
National Two East
If National Two North promises to be a sizable Saturday, it is also difficult to downplay the intrigue surrounding National Two East.
With the top four going head-to-head and a key clash near the foot of the table, the various narratives are impossible to ignore.
At the summit, attention turns to Occupation Road where Oundle (2nd) host leaders Old Albanian (1st) in a meeting of the top two.
As it stands, OAs hold a six-point advantage over their nearest challengers and have passed every test put before them since the beginning of December.
Seven successive victories - including three against fellow top-six sides - have kept them in pole position, yet this weekend represents a considerable obstacle in their pursuit of promotion.
James Osborn and Dan George’s side have produced some eye-catching and clinical rugby at times this season, but they now encounter an Oundle outfit full of power, quality and experience.
A well-drilled and destructive set-piece has underpinned Oundle’s campaign to date, and they enter Round 20 unbeaten in 11 matches.
Their 21-21 draw at Dorking last week allowed OAs to create some breathing room, but with Oundle having lost just once at home all season, a victory for the hosts on Saturday could see this title race go to the wire.
Should the result swing the other way, however, it would represent a major step towards National One for Old Albanian.
Keeping a close eye on events will be Bury St Edmunds (3rd) and Canterbury (4th), who meet at the GK IPA Haberden.
Bury’s ruthless 68-14 win over Havant last time out leaves them eight points behind OAs but just two adrift of Oundle, so any misstep by the latter could open the door for James Shanahan’s men to climb into the play-off position.
The Wolfpack have won their last six at home, while Canterbury arrive eager to respond to back-to-back defeats.
A narrow 27-24 loss to Old Albanian last week has left Canterbury 12 points off the top two. If promotion aspirations are to remain alive, a result in Suffolk might be essential.
At the other end of the table, Henley (13th) enter Round 20 with renewed belief.
Their impressive 54-12 victory over Oxford Harlequins last time out has moved them to within five points of the final safety spot - a position currently occupied by this weekend’s opponents, Esher (11th).
While the Hawks appear to be building confidence, Esher find themselves at the other end of the spectrum.
Mike Brown’s side have lost all five matches since the turn of the year, collecting just three points in the process. The EEEs risk being drawn deeper into the relegation battle, though a win at Molesey Road would provide a timely boost.
Elsewhere, bottom club Oxford Harlequins (14th) will continue their fight when they host Dorking (6th) - a fixture they won 48-24 last season - while Sevenoaks (12th), who sit just one point clear of the drop zone in the 'relegation play-off spot', entertain Barnes (5th).
Also in Round 20, Westcombe Park (7th) welcome an in-form Guernsey Raiders (9th) to Goddington Dene, and London Welsh (8th), who have won three of their last four, travel to Havant (10th).
National Two West
The manner of Camborne’s (1st) 59-28 victory over Old Redcliffians in Round 19 meant they would have been pleased to depart Scotland Lane with all five points.
Having flown out of the blocks to establish a commanding 38-7 lead, the league leaders were pegged back to 38-28 before eventually extinguishing a spirited Old Reds fightback in the final quarter.
It was a ninth straight win for ‘Town’, and the afternoon improved even further when news filtered through from Devon that nearest challengers Luctonians had lost 24-23 at fourth-placed Barnstaple.
As a result, Camborne enter Round 20 sitting 12 points clear at the summit and they are edging ever closer to National One, having won 18 of their 19 matches so far this season.
The Cherry and Whites will be firm favourites to maintain their relentless title charge when they host Exeter University (12th), whose focus is firmly fixed on pulling clear of trouble.
Last week’s 38-28 success over rivals Loughborough Students helped with that as Gareth Elliott’s side opened up a six-point cushion between themselves and the trapdoor.
Anything they can collect from their trip to Cornwall this weekend would represent a valuable return.
Returning to the promotion picture, Luctonians (2nd) may view the next fortnight as pivotal - not only in their bid to keep Camborne in their vision, but also to consolidate their place in the top two.
Recent adverse weather has complicated preparations for Rob Lewis and George Thomas’ squad, with snow and sleet disrupting training this week, but they will be quick to dismiss that as an excuse as they look to respond in Round 20.
Lucs are back at Mortimer Park to host Cinderford (6th) before closing out February with a key trip to third-placed Hinckley.
Nine wins from their last 11 outings have propelled Hinckley into third, leaving them 16 points behind Luctonians with a game in hand.
Emyr Lewis’ men travel to bottom club Syston (14th) this weekend and, should they extend their fine form at Barkby Road before welcoming Luctonians in Round 21, the battle for a play-off position could yet gather fresh momentum.
Elsewhere, Barnstaple (4th) - buoyed by last week’s win over Luctonians - head to Chester (11th) in what feels like a key afternoon in Cheshire.
The hosts have lost their last four matches and now sit just five points above the ‘relegation play-off spot’, meaning Rhys Hayes’ side will be desperate to find a spark at Hare Lane.
Home comforts could also prove crucial for Loughborough Students (13th) when they entertain Hornets (5th).
Defeat to Exeter in Round 19 kept the African Violet in the bottom two, so Martin Webdale’s men will know they must improve on a return of one win from their last 10 fixtures if they are to turn their ship around.
Also in the bottom half, two sides beginning to put distance between themselves and danger meet at Crouchley Lane.
Lymm (9th), boosted by last week’s welcome win over Syston, host Old Redcliffians (10th) in the North West, while a mid-table encounter sees Taunton (7th) travel to Redruth (8th).
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