National League Rugby Preview: A key weekend for those towards the bottom and some tasty ties at the top
Clifton are one teams in a tight battle towards the foot of National One
©Ian Clark
The spotlight falls on crucial fixtures at the wrong end of the standings, while there is the usual helping of standout clashes towards the top of all four leagues.
National One
Two sides at opposite ends of the National One table kick off Round 16 on Friday night as Sale FC (4th) travel to second-from-bottom Leeds Tykes (13th).
In terms of the visitors, they find themselves in the title conversation having moved up to fourth spot following last Saturday’s gritty 18-12 victory away at Rams.
Six wins from their last seven matches leaves Jonathan Keep’s troops six points behind new leaders Plymouth Albion, and they could rise to as high as second before Saturday’s action.
Achieving that, of course, depends on Sale collecting maximum points in West Yorkshire, but Leeds will have other plans.
The Tykes’ opening fixture of the new year against Sedgley Park was postponed last week, but their closing statement of 2025 may still be on their mind.
Leeds’ 19-18 victory over Sale’s title rivals Rotherham before Christmas showed they can compete with the top sides, and a similar performance could give their survival bid a significant boost.
As it stands, Pete Seabourne and Pete Lucock’s charges sit five points from safety, but the majority of the teams around them meet this weekend.
Clifton (12th) - who slipped into the bottom three after their Round 15 clash against Rotherham was called off - host ninth-placed Sedgley Park, with just one point separating the two sides.
Back in Round Four, the Lavender and Blacks notched their first win of the season against The Tigers, so they will be hoping lightning can strike twice.
Sandwiched between Clifton and Sedgley Park are Dings Crusaders (11th) and Birmingham Moseley (10th), who collide at Shaftesbury Park.
Dings leapfrogged Bristol rivals Clifton last week after earning two bonus points in their 36-31 defeat at Tonbridge Juddians, but are now aiming for a third successive home win.
Moseley, meanwhile, return after their Round 15 game versus Rosslyn Park was postponed, buoyed by three straight victories in December.
At the top, Plymouth Albion (1st) moved to the summit last week following a 39-17 triumph over Bishop’s Stortford.
Ryan Lamb’s side have now won six consecutive games and hold a two-point lead over second-placed Blackheath.
This weekend, Plymouth travel to bottom-of-the-table Leicester Lions (14th), who are 14 points adrift of safety, while Blackheath (2nd) head to Rosslyn Park (5th) for a London derby.
'Club' announced this week that head coach Tom Stradwick has extended his stay at The Utilita for “at least another three years,” with the hierarchy delighted by their progression this term.
Rosslyn Park, meanwhile, will be keen to move past a frustrating festive period that saw them lose four of their final five games of 2025.
Elsewhere, Rotherham Titans (3rd) could only watch on last week as their fellow title candidates picked up victories so Harvey Biljon’s side will be itching to get back out there for the first time in four weeks when they visit Bishop’s Stortford (8th).
And finally, Tonbridge Juddians (6th), fresh from back-to-back wins for the first time this season, host Rams (7th) in Kent.
National Two North
We might not be at the ‘must-win’ stage of the season just yet, but Scunthorpe’s (13th) clash with Rossendale (14th) in Round 16 feels like a crucial fixture.
The bottom two meet at Heslam Park this weekend, with Scunthorpe four points behind Hull (12th) but with two games in hand.
The Greens weren’t in action last Saturday as their trip to Sheffield Tigers was postponed, so they will be aiming to build on their previous result, which was a 29-22 home victory over Otley just before Christmas.
Another win would be a significant boost for Tony Wilkinson’s side, but the taste of success would be equally as sweet for Rossendale.
The Stags haven’t won since they faced Scunthorpe back in Round Four, and although they have lost their last 10 matches, they remain only five points adrift of Hull (with a game in hand), who occupy the relegation play-off spot.
A victory in Lincolnshire on Saturday would be huge for Sam Bedlow’s side, while a defeat could be a real blow to their survival hopes.
As referenced, Hull (12th) are the team just above the danger zone and with their table rivals not in action last week due to postponements, Dec Cusack’s side took full advantage.
Harry Gunn-McLean’s try seven minutes from time sealed a 24-21 away win at Preston, so Hull will be looking to build on that wonderful result when they host Fylde (6th) this weekend.
While Hull did win this corresponding fixture 23-21 last season, repeating that feat will be challenging as Fylde have won all six of their away games this term.
At the summit, Sheffield (1st) return to action, aiming to pick up from where they left off in 2025.
Anthony Posa’s men have won all 13 of their matches to date, and hold a four-point cushion at the top - with a game in hand - as they prepare for a tricky assignment against Hull Ionians (4th) at Abbeydale Park.
The I’s will arrive on the back of five wins from their final six matches of last year, and like Fylde, Maliq Holden’s side travel well.
They are currently on a run of six straight away bonus-point victories, but playing at Sheffield - who have lost just one of their last 30 home games - is a very different kettle of fish.
Second-placed Macclesfield may follow that scoreline closely as they resume at home against Preston Grasshoppers (8th).
The Blues recorded six consecutive bonus-point wins before the Christmas break and will aim to extend that run in Cheshire.
Third-placed Tynedale will also look to start 2026 strongly. The North-East side picked up maximum points last month, conceding just one try in the process, and now host Sheffield Tigers (10th) at Tynedale Park.
Also in the North-East, Darlington Mowden Park (5th) entertain local rivals Billingham (11th), with both sides eager to put a winless December behind them, while a Yorkshire derby sees Wharfedale (7th) take on Otley (9th).
National Two East
After last Saturday’s solid and important 32-21 victory over Esher, Havant (11th) will be targeting three wins on the spin when they travel to table rivals Sevenoaks (12th) in Round 16.
Rob Matthews and Will Knight’s side impressed in front of a crowd of nearly 1,000 at Hooks Lane, and if they can transfer that type of performance onto the road, things will certainly be looking up for Havant.
Their Round 15 success saw them leapfrog Sevenoaks in the standings, and four points now separate the two sides ahead of their meeting at Knole Paddock.
Oaks come into this contest having lost back-to-back Kent derbies, but they did beat Havant 48-33 in the reverse fixture back in September following a blistering final quarter.
With Adam Bowman’s men just three points above the trapdoor, a sixth win of the season would be extremely timely.
Henley Hawks (13th) sit directly behind Sevenoaks, and after a narrow 28-21 defeat at an in-form Canterbury last weekend, Luke Allen’s side are once again on the road in Round 16.
They travel to The Big Field to face fifth-placed Dorking, a venue where the Hawks won at last season.
Almost exactly a year ago, Max Titchener’s late penalty sealed a 23-22 victory, but Henley are still searching for their first away win of the campaign, while Dorking have won their last four home matches.
At the foot of the table, Oxford Harlequins (14th) sit 16 points behind Sevenoaks, but for those at the Horspath Sports Ground who still believe their side can turn things around, this weekend’s visit of London Welsh (10th) may offer renewed optimism.
Pete Davies’ side have managed just two wins this term, but one of those victories came away at London Welsh back in Round Four, so they may look to that 24-22 success for inspiration.
The Exiles, meanwhile, will be keen to respond after suffering a 52-24 home defeat to title contenders Oundle last time out.
It was another ruthless display from Oundle (2nd), who extended their unbeaten run to seven matches to stay hot on the heels of leaders Old Albanian. This Saturday, they host Guernsey Raiders (8th) at Occupation Road.
Last week, the Raiders fought back well to secure two bonus points in a 42-35 defeat against Old Albanian, and are one of just three sides to have beaten Oundle this season.
A late try from club stalwart Tom Ceillam sealed a 24-21 win at Footes Lane in Round Four, but a trip to Northamptonshire presents a significant challenge for Jordan Reynolds’ side.
In terms of Old Albanian (1st), they would have been pleased to leave the Channel Islands with five points in Round 15, and they are now targeting a fourth straight victory when they host Barnes (6th).
Barnes arrive at Woollams after completing a league double over Dorking, courtesy of a 23-18 win last weekend. They also defeated Old Albanian earlier this season, 22-21, so could pose a threat once again.
Elsewhere, third-placed Bury St Edmunds - who have lost just one of their last nine games - go to Esher (9th). James Shanahan's side are just four points behind Oundle, so they will be aiming to keep the top two in their sights.
And finally, the form side in National Two East, Canterbury (4th), will look to extend their winning run to seven matches when they travel to Westcombe Park (7th) for the final Kent derby of the season.
Taff Gwilliam and Matt Corker’s side added to their streak last week with a victory over Henley, but will want to sharpen up ahead of a tough test at Goddington Dene.
Interestingly, Canterbury were in a similar situation in 2024/25. Last February, they headed west in pursuit of a seventh straight win, only to be beaten 22-18 by Westcombe Park.
Combe, however, did lose the reverse fixture this season, 30-23, after a late Eoin O’Donoghue try, so there are plenty of narratives surrounding this latest encounter.
National Two West
A 20th consecutive victory at The Recreation Ground - a run which stretches back to April 2024 - was the ideal way for league leaders Camborne (1st) to kick off the New Year.
With Ben Priddey marking his 150th appearance for the club by scoring four tries, it capped a perfect afternoon for Tom Kessell’s side, who are back on home soil this weekend to face fifth-placed Hinckley.
After demolishing Loughborough Students 74-38 last Saturday, the Cherry and Whites still hold a seven-point lead at the summit, although Hinckley will be no pushovers in Round 16.
Emyr Lewis’ troops were not in action last week after their clash with Taunton was postponed, meaning they resume their campaign having won six of their last seven matches.
However, their only defeat since mid-October came in Cornwall - a 27-10 loss to Redruth in Round 13 - so Hinckley will be hoping for better fortunes in the South-West.
Second-placed Luctonians showed their resilience with a hard-fought 40-29 victory at Old Redcliffians in Round 15, and they are back at Mortimer Park this weekend to host Exeter University (12th).]
The visitors claimed a crucial and resounding 54-12 win over Cinderford last time out to create some daylight between themselves and the bottom two.
With some BUCS Super Rugby regulars still available, Exeter boss Gareth Elliott may again mix them into his National League Rugby squad as he looks to engineer another positive result.
Table rivals and old foes Loughborough Students (13th) may look to do something similar when they welcome Lymm (7th) to the Midlands.
An early red card shown to Jack Murphy made life difficult at Camborne last Saturday, so the African Violet will be keen to halt a six-match winless run as they look to close the four-point gap between themselves and Exeter.
Lymm, though, will have other ideas as they aim to build on their 36-31 comeback win over Redruth and secure a first away victory since October.
As for bottom club Syston (14th), they travel to Redruth (10th), while Old Redcliffians (11th) - who pushed promotion-chasing Luctonians hard last weekend - head to Chester (8th), a side unbeaten in their last four matches.
Elsewhere, there are two West Country derbies to get stuck into. Third-placed Barnstaple, who have won all eight of their home games this season, host Taunton (9th), while fourth-placed Hornets travel to Cinderford (5th), aiming to extend their unbeaten run against the Foresters to four games.
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