National League Rugby Preview: Christmas crackers across the board but don’t expect any goodwill
Camborne and Luctonians clash in a top-of-the-table meeting in National Two West
©Daniel Rule Photography
We have reached the halfway point of the season, and Round 13 has gifted us a set of fixtures which include top-of-the-table tussles and crucial clashes towards the bottom.
National One
It might be one of the most overused clichés at this time of year, but a cluster of teams in National One wouldn’t mind an early Christmas gift in Round 13.
We’ll focus on the top shortly, but with four of the bottom five meeting this weekend, the season of goodwill may be absent for at least 80 minutes.
Birmingham Moseley (12th) couldn’t have hoped for a better start under new head coach Ollie Thomas, who, alongside Director of Rugby Adam Balding, guided their side to a vital 42-17 victory over table rivals Leeds Tykes in Round 12.
Given Moseley’s form in the first three months of the season (two wins from 11 games), December was always going to be pivotal in shaping their fortunes for the second half of the campaign.
With a trip to bottom-of-the-table Leicester Lions to come next week, Moseley will be eager to build momentum when they welcome Clifton (10th) to Billesley Common on Saturday.
The Lavender and Blacks know all about ‘momentum’ having strung together a four-match winning run, but that streak ended in Round 12 at home to Tonbridge Juddians.
Matt Salter and Luke Cozens’ side will be looking to bounce back immediately in the Midlands, having won three of their last four on the road.
The bottom two also clash this weekend, with Leicester Lions (14th) visiting Dings Crusaders (13th).
The Lions once again troubled one of the front-runners - second-placed Rosslyn Park needed to dig deep to leave Westleigh Park with the five points last week - so Gareth Collins will hope to see the same character from his side in Bristol.
Dings, meanwhile, come into this one on the back of five straight defeats, but there were positives to take from last week’s 33-26 loss at Bishop’s Stortford, which the Crusaders may look to harness for this crucial encounter.
At the summit, just five points separate the top four, which lends itself to another mouth-watering fixture on Saturday.
It is third versus fourth as Plymouth Albion (3rd) host Sale FC (4th) at Brickfields, with both sides full of festive spirit.
Albion have won their last three matches and have lost just once in their last 12 home games, while Sale arrive with four consecutive victories behind them.
‘The Dogs’ will also travel in the knowledge that they have won on three of their last four visits to Devon, including a 28-24 victory on the opening day of last season.
Above them, Rotherham Titans (1st) and Rosslyn Park (2nd) both have home fixtures.
The Titans, fresh from a significant 35-31 win at Rams, entertain Sedgley Park (8th), who have conceded 155 points in their last three away games against top-half opposition.
Added to that, Roth have won 32 of their last 33 home games, with their last defeat before this streak coming against Sedge back in February 2023.
Meanwhile, Rosslyn Park renew acquaintances with sixth-placed Rams. Last season’s 27-26 thriller at The Rock was Park’s only win in their previous nine meetings against Rams, so the visitors will hope that sequence can continue in the capital.
Elsewhere, after a narrow loss at Sale in Round 12, Blackheath (5th) will aim to return to winning ways when they host Leeds Tykes (11th), while National One’s in-form side Bishop’s Stortford (9th) will look for a fifth consecutive win when they visit Tonbridge Juddians (7th).
National Two North
When the final whistle blows on Saturday, National Two North leaders Sheffield (1st) will have played all of their fellow top six sides away from home.
Anthony Posa’s charges have already come through visits to Macclesfield, Tynedale, Fylde and Hull Ionians, results which have helped them establish a four-point lead at the summit.
The Steel City side also have a game in hand over their title rivals, so their position could be strengthened further if they can add third-placed Darlington Mowden Park to their list of away scalps.
DMP saw their nine-match unbeaten run come to an end last week following a 38-24 defeat at Macclesfield, but they knew December would be demanding, with a North-East derby against Tynedale also looming large next weekend.
For now though, all focus will be on finding a way to topple the league leaders - something no one has managed this season.
Macclesfield (2nd) will be keen observers after climbing into second place in Round 12.
The Blues powered to a fourth straight victory and could end the calendar year - which began in a relegation battle in National Two West - inside the top two, particularly if they can depart Otley (8th) with a win.
Fourth-placed Tynedale, who are just three points behind Macc, begin their festive derbies by hosting Billingham (9th), while Fylde (5th) will be eyeing a sixth consecutive away victory when they make the trip to Lancashire counterparts Rossendale (13th).
It’s a very different story for Rossendale, though, who are desperate for some Christmas cheer. Eight straight defeats have dragged them into the relegation places, whereas things might finally be turning for table rivals Hull (12th).
Talisman Reece Dean guided Hull to a valuable 24-18 win over Otley in Round 12 - a result which lifted them out of the drop zone - and they’ll now look to build on that triumph when they visit Sheffield Tigers (11th).
Elsewhere, Scunthorpe (14th) begin a series of key games against sides in the bottom half when they go to Wharfedale (10th) and Preston Grasshoppers (7th), buoyed by their remarkable 32-20 win over Rossendale last week, visit sixth-placed Hull Ionians.
National Two East
One fan forum recently labelled National Two East as ‘bonkers’, and a quick look at the top of the table supports that claim.
Just two rounds ago, leaders Old Albanian (1st) held an eight-point cushion at the summit, but now that advantage has dissolved.
A defeat to Sevenoaks was followed by a tough 40-31 home loss to Westcombe Park, who played the final half-hour with 14 men and still crossed for four tries in a 10-minute window.
Despite a rough couple of weeks, OAs still lead the way, and Round 13 perhaps offers them a chance to reassert their title credentials.
James Osborn and Dan George’s men travel to 12th-placed Havant - who will be eager to back up their previous home win over Henley - but with OAs’ closest challengers facing each other this weekend, the leaders may see an opening to strengthen their grip on top spot.
Breathing down the necks of Old Albanian are Oundle (2nd), who sit level on points with the table-toppers after seven wins from their last eight.
They showcased their sheer strength to overcome Sevenoaks last time out, and their ferocious forward pack and slick backline will lock horns with Westcombe Park (5th) on Saturday - a side who also boast significant power up front.
Just seven points separate the two teams, but only points difference divides Dorking (3rd) and Bury St Edmunds (4th) ahead of their meeting in Suffolk this weekend.
Dorking visit the GK IPA Haberden having won their last five games - all in a controlled and clinical fashion - while Bury have claimed five victories from their last six, underlining why the two clubs are virtually inseparable in the standings.
With four of the top five sides clashing, expect the wonderfully ‘bonkers’ nature of National Two East to continue.
Elsewhere, it feels like a crucial fortnight before Christmas for bottom club Oxford Harlequins (14th).
Pete Davies’ developing side face two teams directly above them, with Havant visiting the Horspath Sports Ground next weekend, but before that, they travel to Sevenoaks (12th).
Oxford Quins have already beaten fellow bottom-two side Henley this season, so if they are to begin climbing out of danger, adding at least one more win to their record over the next two weeks will be vital.
Despite facing the top two in successive fixtures, Sevenoaks will have a spring in their step after two extremely positive displays while table rivals Henley (13th) could do with a slice of that encouragement.
Boss Luke Allen was visibly downbeat following their 54-18 home defeat to Bury St Edmunds last time out, but the Hawks remain up for the fight as they go in search of a much-needed win away at London Welsh (9th).
The hosts, meanwhile, appear to be finding their feet in this division following last season’s promotion, particularly after their gritty 7-0 win at Barnes in Round 12.
That result secured back-to-back victories for Cai Griffiths’ men and ended Barnes’ unbeaten home record, so the latter will be eager to respond when they travel to Guernsey (8th) on Saturday.
And finally, an in-form Canterbury (7th) will be eyeing a fourth straight win when they head to Esher (10th).
National Two West
Title decider? It might be too soon to put labels on things, but Camborne’s (1st) clash with Luctonians (2nd) is arguably the standout fixture of the weekend across National League Rugby.
Just three points separate the top two as they prepare to meet at The Recreation Ground, a venue where Camborne haven’t tasted defeat since April 2024.
Tom Kessell’s side have racked up 18 consecutive home wins and enter this top-of-the-table showdown on the back of a hard-earned 19-14 away victory at Cinderford.
And what of Luctonians?
While Camborne have taken 10 points from their last three outings, George Thomas’ troops have stayed firmly on the coattails of the leaders thanks to three successive bonus-point wins.
Since their Round Nine loss to Hinckley, Lucs have kept the pressure on and head to Cornwall boasting a perfect away record of five wins from five.
The sharpest attack in the league (Camborne) meets the sternest defence in the division (Luctonians). It is safe to say this one has all the ingredients for an early Christmas cracker.
Third-placed Barnstaple will be watching events in the South-West with interest, but they have their own task to tackle in the Midlands.
Barum sit six points behind second-placed Luctonians and travel to bottom-club Syston this week, with the hosts continuing to show spirit and build confidence despite anchoring the table.
Across the last five rounds, no team in National League Rugby has collected more points than Hinckley (4th), though Emyr Lewis’ side had to dig deep to keep that run going in Round 12.
Three tries in the final 13 minutes secured all five points against Exeter University, and the Midlands outfit will now aim for a sixth consecutive bonus-point win when they head to Redruth (9th), who have lost their last five.
Last time out, fifth-placed Hornets extended their perfect home record to seven wins, but only just. Their 18-15 victory over Old Redcliffians was far from straightforward, with their visitors missing all three conversions and Hornets picking up four yellow cards across the afternoon.
A late try-saving tackle on Old Reds flyer Harrison Murphy ultimately proved decisive, but Hornets will now want to carry their home form into their final two away fixtures before Christmas, starting with a trip to Exeter University (12th).
Elsewhere, sixth-placed Lymm will look to protect their unbeaten home record when Cinderford (8th) visit Cheshire.
At the other end of the table, second-from-bottom Loughborough Students may view the visit of Chester (10th) as a real opportunity to return to winning ways.
The African Violet have lost their last three, but Chester are yet to win away from home, and Martin Webdale’s side will hope to exploit that as they aim to climb out of the relegation places.
Old Redcliffians (11th) may be targeting something similar when Taunton (7th) arrive at Scotland Lane. Despite the Titans climbing the table thanks to recent strong home form, just one win on their travels may give an improving Old Reds side confidence in Bristol.
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