National League Rugby Preview: Noteworthy clashes across the board could shape aspirations
Leeds Tykes face Dings Crusaders in a key battle towards the foot of National One
©Wilbert Walsh
Round 10 in National One and National Two offers several key fixtures that could start to influence the season’s outlook for some clubs.
We'll start with National Two West where at the bottom, Exeter University (13th) host Syston (14th) in Devon, with the visitors still searching for their first win of the season.
The Midlands club are already 14 points behind their opposition on Saturday and 16 behind 11th-placed Old Redcliffians (who occupy the final safety spot) so collecting victories might start to become a necessity for Alex White's side.
Table rivals Loughborough Students (12th) face a tough test away at high-flying Barnstaple (3rd), while Old Redcliffians (11th) travel to an in-form Hinckley (7th), who have won three of their last four.
After slipping up against Hinckley in Round Nine, Luctonians (2nd) will look to respond when they welcome Chester (10th) to Mortimer Park. Elsewhere, it’s fourth versus sixth as Lymm visit Hornets in what should be an entertaining encounter, while Redruth (5th) take on Cinderford (9th) at Bell Sport & Rugby Park.
Over in National Two North, a crucial run of fixtures towards the top begins this weekend.
Leaders Sheffield - who are nine bonus-point victories from nine - welcome bottom club Scunthorpe (14th) to Abbeydale Park, while the battle just behind them is set to heat up.
Second-placed Darlington Mowden Park travel to Fylde (5th) aiming to extend their seven-match winning streak. This is the first in a sequence of matches that will see DMP face each of their fellow top-five rivals before the Christmas break.
Meanwhile, Tynedale (3rd) - who sit just two points adrift of DMP - visit Macclesfield (4th) in another key clash.
In the bottom half, Billingham (10th) meet Rossendale (12th) in a game both sides will see as a chance to build momentum.
Elsewhere, Hull (13th) host Wharfedale (8th), Sheffield Tigers (11th) - buoyed by last week’s much-needed win over Rossendale - visit an in-form Hull Ionians (6th), and Preston Grasshoppers (7th) take on Otley (9th) at Lightfoot Green.
In National Two East, the battle for positions beneath league leaders Old Albanian remains as tight as ever, with just four points separating Bury St Edmunds (2nd) and Guernsey Raiders (7th).
Fittingly, those two sides meet at Footes Lane on Saturday, with Guernsey unbeaten in six and Bury boasting four consecutive away wins. Last year's corresponding fixture proved to be a thriller with Liam Welch's 78th-minute try snatching a 36-35 victory for the Raiders.
Sandwiched between them, Barnes (3rd) will look to bounce back when they host Havant (10th) while Oundle (4th) are once again at home, taking on bottom side Oxford Harlequins (14th).
Elsewhere, Westcombe Park (5th) - fresh from their Round Nine 36-26 win over Barnes - travel to Henley (11th), Dorking (6th) entertain Sevenoaks (13th), and Esher (8th) are the latest side to tackle table-toppers Old Albanian (1st) away from home.
Meanwhile, Canterbury (9th), who have been hit by injuries, and London Welsh (12th) will both be eyeing a valuable victory from their Round 10 clash as they look to pull clear of danger.
And last but certainly not least, we finish in National One where there are key fixtures at both ends of the table this weekend.
At the bottom, Leeds Tykes (14th) welcome Dings Crusaders (11th) to Yorkshire, with just five points separating the two sides. The hosts are chasing their third win of the season but have shown encouraging form against their table rivals in recent weeks, highlighted by victories over Clifton and Bishop's Stortford respectively.
The Tykes have met Dings just once before - in 2009, in the EDF Energy National Trophy - when Neil Back's side ran out 59-0 winners.
Both teams may also have an eye on proceedings at Silver Leys, where Leicester Lions (12th) travel to Bishop’s Stortford (10th), who will aim to build on their impressive Round Nine win over Rams.
At the top, leaders Rosslyn Park will aim to keep their momentum rolling when they visit Clifton (9th), while the two teams directly below them go head-to-head as Rotherham Titans (2nd) host Blackheath (3rd) in a mouth-watering clash in South Yorkshire.
Two more top-half clashes are also on the running order. At Old Bath Road, sixth-placed Rams host fourth-placed Plymouth Albion, with both sides eager to return to winning ways while Sale FC (5th) face Tonbridge Juddians (7th) in the North-West.
Elsewhere, Birmingham Moseley (13th) travel to Sedgley Park (8th), who will hope their injury worries begin to ease sooner rather than later.
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.jpg "Barnes are once again in the mix towards the top of National Two East")
