National League Rugby Round Four: Final September fixtures bring opportunities to many
National One's Blackheath (pictured) face Rosslyn Park in one of the fixtures of the weekend
©Nick King
And just like that, September is almost over, but Round Four offers plenty of clubs the chance to head into October with a spring in their step.
National One
As September draws to a close, Round Four may present an opportunity for Plymouth Albion (1st) and Rotherham Titans (2nd) to create some breathing room between themselves and their fellow early front-runners.
With the third and fourth-placed sides (Rosslyn Park and Blackheath), as well as fifth and sixth (Tonbridge Juddians and Rams), facing off this weekend, both Albion and Rotherham could capitalise.
Plymouth have begun the season efficiently, securing victories over newly promoted Leeds Tykes and Clifton before travelling to Bishop’s Stortford to claim a maximum in Round Three.
This weekend, they welcome winless Leicester Lions (13th) to Brickfields, a fixture that, on paper, offers Albion the chance to end September with a perfect record which would give them a strong platform to attack the rest of the season from.
Rotherham Titans, meanwhile, conclude September with a home fixture against Bishop’s Stortford (9th).
Clifton Lane has been a fortress in recent seasons, with the Titans accumulating 29 wins from their last 30 home games. However, the only side to breach their walls since February 2023 were Bishop’s Stortford, who pulled off a memorable 45-34 victory in South Yorkshire almost a year ago.
Tom Coleman’s men will hope to replicate that upset, though it will be a formidable challenge.
Elsewhere, the weekend’s clashes between third and fourth, as well as fifth and sixth, promise plenty of excitement. Blackheath (4th) and Rosslyn Park (3rd) - both boasting perfect records - meet at The Utilita, where a victory for either side would further underline their ambitions for this season. Meanwhile, Tonbridge Juddians (5th) travel to Berkshire to take on Rams (6th).
At the other end of the table, newly promoted Clifton (14th) have endured a testing start to life in the third tier. Home fixtures against Blackheath and Rotherham, combined with a trip to Plymouth, were always going to be demanding. The Lavendar and Blacks will be hoping for improved fortunes beginning with Saturday’s visit to Sedgley Park (7th).
Leeds Tykes (12th) go to Sale FC (8th) with similar aspirations of ending a difficult opening month on a high, while Dings Crusaders (11th) travel to Birmingham Moseley (10th) as they also look to lift spirits.
National Two North
This time last year, Tynedale (2nd) were still finding their feet under a new coaching structure.
With former boss Ben Woods having to step aside, Peter Southern - supported by a strong team including Dean Richards, Carl Fearns, Bill Laidlaw, Louie Brown, and Tom Wilkinson - oversaw a challenging start to the 2024/25 campaign, with no wins from their first eight matches.
But since then, the North-East club have transformed their fortunes. A surge up the table saw them finish fifth last term, and they have carried that momentum into this season, beginning with a maximum of 15 points from their opening three games.
Their first win of last season came away at Sheffield Tigers (10th), and incidentally, Tynedale close September with the same fixture as they chase a full house of points. The Tigers, however, will be buoyed by their narrow 19-18 victory at Scunthorpe last weekend - their first triumph of the campaign.
The only other side to match Tynedale’s perfect start are league leaders Sheffield (1st), who have gone about their business with real authority. Anthony Posa’s men will aim to keep their run intact when they travel to Hull Ionians (7th).
Elsewhere, Macclesfield (3rd) have enjoyed a dream return to National Two North following a year in National Two West. Three wins from three represent an ideal start, and they will put their unbeaten record on the line away at Preston Grasshoppers (6th), who have opened with two victories from three.
Fylde (4th), who remain unbeaten (two wins and a draw), will look to end September on a high when they host Hull (13th), who are adjusting to life under new head coach Dec Cusack.
Meanwhile, a first meeting in 14 years sees Billingham (11th) welcome Darlington Mowden Park (5th) to Greenwood Road. The last time these North-East rivals clashed, Billingham edged a 24-21 contest in the old National Three North and with six wins from their last seven home outings, they will fancy their chances of repeating that feat.
A Yorkshire derby also awaits as Otley (8th) face Wharfedale (12th), while promoted Rossendale (9th) host fellow newcomers Scunthorpe (14th) at Marl Pits.
National Two East
Like in National Two North, two sides in National Two East remain perfect after three rounds - Old Albanian (1st) and Esher (2nd) - though their paths to the top have been very different.
For OAs, consistency has been the key. Solid, clinical home displays against Bury St Edmunds and Guernsey, combined with a hard-fought victory at London Welsh, leaves them sitting pretty.
Esher’s route, by contrast, has been far less serene. A bonus-point win over Sevenoaks in Round One was followed by two late escapes: first edging Westcombe Park 31-29 in Round Two before Sam Bland’s last-gasp try sealed a dramatic 40-36 victory over Havant last weekend.
Peter Winterbottom’s side will hope for a smoother ride in Round Four when they travel to Bury St Edmunds (10th). The hosts, though, will take confidence from a remarkable Round Three comeback, overturning a 19-point deficit in the final 25 minutes to defeat Oxford Harlequins 45-38.
Old Albanian, meanwhile, face unbeaten Barnes (4th), with meetings between these two sides rarely decided by more than fine margins.
Havant (3rd) may have been left deflated by their late defeat to Esher, but after finishing 11th last season, Rob Matthews and Will Knight will still be delighted with their team’s progress.
They return to Hooks Lane this weekend to host Sevenoaks (11th), who will be fresh from their first win of the season - a 79th-minute intercept try from winger Jacob Ivell sealing derby day glory against Westcombe Park.
As for Westcombe Park (8th), they could easily have been three from three, and while the near misses we have mentioned will frustrate Chris Green’s side, they will have regrouped ahead of another Kent derby away at Canterbury (7th).
Elsewhere, newcomers Oundle (5th) continue to impress. Their dominant pack laid the platform for a 50-38 victory over London Welsh last weekend, and they travel to winless Guernsey (14th) full of confidence.
London Welsh (12th) are still searching for their first victory despite being competitive in every match so far. They host Oxford Harlequins (13th) at Old Deer Park, with both sides desperate to break their duck.
And finally, Dorking (6th) will be aiming for a third win from their opening four games when they visit Henley Hawks (9th).
National Two West
Potentially tricky tests await National Two West’s early pace-setters, Camborne (1st) and Cinderford (2nd), as the curtain comes down on September.
For Camborne, last season’s near title miss seems to have sharpened their focus. The Cherry and Whites have flown out of the blocks with three wins from three, racking up 20 tries in the process.
On Saturday, they travel to Hinckley (9th), who have only one victory so far but came close in this corresponding fixture last term. On that occasion, a Ben Priddey brace in the final quarter turned the tide in Camborne’s favour as they edged a 44-39 encounter in the Midlands. Hinckley will hope to summon the same fight again.
Cinderford, meanwhile, put their own perfect start on the line away at Hornets (5th), where the hosts have built an impressive home record. Jon Richardson and Jack Gadd’s side have lost just twice at The Nest in the last 12 months - against Camborne and last year’s eventual champions Clifton.
Cinderford, themselves, came within a whisker of winning there last November, before Corey Baker’s 79th-minute try salvaged a 29-29 draw for Hornets. A repeat of that intensity would make for another absorbing West Country clash.
Hornets will also be eager to respond after a heavy 40-17 defeat to newly promoted Barnstaple (3rd) last time out. The Chiefs, buoyed by two wins from their opening three games, travel to Taunton Titans (11th), who opened their account in Round Three.
Elsewhere, Luctonians (4th) will aim to maintain their momentum away at Exeter University (7th), while Lymm (6th) look to continue their impressive start by targeting a third win from four matches against Loughborough Students (13th).
Redruth (8th) will also be eyeing a strong finish to the month when they visit newly promoted Syston (14th), who are edging closer to their first win of the campaign.
Alex White’s side fell to a 20-7 loss at Chester in Round Three and will want to turn promise into something more tangible, while Chester (10th) themselves head to Old Redcliffians (12th), with the hosts still seeking their first victory of the season.
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