There are some fascinating clashes lined up across the board as we light the fuse on November's block of fixtures.
After a one-week hiatus, National League Rugby returns with the action kicking off on Friday night in National One.
Second-placed Richmond - who begin November unbeaten after seven wins from their opening eight games - welcome Birmingham Moseley (7th) to The Atheltic Ground while three miles down the road, Rosslyn Park (4th) entertain Bishop's Stortford (10th).
Park are one of a cluster of clubs across levels three and four who come into this month with momentum behind them. After three straight defeats to open the campaign, Kieran Power has certainly found a winning formula and they enter this weekend having won their last five games.
Based on the fact they haven't dropped a single point in that period, the men from the Rock are actually the form team in the division at the moment.
Speaking on the National League Rugby Preview Show this week, Rosslyn Park captain Arthur Ellis said: "We didn't really hit the ground running like we wanted to. I think we did have a pretty tough start. Rotherham (3rd) away, newly-promoted team, and they deserved to beat us and two close local derbies against Richmond and Blackheath (5th).
"It didn't start how we wanted it to go but we have bounced back pretty well and things are going in the right direction."
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But continuing their upward trajectory on Friday is unlikely to be an easy task despite six places and nine points separating themselves and Bishop's Stortford. The visitors have faced all of the current top three in their last three games but it is safe to say Tom Coleman's side haven't rolled over.
In Round Six, they made life extremely difficult for league leaders Rams - losing 10-6 - as well as against Richmond last time out (eventually losing 43-31) but in between those results was a superb 45-34 away win at a Rotherham Titans (3rd) side who, at the time, were on a 19-match unbeaten run at home.
"Rotherham away, Rams and Richmond and probably us, I would say, are the four hardest fixtures in the league," said Rosslyn Park back-rower Jack Digby. "For Bishop's Stortford to come away with really good results and even a win [at Rotherham], we are definitely not taking them for granted."
With two games taking place on Friday, it leaves five matches on Saturday with Darlington Mowden Park's (14th) clash with Leicester Lions (12th) a standout fixture. After eight consecutive defeats to begin the campaign, DMP continue to prop up the division while the Lions travel to the North-East with just one win to their name. Round Nine's meeting could act as a catalyst for one of these sides.
Esher (13th) may well have one eye on that contest, with Peter Winterbottom's men taking on Leicester Lions next week, but their immediate attention will be on the visit of Dings Crusaders (9th) while elsewhere, Blackheath - who moved up to fifth last time out - welcome sixth-placed Sale FC to The Utilita and Rotherham Titans (3rd) take on Plymouth Albion (8th) in the first meeting between the clubs for almost five years.
Meanwhile, table-toppers Rams will be aiming to maintain their winning start to the season when they entertain Sedgley Park (11th) at Old Bath Road. Seb Reynolds' charges have won all eight of their games and with some intriguing fixtures to come in the lead up to Christmas, continuing their momentum could be key in their title bid.
It is like the fixtures have been carefully choreographed. (They haven't by the way..!)
Following the break in play last week, National Two North returns with two huge games, not least a top-of-the-table meeting between unbeaten duo Lymm (1st) and Leeds Tykes (2nd) on Saturday.
Both are eight wins from eight but it is Lymm who have the perfect record having collected 40 points from a possible 40. They are, in my opinion, the surprise package of the season so far whereas it has felt predominantly like business as usual for the Tykes - and that is full credit to Pete Seabourne's side.
After a brilliant season last year, they haven't let the disappointment of being pipped to promotion by Rotherham Titans filter into their thinking and many followers of National Two North would have expected an excellent Leeds side - who have now won 32 of their last 34 matches - to be towards the summit heading into November.
Saying this, their last two fixtures against Sheffield (3rd) away [a 13-12 victory] and Preston Grasshoppers (6th) at home [a 35-29 win] have been anything but straightforward, and early title rivals Lymm experienced something similar in Round Eight.
In terms of attack, there are multiple examples of Lymm operating at optimum level this season - highlighted by the fact they have scored the most points in the league [338] - but last time out against Hull, we saw the other side to their game as Adam Fletcher and Andy Davies' men hauled themselves back into a winning position.
Trailing 18-7 at the break to a Hull side who had beaten Wharfedale (5th) away from home and had run Sheffield extremely close in Round Six, Lymm capitalised on some indiscipline from their hosts and engineered their way back into the contest to depart Yorkshire with a 24-18 bonus-point success.
"Both sides are coming into the match with unbeaten records, setting up an intriguing battle."@LeedsTykes braced for top-of-the-table clash@harrysarticles reports ????https://t.co/7PAQJv6UcH
— Yorkshire Post Sport (@YPSport) November 8, 2024
So the Cheshire outfit once again passed the latest test thrown down to them but this weekend could provide a true indication of what they might be able to achieve this season. Eight victories from eight and maximum points obviously speaks volumes but adding another win to that tally against Leeds Tykes could have Lymm dreaming.
And it also feels like a significant weekend down at the foot of the table with Tynedale (14th) travelling to Sheffield Tigers (13th) for a battle of the bottom two. Tyne are still yet to taste that winning feeling this term and despite an encouraging start against Fylde (4th) in Round Eight, they eventually slipped to a 45-22 home defeat.
As for the Tigers, they enter November in better spirits after opening their account for the season with a 34-33 victory over 12th-placed Harrogate last time out. Another win against a team around them in the standings would boost morale further at Dore Moor.
Also across National Two North this weekend, third-placed Sheffield host Wharfedale (5th), England Rugby's Team of the Month for October for Levels 3 & 4 - Fylde (4th) - will be targeting a sixth straight win when they take on Otley (7th) and Preston Grasshoppers (6th) entertain Billingham (10th).
Elsewhere, Hull Ionians (8th) face Harrogate (12th) and Chester (9th) are up against Hull (11th).
Tonbridge Juddians (1st) have made the kind of start to a season that many would dream of. Jordan Turner-Hall and Seb Sherwood's side are flying and only the aforementioned Lymm in National Two North can boast an unblemished record.
A maximum haul of 40 points from 40 is an impressive opening especially when you consider TJs have already seen off Guernsey Raiders (2nd), Dorking (3rd) and Kent rivals Canterbury (6th).
And their possible promotion credentials are set for their toughest examination yet when they visit Barnes (4th) in Round Nine. Jack Heald's men have lost just one of their last six matches but maybe more significantly, they have won their last eight home fixtures. It is a run which stretches back to last December and it is a sequence of results which actually begun by beating Tonbridge Juddians 16-12 so can Barnes repeat that feat and halt the TJs machine?
There is also another intriguing battle towards the top of National Two East this weekend with second-placed Guernsey Raiders visiting Henley Hawks (5th). The Hawks had an efficient and productive October and enter November's block of fixtures on the back of three successive victories so can they cause Jordan Reynolds' men problems at Dry Leas?
?? And the 'breakdown' of the main show??
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?? #Nat2w: https://t.co/SJRoYttFvG?? @dr_gilyons, @Mike_Inkley , Jonathan Knight + @JDPThomas pic.twitter.com/3JjVIf1EOZ
— National League Rugby (@Natleague_rugby) November 7, 2024
Dorking (3rd) will be eager to pick up from where they left off as they target an eighth straight win at home to Sevenoaks (12th) - who got off the mark last time out.
Down at the other end of the table, the pressure to begin picking up positive results was underlined last week by bottom club Colchester parting ways with head coach Craig Burrows after what they described as 'a difficult start the season'.
The Raven Park club have collected just four points from their first eight matches and after promotion to National Two East last term, the hierarchy at Colchester decided it was time for a change.
Forwards coach and ex-Northampton Saint Mikey Haywood has taken interim charge of the club ahead of their meeting with Westcombe Park (9th) this weekend.
Like Colchester, Worthing (13th) are still seeking their first win of the season. Fred Pierrepont's side continue to scoop up bonus-points but a maiden victory is what they will be after, something they will look to achieve away at 11th-placed Oxford Harlequins.
Elsewhere, Canterbury (6th) and Old Albanian (8th) ended October with successive defeats so they will want to halt that dip in form when the pair meet at Woollams while Bury St Edmunds (7th) take on Havant (10th).
Camborne (1st) have made an impressive start to the season with seven wins from their first eight games but noticeably, they already have a seven-point cushion at the top of the division. Whilst the teams below them jostle for position and take points of one another, Steve Larkins' men have certainly set the pace with some eye-catching rugby but out to stop the Cherry and Whites in their stride are Old Redcliffians (5th).
After a brilliant fourth-placed finish for Dan Cox's troops last season, the Bristol outfit are in the mix again this term and it is their results at Scotland Lane which are keeping them towards the right end of the table.
Their home form will be the envy of many. Old Reds have won 14 straight matches on their own patch and only Leeds Tykes in National Two North have a better record (18). It is a run which stretches back to October of last year and one they are keen to extend on Saturday against the league leaders.
Thanks for having us on the show! Can’t wait for Saturday, another great challenge at Scotland Lane @Natleague_rugby @OldRedsRFC https://t.co/CeeqUKvoNw
— Dan Cox (@CoxD88) November 7, 2024
"It is our patch, it is Scotland Lane," Old Redcliffians' Dan Fry told the National League Rugby Preview Show. "It is difficult to come to us. We know how to play it there.
"Someone said to me the other day; 'What is it?' I don't know! If you could bottle it up and sell it, I think you could make a fair bit of money in the rugby world! It is a special place and I know this weekend is going to be a tough match but we will be giving it our all as we want to be pushing it [the record] out to another game on the win list."
Camborne's visit to Old Redcliffians is one of three top-half clashes in National Two West which includes an in-form Taunton Titans (2nd) - who have won their last five games - going to Clifton (6th) while Loughborough Students (4th) take the trip to Cinderford (7th).
Four of the bottom five also meet in Round Nine with Devonport Services (14th) seeking a first win of the campaign at home against Redruth (10th) while Macclesfield (12th) will be aiming to translate their home performances on to the road when they go to a Hinckley (13th) side aiming for a third straight home win.
Elsewhere, Luctonians (3rd) entertain Hornets (9th) - with the visitors eyeing up a possible fourth straight victory - while Bournville (8th) are at Exeter University (11th).
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