National League Rugby: Thrills, spills and possible champions to be crowned on compelling penultimate weekend
Birmingham Moseley face a crucial clash against Clifton in National One, with both sides vying for safety
©Dennis Dixon
A tense penultimate Saturday of the regular season in National One and National Two should bring high stakes, high drama, and major jeopardy.
National One
Last week, Sale FC’s involvement in this season’s absorbing National One promotion race came to an end - and with it, any lingering sense of a four-way fight.
A 40-19 defeat at third-placed Blackheath, coupled with Plymouth Albion’s (2nd) bonus-point win over Sedgley Park, closed the door on ‘The Dogs’.
Now we are left with a three-horse race between Rotherham (1st), Plymouth (2nd) and Blackheath (3rd).
The gap between them is four points, but the momentum is with Rotherham.
An 80-7 dismantling of sixth-placed Rams in Round 24 was less a statement and more of a warning. Harvey Biljon’s side are in the box seat in this title race, and they made that loud and clear.
Victory away at a struggling Sedgley Park on Saturday would leave them on the cusp of a return to Champ Rugby.
The title could even be secured this weekend if results go their way, but a win for either Plymouth or Blackheath will push the battle for top spot into the final round.
Plymouth, on paper, face the trickier assignment in Round 25. A trip to fourth-placed Sale FC - which you'll be able to watch live on Clubber TV - carries risk.
Albion did win in the North-West last season, but that is their only victory in six visits to the Morson Stadium, while Sale have not lost at home since October.
Second place, too, matters for Plymouth even though they are still in the title hunt with two games to go.
If Ryan Lamb’s side were to finish there, they would have home advantage in the National One play-off on May 9th, but right now, that feels like a subplot rather than the main act.
Blackheath, level on points with Plymouth, travel to Leeds Tykes (9th) with momentum of their own.
‘Club’ have racked up eight straight wins - including victories over Rotherham, Plymouth and Sale - but Leeds have proved awkward opponents this season.
Home wins over Rotherham and Rosslyn Park underline that, but last weekend’s dramatic 25-24 victory at table rivals Birmingham Moseley - sealed by Ben Bailey’s late try - could well define their own campaign.
It all but secured Leeds’ status at this level, and two more points would make it certain, though they may not even need that.
Birmingham Moseley (11th), by contrast, are still scrapping, and their trip to Clifton (12th) this weekend now carries even more weight.
Beaten late by Leeds, they sit just two points above the bottom three in the relegation play-off spot - directly above Clifton.
The Lavendar and Blacks have collected 13 points from their last four games - including back-to-back home wins - so a third successive victory at Station Road could be monumental for Clifton's hopes.
Meanwhile, Bristol counterparts Dings Crusaders (10th) have given themselves some breathing room.
Last week’s 40-34 win over Bishop’s Stortford lifted them out of the bottom three, and a trip to already relegated Leicester Lions (14th) presents them with a chance to take another decisive step towards survival.
As for Sedgley Park (13th), time is running out.
Six points adrift of safety, four off the relegation play-off spot and facing the league leaders this weekend, anything other than a positive result against Rotherham would leave them relying on others.
A spirited bonus point in defeat to Plymouth last week once again showcased their resilience, but with a trip to Rams to also conclude the season, it might be too much of an ask for The Tigers to pull off the greatest of escapes.
Elsewhere on the penultimate weekend of the regular season, Rosslyn Park (5th) renew acquaintances with Rams (6th) and Bishop’s Stortford (7th) could secure a top-half finish with a win over Tonbridge Juddians (8th).
National Two North
For the third season running, the National Two North relegation battle could well go the distance.
Last weekend, Hull’s (13th) timely 22-14 win over table rivals Otley blew things open.
That victory could potentially be transformative for Dec Cusack’s side, who are off the foot of the table and four points adrift of the relegation play-off spot.
Now comes the test of backing it up.
Sheffield Tigers (8th) are the opposition at the Ferens Ground in Round 25 before Hull visit Rossendale - the side currently occupying that play-off place - on the final day.
If Hull were to win on Saturday, it could turn next week into a straight shootout.
Rossendale (12th), meanwhile, face a different challenge. A trip across Lancashire to sixth-placed Fylde is on the agenda, with The Stags just three points behind Otley (11th), who are continuing to look nervously over their shoulder.
Last week's defeat to Hull means Otley have now lost seven of their last eight matches.
The timing of this dip in form could hardly be worse, with a visit to play-off chasing Macclesfield (3rd) next before they end the term against newly crowned champions Sheffield at Cross Green.
On paper, this weekend is a daunting task.
Macclesfield have won 10 of 12 at home and, three points behind second-placed Tynedale, the Blues have little room for error if they are to keep their play-off hopes alive.
Tynedale are in control of that equation, though.
Six wins from their last seven - combined with Macc’s 42-41 defeat at Darlington Mowden Park in Round 24 - has put them in pole position for the play-offs, and victory in their North-East derby at Billingham (10th) would keep it that way.
Back at the foot of the table, Scunthorpe (14th) are still fighting.
Four points off the relegation play-off place and with a game in hand to come against Sheffield, they host Wharfedale (7th) this weekend, knowing that another positive result at Heslam Park could be key.
That, however, is far from straightforward. Wharfedale arrive on the back of a 24-12 win over champions Sheffield - the first side to beat them this season.
In terms of Sheffield (1st), they will be desperate to respond in their final outing at Abbeydale Park this season when they host Darlington Mowden Park (5th).
Elsewhere, Hull Ionians (4th) face Preston Grasshoppers (9th) at Lightfoot Green.
National Two East
The title race and relegation battle in National Two East have mirrored each other for much of the season - tight, unpredictable and increasingly intriguing.
And with two rounds remaining, that has not changed.
At the top, Bury St Edmunds (1st) hold a two-point lead after making it six successive wins last time out.
Promotion to National One is a real possibility for James Shanahan’s side, but no one is saying it is done just yet.
Fixtures against two fellow top-four sides will decide that, beginning with Saturday’s visit to fourth-placed Dorking.
The hosts, yet again, were left to rue their indiscipline in Round 24 as two red cards didn’t help their cause in a 43-39 loss away at Havant.
That was the Red and Whites’ first defeat since the end of January, but Dorking do welcome the league leaders to The Big Field unbeaten in eight home games.
For Bury, though, a win in Surrey would, without doubt, represent a major stride towards the title.
Oundle, sitting in second, will be watching closely, but their focus will be on the task at hand.
A hard-fought 31-28 victory at relegation-threatened Sevenoaks last weekend underlined their determination to stay in the title race, yet they, like Bury, face a tricky assignment in Round 25.
Westcombe Park (7th) are the visitors to Occupation Road, and they arrive with pedigree.
Chris Green’s side have already done the double over Bury and Old Albanian (3rd) this season, and last week’s 52-31 victory over the latter showcased their attacking threat while dealing a significant blow to OAs’ promotion hopes.
That result was Old Albanian’s third successive defeat, and they are now five points behind Oundle and seven off the leaders.
This weekend, they host a Havant (8th) side enjoying an excellent second half to the campaign and pushing towards a top-seven finish.
If Bury St Edmunds and Oundle match Old Albanian's result, a top-two finish would be out of reach for OAs.
Further down the table, the picture is also compelling.
Henley Hawks (12th) may have lost 33-28 to Bury St Edmunds last time out, but two bonus points - secured thanks to Sam Lunnon’s late try - could yet prove invaluable.
They currently occupy the relegation play-off place, but Luke Allen’s men are now in control of their own fate.
Victory over London Welsh (10th) this weekend would see them avoid automatic relegation, though it would not remove the threat of the drop entirely because of the play-offs.
Esher (11th), four points clear of Henley, have the chance to secure their National Two status if they can better the Hawks’ result away at Canterbury (6th).
Like Esher, second-from-bottom Sevenoaks (13th) will be hoping Henley do stumble if they are to keep their survival dreams alive.
Seven points adrift of Henley, Oaks likely need to win at already relegated Oxford Harlequins (14th) and hope for results elsewhere to go their way if they are to extend their fight beyond this weekend.
Elsewhere, Barnes (5th) host Guernsey Raiders (9th) in the capital.
National Two West
Across the divisions, the focus is sharpening on title races and play-off places - and that very much applies to National Two West this weekend.
At Mortimer Park, the champions could be crowned.
League leaders Camborne (1st) travel to second-placed Luctonians knowing one point would be enough to secure automatic promotion to National One.
A 10-point gap gives them that luxury, underlining just how excellent their campaign has been.
As Luctonians head coach George Thomas put it to BBC Hereford and Worcester, Camborne have been the “premier team” in the league this season, and it is hard to argue with that.
Having missed out on the title to Clifton last year, the Cherry and Whites have responded and now stand on the verge of a historic promotion to the third tier.
Mortimer Park has not been a happy hunting ground in recent seasons for Camborne, though, losing on both of their previous visits.
But even if that run continues, it may not matter. One point will be enough to spark the celebrations.
For Luctonians, they have their own ambitions.
Victory would not only extend their strong recent home record against the league leaders, but could also prove crucial in the battle for second place.
If they can match or better the result of Hinckley (3rd), they will secure the play-off spot.
Hinckley, five points behind Lucs, have done all they can to apply the pressure.
Ten wins from their last 11 matches have kept them firmly in the hunt, but they will need a favour from Camborne if they are to climb into second.
First, they must handle their own business. Redruth (9th) are the visitors on Saturday, who did in fact beat Hinckley 27-10 back in Round 13.
At the other end of the table, the battle for survival is entering a decisive phase.
Loughborough Students (12th) face a huge few days, with another BUCS Super Rugby final on the horizon, but their immediate priority lies in securing their National Two West status.
They currently occupy the relegation play-off spot, four points clear of the bottom two and five behind this weekend’s opponents, Chester (11th).
A bonus-point victory in Cheshire could lift them clear of immediate danger, but Chester have just as much on the line.
Win this weekend, and they secure their place in National Two for next season. These stakes alone should make for a tense and perhaps frenetic contest at Hare Lane.
Exeter University (13th), sitting second from bottom, will be watching closely. Four points adrift of Loughborough, they need to make up ground but a trip to Hornets (5th), who have lost just once at home in the last 12 months, represents a significant challenge.
Elsewhere, Lymm (10th) require just a single point to mathematically confirm their survival, and they could achieve this at Cinderford (7th) in their final away game of the season.
Elsewhere in Round 25, Taunton (4th) can nail down fourth spot with a win at home to Old Redcliffians (8th) while Barnstaple (6th) will be looking to mark their final home game in what has been an excellent campaign with a victory against Syston (14th).
Make sure you follow National League Rugby on social media!
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Threads
.jpg "Head coach Anthony Posa has led Sheffield to the brink of promotion to National One")
