NLR Preview: Explosive start moves into October - with Round Five aiming to set the tone
Redruth's home clash with Taunton Titans headlines National Two West
©Mike Freeman
Over 1,100 tries were scored in a breathless September as the National League Rugby season got off to a flying start. Now, Round Five awaits.
National 1
Beaten in the latest bonkers game of National One rugby this season, Sale FC (3rd) return to action on Friday night away at Leeds Tykes (6th).
After Jonathan Keep’s side had fought back from 52-35 down to trail 52-49 against Tonbridge Juddians, the grandstand finish was on at the Morson Stadium, only for Alex Wills to be denied at the death by a last-ditch intervention from TJs winger Jack Walsh.
But, as coach Tote Howcroft told Sale’s Instagram account post-match, ‘The Dogs’ “gave away far too many tries” despite putting themselves in a position to snatch a fourth successive win of the season.
Sale's defence will now need to be on its mettle on Friday against a Leeds Tykes side who have been clinical over the last fortnight.
After successive defeats to begin the term, the Tykes have racked up 17 tries in their last two games in emphatic victories over London Scottish (57-10) and Cambridge (57-33), so they will carry confidence into this Round Five encounter.
If their electrifying backline can spark up again, we could be in for a treat - especially as Sale FC have scored more points than anyone across National League Rugby thus far.
And then there were two.
With Sale FC losing last week, Plymouth Albion (1st) and Tonbridge Juddians (2nd) remain the only sides in the division yet to taste defeat - and you can argue they have gone about it in entirely different ways.
Plymouth’s opening month was extremely impressive. There has been no freewheeling, just an efficiency and ruthlessness about Ryan Lamb’s side, underscored by the fact they have shipped just 57 points and are yet to concede a bonus point.
Their physicality and cohesion stood out in September as they stormed to four bonus-point wins. For Tonbridge Juddians, meanwhile, it has been more of a rollercoaster. Their opening-day 31-26 success over Sheffield seems somewhat routine compared to their last three victories.
A combined winning margin of five points, 144 points scored and 21 tries touched down. There is perhaps a traditional ‘Harlequins’ feel to the performances of Jordan Turner Hall’s side, but for all of their fabulous entertainment, they recognise improvements in defence are needed.
Their rearguard will be tested this weekend against an enterprising Dings Crusaders (8th), who rattled in 10 tries in last week’s success over Bury St Edmunds. Meanwhile, Plymouth’s watertight defence will be examined when they welcome Cambridge (14th) to Brickfields.
Despite propping up the table after four defeats in a row, the Blood and Sand have scored 23 tries, but speaking to BBC Radio Cambridge’s Steve Jackson, boss Craig Newby is determined to buck the trend of 'we score one, and they score two'.
Trying to strike the perfect balance between attack and defence at the home of the league leaders, with 11 senior players unavailable, might not be ideal for Cambridge, but they will dial themselves in to try and upset the odds.
One of the biggest news stories in National One this week was the announcement that London Scottish (12th) Director of Rugby Joe Gray will leave the club to become Lead Transition Coach at Harlequins.
Gray has spent four seasons with the Exiles, firstly as head coach before stepping up to become DoR, and will continue his work with the club through an ‘agreed succession period over the coming months to a new Director of Rugby/Head Coach.’
Scottish have said they will provide further information when they are ready to announce Gray's replacement, but for now, results on the field will be their priority.
Since beating Bury St Edmunds on the opening day, Gray’s side have lost their last three games - the latest a difficult 50-14 home defeat against Plymouth. The Exiles begin October with a trip to fifth-placed Camborne, who have enjoyed an excellent start to life at this level.
Elsewhere, Bishop’s Stortford (4th) head to Bury St Edmunds (13th) for a first meeting between the clubs since December 2016, the season Stortford clinched promotion to National One.
On that occasion in Suffolk, the visitors won 33-16 with current Stortford boss Tom Coleman pulling the strings at 10.
Bringing it back to the here and now, the former fly-half was particularly satisfied with last week’s 47-5 victory over Birmingham Moseley - mainly from a defensive point of view, as Stortford completed September with three wins from four.
As for Bury, James Shanahan’s side will be aiming for a second success of the campaign as they continue to find their way at this level.
Rosslyn Park (10th) and Sheffield (11th) will also be targeting 'win number two' when the sides meet at The Rock.
For the second week running, Park saw a lead slip through their fingers as they fell to a 38-34 loss in the final 10 minutes away at Rams.
Prop George Orchard told the club’s channels that “ill-discipline” let them down, so Steve Neville and Kieran Powers’ side will want to sharpen up defensively against their newly promoted visitors.
And the late kick-off (3:30pm) on Saturday comes at Billesley Common, where Birmingham Moseley (7th) will be aiming for a third straight home victory against a Rams (9th) side buoyed by their thrilling first win of the season in Round Four.
National Two North
There will have been things to like in September for both Billingham (11th) and Otley (13th), not least their respective opening wins of the campaign, but you can bet both clubs will be after something even more tangible as a new month begins.
Round Four may have reinforced that. After trailing by just seven at half-time, Billingham were blown away by Chester in the second 40, conceding six tries and falling to a 66-26 defeat.
For Otley, it might have felt even more chastening. They suffered a 68-7 home loss against early leaders Sedgley Park, having lost 50-28 to Chester the previous week, albeit with a man sent off in that game.
With all of this in mind, it feels like Round Five’s meeting at Greenwood Road is one both of these young sides will be targeting.
Both clashes last season were closely fought, with Billingham edging Otley 47-42 in the North-East before completing the double with a 19-18 success at Cross Green.
Of course, we are only midway through the first block of the season, but you get the sense that a victory for either team on Saturday would be most welcome.
Sheffield Tigers (14th) will be craving the same feeling, as they are currently the only side in National Two North yet to pick up a win, but that is not through any lack of effort.
The Tigers have lost all four of their games by an average margin of just over six points - and showed strong determination to fight back from 19-7 down to level things up against Fylde before ultimately falling to another narrow loss.
Their next assignment is welcoming Harrogate (6th) to Dore Moor, with two victories in the first month of their return to this level giving them a solid platform to build on.
Wharfedale (10th) got their first victory of the season in Round Four and will be hoping to add to that, but toppling the unbeaten Hull Ionians (2nd) away from home might be a tough task.
After the I’s forwards got their flowers in Round Three, Hull Ionians’ backs stole the spotlight in last week’s 47-21 win at Harrogate, with six of their seven tries coming from their backline.
Perhaps this highlights the variety Maliq Holden’s side has to offer after a perfect September of four bonus-point wins from four, and they - like Sedgley Park (1st) - will want that form to continue into the second month of the term.
Park and Hull Ionians have a four-point gap over an enterprising Darlington Mowden Park (3rd), who host Fylde (8th) this week, with early leaders Sedge really showing their quality in the second half against Otley.
Last week, the Tigers ran in 42 unanswered points but speaking to Buzze Sport after the match, coach Tommy Taylor still believes his side can be more ‘accurate’ as they grow into what is looking like a promising season.
Next up for Scott Barrow’s troops is a home fixture with Huddersfield (12th), while elsewhere an intriguing clash between Preston Grasshoppers (5th) and Chester (4th) takes place at Lightfoot Green after both sides accumulated three wins in the first four rounds.
Also on the opening weekend of October, Tynedale (7th) welcome new boys Heath (9th) to Tynedale Park.
National Two East
Perhaps National Two East is saving the best till last in Round Five?
While that might sound unfair on the other 12 sides in the division, a 5pm meeting between two of the early leaders really does grab the attention.
Old Albanian (2nd)’s visit to Guernsey (3rd) means at least one winning start will come to an end at Footes Lane. Given the performances of both sides in September, neither will be giving up their unbeaten record easily.
OA’s clinical first half against London Welsh last Friday night ensured they entered October with a 100 per cent record, while Guernsey - who have already negotiated three away fixtures - return home after a blistering first 40 set the platform for their 41-33 win at Colchester.
When they last met back in January, OAs and Guernsey shared 11 tries in a 42-35 win for Old Albanian and anything like that at Saturday teatime would be the perfect dessert for Round Five.
In some quarters, Oundle (1st), who also have four bonus-point victories from four, are the ones to beat this season after finishing second last term, although it hasn't all been plain sailing for Aly Kachra and Gareth Collins’ men thus far.
Not for the first time this season, a second-half spurt of tries saw them secure a 36-22 win over Canterbury in Round Four, after the sides had been level at 10-10 at the break.
Oundle are on the road at Barnes (11th) in Round Five, who will be looking to put a fairly frustrating opening month behind them.
Esher (4th) took down the aforementioned Barnes 41-22 last week - with prop Will McKenna scoring four tries - so the EEEs will be looking to extend their positive start on Saturday.
Mike Brown and Liam Slatem’s side go to 12th-placed Westcombe Park, while Colchester (5th) will also be keen to build on an encouraging beginning to the season.
Mike Haywood’s newly promoted side picked up 12 points from their opening four games back in National Two East, and they now travel to a winless Jersey (14th) on Saturday.
The hosts came close to their maiden win of the campaign last week, only for Henley’s Seb Scott to deny them in a 31-31 draw.
Speaking of Henley (8th), after yet another close encounter, they hit the road in Round Five to take on Leicester Lions (13th), who will be searching for back-to-back home wins after their 50-29 loss at Havant last time out.
As for Havant (6th), Rob Matthews and Will Knight’s side go to Canterbury (10th), while London Welsh (9th) take on Dorking (7th) at Old Deer Park.
After an opening-day victory in the sunshine of Jersey, a new-look Exiles side have been unable to add to the ‘W’ column, while Dorking are targeting a third straight win after their late turnaround against Westcombe Park saw them clinch a 40-28 success in Round Four.
National Two West
Like in National Two East, two teams with four wins from four meet in Round Five, with Redruth (1st) hosting Taunton (2nd) at The Recreation Ground.
Of course, both clubs will have some considerable momentum behind them after a hugely successful September, with the Reds showcasing both sides of their game.
Last Saturday was one for their power game, with the potent Tom Cowan-Dickie - the older brother of Sale and England's Luke - helping himself to a hat-trick in their 34-19 win at Exeter University.
As for Taunton, their enterprising play has been a delight at times, but they had to front up to hold off a spirited Hornets fightback in a 36-34 win last time out.
The battle of the 10s could be fascinating, too. Tom Putt (Taunton) and Joe Cummins (Redruth) have been influential in their sides’ good starts, with Putt kicking the winning penalty when the teams last met back in February.
Something has got to give in Cornwall.
Luctonians (3rd) will no doubt have one eye on proceedings as they are also part of the leading cluster on four wins from four.
The manner of their victories will have pleased DoR Rob Lewis and Head Coach George Thomas. They have conceded the joint-least amount of points across National League Rugby so far and - like National One side Plymouth Albion - haven’t let any of their opposition collect a try or losing bonus point against them.
Lucs’ defence has been a standout statistic in recent seasons, and this year looks no different, with Hornets (8th) the next to try and crack the code at The Nest.
Three narrow defeats in four would have been tough to swallow for Hornets, but a new month brings new possibilities.
Lymm (4th) sit in the slipstream of the leading trio after a more than satisfying start to the season. Andy Davies’ entertaining side carry a record of three wins from four into October, and Round Five sees them host bottom-of-the-table Exeter University (14th).
Gareth Elliott’s charges have won both of their opening BUCS Super Rugby fixtures and, as we know, finding that balance between both competitions isn’t easy, but the Green and Whites will be hoping to siphon some Wednesday positivity into their Saturday duties.
Exeter may even look to take a leaf out of the book of old foes Loughborough Students (11th), who opened their National Two West account last week.
An engrossing 41-40 victory over Old Redcliffians was decided by a late Ellis James try. The African Violet will now aim to back that up away at Clifton (6th), who will be looking to return to winning ways after their 100 per cent start was ended by Luctonians in Week Four.
Elsewhere, Hinckley (5th) are aiming for a fourth win on the trot, with Alex White’s men hosting Barnstaple (12th) this weekend, while Cinderford (7th) will be gunning for three straight victories when they take on second-from-bottom Devonport Services (13th).
And last but not least, two sides involved in absorbing contests last week meet at Scotland Lane, with Old Redcliffians (9th) taking on Bournville (10th).
The Chocos lost 62-57 at home to Cinderford in Round Four, and will also be hoping for a less chastening afternoon on the road after away defeats to Redruth (61-10) and Hinckley (70-28) so far.
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