Game-changing weekend kicks off gripping National League Rugby run-in
Bury St Edmunds are in the thick of the National Two East title race
©Alex Rowles Photography
Before we begin our preview, the TRU team was deeply saddened by the passing of Clifton Director of Rugby Matt Salter last week.
Matt, alongside Luke Cozens, guided the Lavender and Blacks to promotion to National One last season and was widely respected within the Bristol rugby community.
Our thoughts remain with Matt's family, friends, and everyone connected to Clifton.
There will also be a minute's silence before Clifton's fixture with Rosslyn Park this weekend.
National One
After focusing on National One in our feature interview with Blackheath's Billy Harding, league leaders Rotherham Titans (1st) will be aiming to halt the country’s top try-scorer and notch up an eighth consecutive win on another crucial weekend in the title race.
Harvey Biljon's side - who go to Blackheath (3rd) this week - sit five points clear of nearest challengers Plymouth Albion (2nd), who host Rams (6th) in Round 22.
At Brickfields, a reported crowd of over 3,500 will see if Ryan Lamb’s side can bounce back following their recent defeat to Blackheath and ahead of their trip to Rotherham next week.
Sale FC (4th), who are six points behind third-placed Blackheath, go to Tonbridge Juddians (8th), and 'The Dogs' remain key characters in this title race - and play-off chase - because they face all of the top three in April.
At the other end of the table, Leicester Lions (14th) will be relegated if they fail to secure at least two points from their home clash with an in-form Bishop's Stortford (7th), while their fellow bottom-three sides remain very much in the fight.
Both Clifton (12th) and Dings Crusaders (13th) sit three points from safety, with Clifton travelling to Rosslyn Park (5th) on Saturday and Dings hosting a Leeds Tykes (9th) side who are eight points clear of the drop.
But the key clash comes at Billesley Common, where Birmingham Moseley (11th) host Sedgley Park (10th).
Moseley, who occupy the relegation play-off spot, moved level on points with Sedge last week following their 35-31 defeat to Rosslyn Park, so there is plenty on the line in the Midlands this weekend.
National Two North
The promotion picture could become clearer over the course of the next fortnight, starting with a huge clash between Tynedale (2nd) and Macclesfield (3rd) this weekend.
Tyne currently occupy the play-off spot and sit one point ahead of Macc, although the latter do have a game in hand.
Adding further intrigue is the fact that both sides still have to face unbeaten leaders Sheffield, who hold an eight-point advantage at the summit.
Tynedale head to the Steel City next Saturday, while Macclesfield’s game in hand also takes them to Abbeydale Park seven days later.
With that looming, this Round 22 meeting could go a long way to deciding the conclusion of this season.
Sheffield (1st) made it 19 straight wins last weekend as Anthony Posa’s side moved closer to the title following a 36-26 victory away at Rossendale.
The impressive table-toppers, who still have two games in hand, are once again on the road this week to face another side battling for survival.
That team is Scunthorpe (12th), who climbed out of the bottom two last Saturday after claiming a hard-earned losing bonus point against Sheffield Tigers.
Tony Wilkinson’s side are now one point clear of the drop zone and still have two games in hand on Hull (13th), who travel to Wharfedale (7th) this weekend.
Bottom club Rossendale - who are level on points with Hull after their try bonus against Sheffield last time out - host Billingham (9th) as they continue their fight for survival.
Above the bottom three, Otley (10th) host Preston Grasshoppers (11th) at Cross Green. Both sides currently have a reasonable buffer to the drop zone, but a Round 22 victory could leave either club within touching distance of safety.
Elsewhere, Hull Ionians (4th) - who are nine points behind second-placed Tynedale - travel to Sheffield Tigers (8th), who have won their last seven at Dore Moor, while Darlington Mowden Park (5th) and Fylde (6th) meet in the North-East.
National Two East
We are set for a thrilling conclusion at both ends of the National Two East table, with the three main players in the title race currently separated by just five points.
Old Albanian (1st) hold a three-point advantage over second-placed Bury St Edmunds after a February in which the battle for top spot fluctuated.
OAs suffered a heavy 45-14 defeat to Oundle (3rd) in Round 20, but responded a week later with victory over bottom club Oxford Harlequins to regain some control.
The league leaders visit Esher (11th) on Saturday, while closest challengers Bury St Edmunds - who have lost just one of their last 11 matches - host eighth-placed Guernsey Raiders.
Oundle’s aforementioned win over Old Albanian had left the Northamptonshire outfit one point off the summit, but a 51-33 defeat at Canterbury to conclude last month saw them slip out of the top two and two points behind Bury.
This weekend sees Oundle host Oxford Harlequins (14th), who could be relegated if they fail to collect any points at Occupation Road.
Above them, the survival battle remains intense. Sevenoaks (13th) - who dropped into the danger zone last time out - are now three points behind Henley, who occupy the relegation play-off spot.
Adam Bowman's side entertain Dorking (6th) on Saturday, while Henley (12th) - who beat Sevenoaks 45-26 in Round 21 - travel to Westcombe Park (7th) in Round 22.
Elsewhere, Barnes (4th) will target a fifth straight win when they visit Havant (9th), while 10th-placed London Welsh - who have made a flurry of re-signings in recent weeks - take on Canterbury (5th).
National Two West
March is set to be a defining month for Exeter University (12th) if they are to avoid finishing in the automatic relegation places in National Two West.
Last time out, they fell to a 42-33 defeat against a Lymm side who played much of the final quarter with 13 men, and Gareth Elliott's side now face two more fixtures against teams in the bottom half.
Exeter currently sit one point above the drop zone and travel to bottom club Syston (14th) this week before hosting Old Redcliffians (9th) in Round 23.
As for Syston, who came from behind to beat Old Reds 38-31 in their last outing, they are 14 points behind their visitors.
Victory at Barkby Road could spark thoughts of a great escape for the Midlands club, but their immediate focus will be on achieving back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
Between those two sides are Loughborough Students (13th), who continue their fight for survival at home against seventh-placed Barnstaple.
At the summit, Camborne (1st) will be keen to get their title charge back on track when they host Taunton (4th).
'Town' ended February with just their second defeat of the campaign - a 40-17 loss at Hornets - but they still hold a 13-point cushion at the top.
Tom Kessell's troops have not lost at home for almost two years, though Taunton did edge Camborne 30-29 in the reverse fixture back in November.
Luctonians (2nd) will also be aiming to bounce back, as what once appeared to be a secure spot in the top two suddenly looks under threat.
Lucs travel to Chester (11th) just five points clear of Hinckley (3rd), who have ramped up the temperature in the battle for the play-off place.
Over their last six matches, Hinckley have taken a maximum of 30 points compared to Luctonians' 19, and the Midlands club will be keen to maintain the pressure when they visit Old Redcliffians (9th).
Elsewhere, Hornets (5th) travel to Lymm (8th) while Cinderford (6th) head to Redruth (10th).
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