Rotherham vs Rosslyn Park headlines exciting weekend of National League Rugby action
Rotherham Titans and Rosslyn Park are two serious title candidates in National One
©Gareth Siddons
Round Six promises plenty, with the blockbuster National One clash at Clifton Lane and Sheffield’s trip to Fylde in National Two North standing out.
National One
Just 13 months ago, Rotherham Titans (1st) returned to National One after a three-season absence, kicking off their campaign with a 31-21 win over Rosslyn Park (2nd).
That opening victory set the tone for a superb season for Harvey Biljon’s side, culminating in a third-place finish, while Rosslyn Park surged to the silver medal with eight wins from their final nine games.
Now, two of this year’s title favourites meet in Round Six, both boasting perfect starts with five wins from five. With squads brimming with quality, experience, and depth, Saturday’s clash promises to be a fascinating showdown.
Rotherham have been formidable at home, losing just once since February 2023 and winning 30 of 31 matches - a record that presents a clear challenge for their visitors.
Rosslyn Park, meanwhile, have already overcome some tough tests this season, including an away win at Blackheath and last week’s triumph over Plymouth Albion, ensuring they arrive in South Yorkshire battle-hardened.
All eyes will be on Clifton Lane this weekend for arguably the standout fixture of Round Six, and we can't wait to see how it plays out.
Another eye-catching fixture in National One this weekend is the Kent derby between Blackheath (3rd) and Tonbridge Juddians (7th) at The Utilita. The sides last met in National Two East in 2022-23, when Blackheath earned promotion to the third tier. Both teams have started this season strongly, with Blackheath just four points off the top.
Fourth-placed Plymouth Albion will aim to bounce back after their unbeaten start was ended by Rosslyn Park last week. Speaking to the club’s channels, boss Ryan Lamb found plenty of positives in defeat so he will look to harness those when Dings Crusaders (10th) arrive at Brickfields.
After some long trips up north, Rams (5th) return to Old Bath Road to face Birmingham Moseley (12th), who are still searching for a spark to ignite their campaign, while an in-form Sale FC (6th) chase a fourth straight win at home against Bishop’s Stortford (9th).
Leicester Lions (13th) will hope recent signs of improvement can continue as they travel to Sedgley Park (8th), who have made a solid start, while two newly promoted sides meet in Yorkshire as Leeds Tykes (14th) entertain Clifton (11th).
The Tykes may see their next two home games - against Clifton and Leicester Lions - as a chance to claim their first win of the season, while Clifton will aim to build on the six points they have collected from their last two matches.
National Two North
“It [a result] could really open up our season.”
Those were the measured words of joint Fylde (4th) head coach Alex Loney in a recent interview with BBC Radio Lancashire as his side prepare to welcome table-toppers Sheffield to Woodlands this weekend.
For the second consecutive Saturday, Fylde face an unbeaten opponent, but after overcoming Macclesfield in Round Five, it feels as though this clash presents a different challenge.
Many have tipped Sheffield as favourites for the National Two North title, and the numbers back that up. Successive club-record finishes underline their progress, while last season they battled with Leeds Tykes for the title before narrowly missing out.
Buoyed by a strong summer of squad retention and a sprinkling of shrewd additions, Anthony Posa’s men appear equipped to go one better this year.
Their perfect start - five wins from five - has them setting the pace at the summit, but they will know just how tough a place Woodlands can be for visiting sides.
Since their opening-day draw, Fylde have strung together four straight victories, and while a positive result on Saturday could ‘open up’ their campaign, it might also rejuvenate the title conversation.
Second-placed Tynedale may well keep tabs on events in Lancashire as Peter Southern’s side look to preserve their own 100 per cent record when they go to Hull Ionians (6th). In their Round Five 46-26 win over Rossendale, Tyne were composed and clinical, going about their business in impressive fashion.
Their North-East rivals, Darlington Mowden Park (3rd), have shown similar consistency. Since their Round Two defeat to Tynedale, Danny Brown and John Newton’s men have reeled off three straight victories and next they head to second-from-bottom Sheffield Tigers, who will be keen to deliver a complete 80-minute performance.
After falling to Fylde last weekend, Macclesfield (5th) will hope that defeat is only a minor setback as they travel to Hull (11th).
The hosts began October with their first win of the campaign and will be eager to build on that momentum, while back-to-back triumphs have lifted Wharfedale (7th) into the top half, and the Green Machine head to a fearless Rossendale (8th) in Round Six.
Elsewhere, Scunthorpe (14th) remain the only side without a victory in National Two North. Tony Wilkinson’s troops visit Preston Grasshoppers (9th) in search of that breakthrough, while Billingham (12th) will look to return to winning ways at home to Otley (10th).
National Two East
This weekend’s top-of-the-table battles continue in National Two East as league leaders Old Albanian travel to third-placed Dorking.
OAs returned to winning ways in Round Five as a clinical display helped them past Henley Hawks. However, after falling in their last, testing away fixture at Barnes, a trip to The Big Field promises to be another stern examination.
Dorking showcased impressive resilience and control last weekend, overcoming early adversity after being reduced to 12 men within the opening 12 minutes against Canterbury. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Armand Roux’s side restricted their visitors and powered to a 31-7 victory - their fourth win of the campaign - leaving them just one point behind OAs in the standings.
When the sides met in Surrey last season, OAs emerged 29-17 victors during an eight-match winning run. That form, stitched together in the first half of 2025, appears to have followed them into this campaign and another win on Saturday would only reaffirm that notion.
Esher (2nd) might have one eye on what occurs at Dorking as they could go top with a positive outcome away at Guernsey Raiders (11th).
Peter Winterbottom’s side are level on points with Old Albanian, but their trip to the Channel Islands promises to be a tougher test than it might have been a fortnight ago.
After an injury-hit and disappointing September, Guernsey have reignited their season with back-to-back victories, and boss Jordan Reynolds will demand the same cutting edge that earned them their Round Five win at Oxford Harlequins.
Fourth-placed Barnes will look to bounce back from their first defeat of the campaign when they host Oxford Harlequins (13th) while in Suffolk, an intriguing clash sees in-form Bury St Edmunds (5th), who have won their last three, welcome Westcombe Park (7th) to the GK IPA Haberden.
At the other end of the table, London Welsh (14th) continue their search for a first win of the season as they return to Old Deer Park to face Sevenoaks (10th). Despite another encouraging showing last week, Cai Griffiths’ men had to settle for a solitary point against Esher. Can they finally break their duck in Round Six?
Elsewhere, Oundle (6th) travel to Henley (12th), while Havant (8th) visit Canterbury (9th).
National Two West
It’s fair to say Barnstaple (2nd) are enjoying life back in National League Rugby.
After last season’s Regional 1 South-West title-winning campaign, the Chiefs have carried that momentum into National Two West, climbing to second in the standings.
Much like one or two of the other newly-promoted sides across National League Rugby, Barnstaple are proving they’re not just here to make up the numbers. Backed by a passionate and loyal fanbase, Phil Gordon-Oke’s men have begun extremely well.
Their next two fixtures, however, could reveal where they truly stand in the early-season picture - a home test against Cinderford (5th) followed by a trip to Luctonians (3rd).
Saturday marks Barum's fourth home outing in six games, but they’ll take nothing for granted against Cinderford, who despite consecutive defeats, boast quality and attacking flair in their squad.
As for Luctonians, they too are in strong form. Number 8 Jack Goodwin, the division’s leading try-scorer, bagged four in last week’s 38-29 win over Hornets, and the Herefordshire side will be targeting a fifth straight victory when they visit Taunton (8th) this weekend.
But above Barnstaple and Luctonians are Camborne (1st), who continue to set the pace at the top of National Two West, maintaining a perfect record as we enter Round Six.
Extending that 100 per cent start into November also looks achievable, with the Cherry and Whites set to face three of the current bottom five before the month’s end.
That said, Tom Kessell’s side won’t take anything for granted as they travel to bottom club Syston this weekend. Despite an unbeaten Regional 1 Midlands campaign last term, Alex White’s men are still searching for their first win at this level, though their early performances have shown encouraging signs.
Elsewhere, Hinckley (13th) will be hoping to spark their season into life at Leicester Road against Lymm (7th). The Midlands outfit also endured a slow start last year so will be eager to rediscover their rhythm, while Old Redcliffians (12th) host Loughborough Students (11th) at Scotland Lane.
Further up the table, Redruth (4th) have earned their share of the spotlight after winning four of their first five, and Richie Kevern’s side will aim to keep that momentum going away at Exeter University (10th). Meanwhile, Hornets (6th) return to fortress ‘The Nest’ where they face Chester (9th).
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