Teams seek a spark while landscapes towards the top are set to shift in National League Rugby
.jpg "Barnes are once again in the mix towards the top of National Two East")
Barnes are once again in the mix towards the top of National Two East
©Jonathan Knight
Round Seven offers struggling sides a chance to ignite their campaigns, while those near the summit aim to lay down a marker.
National One
National One has taken centre stage lately, with battles at both ends of the table providing plenty of intrigue.
So while Round Seven might not necessarily feature a 'headline act', there’s still plenty to capture the attention.
Rotherham Titans’ (1st) gripping 27-26 win over Rosslyn Park last weekend has given them a three-point cushion at the top, and Harvey Biljon’s men now take their 100 per cent record to Dings Crusaders (11th), who face a top-three side for the third week running.
For Rosslyn Park (2nd), defeat at Clifton Lane will have stung - especially given how close they came to continuing their perfect start - but two bonus points keeps them on Rotherham’s heels.
Steve Neville and Kieran Power’s side welcome Sedgley Park (7th) to the capital on Saturday, and the visitors have begun the season strongly. Were it not for a late blow on the opening day against Rams and a home defeat to Clifton, they might be sitting even higher.
Still, that’s sport - and they’ll travel to The Rock full of belief, even if Park have lost just one of their last 19 home fixtures.
Third-placed Blackheath head to Birmingham Moseley (12th), who showed real determination in their narrow 31-28 loss to Rams last time out, while Rams (5th) themselves will be targeting a sixth win from seven when they visit Clifton (9th) - their first meeting since April 2019.
Plymouth Albion (4th) reacted well in Round Six to their first defeat of the campaign and will aim to build on that when Ryan Lamb’s men visit Tonbridge Juddians (8th), who will be keen to respond after a 40-0 loss to Blackheath.
Sale FC (6th) are chasing a fifth consecutive victory - something they last achieved in April 2023 - when they travel to bottom side Leicester Lions (14th), who may take heart from winning three of their last four meetings against 'The Dogs'.
And finally, Leeds Tykes (13th) will be hoping to back up last week's tense but welcome first win of the season when they make the trip to Bishop’s Stortford (10th).
National Two North
Since September turned to October, attention in National Two North has largely focused on the summit and unbeaten records, but as we enter the second half of the month, it’s time to turn our eyes to the lower half of the table.
Round Seven provides the perfect opportunity to do this, with two of the bottom four meeting this weekend as Otley (11th) host Sheffield Tigers (13th).
Both sides have just one victory so far - each coming against 14th-placed Scunthorpe - meaning this clash in West Yorkshire could be a potential turning point.
Otley have struggled to build momentum since narrowly losing to Wharfedale at home in Round Four, falling short again against Darlington Mowden Park and Billingham, respectively.
A similar narrative played out for Sheffield Tigers last week as Stephen Roberts’ side led at half-time but went down 28-24 to Darlington Mowden Park.
However, there were positives to take. If the Tigers can also tighten their discipline and deliver a full 80-minute performance, they could depart Cross Green with their second win of the season.
Switching back to the top of National Two North, Sheffield (1st) now hold a four-point lead at the summit.
Anthony Posa’s side delivered a purposeful 40-18 win at Fylde last Saturday, ending their hosts’ unbeaten run while preserving their own 100 per cent record.
The league leaders will be strong favourites to make it seven wins from seven when Hull (12th) visit Abbeydale Park this weekend.
Sheffield haven’t lost at home since falling to Leeds Tykes almost exactly a year ago - a run of 12 straight wins - making Hull’s task a formidable one after their 66-26 defeat to Macclesfield last time out.
Macclesfield (3rd) themselves round off October with two home games, starting with Billingham (9th) this weekend before hosting Sheffield in Round Eight.
The Cheshire outfit sit just one point behind Darlington Mowden Park (2nd), who will be aiming for a fifth consecutive win against Rossendale (10th).
Tynedale (4th) - who had their unbeaten start ended by Hull Ionians last week - return home looking to bounce back against Preston Grasshoppers (8th), who will carry confidence from their 74-7 thumping of Scunthorpe in Round Six.
Hull Ionians (6th), boosted by a four-try display from player-coach Maliq Holden last time out, now face an in-form Wharfedale (7th) at The Avenue, with the Green Machine seeking a fourth successive victory.
Meanwhile, Fylde (5th) will aim to recover from last week’s defeat to Sheffield when they visit bottom club Scunthorpe, whose brightest moments this season have come at Heslam Park.
National Two East
Four of the top five sides face one another in Round Seven, but for leaders Old Albanian (1st), they will have the small luxury of watching events unfold beneath them.
In Round Six, James Osborn and Dan George’s troops created a four-point buffer at the summit after a 34-21 victory away at Dorking, a performance once again defined by some devastating rugby.
This weekend, OAs welcome Canterbury (8th) to Woollams and despite sitting in the bottom half of the table, the visitors have won four of their opening six fixtures.
Perhaps this is also a reflection of just how fiercely competitive National Two East is this season. In fact, only eight points separates the two sides.
After what promises to be a stern test on home soil, Old Albanian will remain at Woollams in Round Eight to take on third-placed Oundle. With back-to-back challenges on the horizon, the next fortnight could be interesting if the league leaders were to reinforce their growing title credentials.
So what about the chasing pack?
Well, Barnes (2nd) bounced back from their first loss of the campaign in emphatic style as winger Jacques Birch scored four tries to propel Jack Heald’s side to a 52–5 win against Oxford Harlequins.
This weekend, they renew acquaintances with Esher (4th), two familiar contenders who once again are jostling near the top of National Two East.
Two seasons ago, Esher earned promotion to National One ahead of sides like Barnes, and the EEEs will be eager to respond this week following their 45-19 loss to Guernsey Raiders in Round Six.
Sitting between those two clubs are third-placed Oundle, who - as coach Andy Key stressed in pre-season - are not in this division to simply make up the numbers.
Their blend of quality, experience, and power has already delivered results, including a home victory over Barnes, and they will be out to repeat that feat when they host fifth-placed Dorking on Saturday.
At the other end of the table, Oxfordshire takes centre stage as Oxford Harlequins (14th) entertain near neighbours Henley Hawks (12th). Both sides have endured difficult starts, each managing just one win from their opening six fixtures.
Henley’s early schedule has been unforgiving. By the end of October, they will have faced every team in the current top five so this short trip to the Horspath Sports Ground could mark a turning point.
The same applies to the fully amateur Oxford Quins, who face a demanding run after the November break. Victory here would not only lift spirits but also provide much-needed momentum for whichever side claims the spoils.
Elsewhere in Round Seven, Westcombe Park (6th) will be gunning for a third straight success when they host London Welsh (13th), Bury St Edmunds (7th) visit a patched up Havant (10th) and Guernsey Raiders (9th) - with confidence behind them - will be eyeing a fourth consecutive victory when they go to Sevenoaks (11th).
National Two West
Just as in National Two East, four of the current top five in National Two West face one another this weekend with Barnstaple’s (2nd) trip to Luctonians (3rd) immediately catching the eye.
Only a single point separates the two sides, and while it’s still early days, this clash could offer a glimpse into what both clubs might achieve this season.
Barnstaple came through a stern test in Round Six, as Henry Sellick’s last-minute penalty secured a 25-23 victory over Cinderford but once again, their power up front provided the platform for success.
The set-piece battle at Mortimer Park promises to be compelling, with Luctonians priding themselves on their physicality and their robust defence. It has been a cornerstone of their game in recent times, and this season is proving to be no different. Expect a bruising encounter in Herefordshire as both sides look to maintain their impressive starts.
Fourth-placed Redruth and fifth-placed Hornets will both be aiming to build on their strong openings to the season.
The Reds will be eager to respond after falling just short in a pulsating 46-40 defeat to Exeter University last time out, while Hornets will look to translate their superb home form into results on the road.
At the top of the table, Camborne remain one of only three sides across National League Rugby with a perfect record, alongside Rotherham Titans (National One) and Sheffield (National Two North).
The Cherry and Whites have been excellent value for their unbeaten run, with their attacking variety making them almost unstoppable at times.
Back at The Recreation Ground on Saturday - where they’ve won their last 15 matches - Camborne welcome Old Redcliffians (10th) for their Round Seven clash.
Elsewhere in National Two West, Cinderford (6th) host a Hinckley (11th) side buoyed by last week's victory over Lymm (7th), who themselves return to Crouchley Lane to face bottom club Syston.
Meanwhile, Taunton (8th) travel to Chester (12th), and old foes Loughborough Students (13th) and Exeter University (9th) renew acquaintances in the Midlands.
Make sure you follow National League Rugby on social media!
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok | Threads
