National League 1

Round 19 in National One saw Richmond, Blackheath and Hartpury College all pick up victories and consolidate their positions in this title race as we approach the final third of the season.

Last weekend, we saw another chapter in this title race written as league leaders Richmond dropped points and this Saturday is set-up for another fantastic installment.

League leaders Richmond could only manage a draw away at Coventry this weekend as they moved five points clear at the top of National One, but that is only half of the story.

Plymouth Albion scored three tries in the final seven minutes to complete a remarkable comeback as they came away from Lancashire with a 26-38 victory.

Fylde Coach Paul Arnold wants his side to “start making their own luck” beginning with their game at home against Plymouth Albion on Saturday afternoon.

As is custom for anyone employed in a medical profession, they do an incredible job every single day of the year by working long hours and being dedicated to their jobs in order to help and aid others. Many are of course called upon regularly, but for Dr Greg Nicholls, he went beyond his call of duty last Saturday.

Like in Round 16, the top four sides all did what they needed to do as the title race continues to gather momentum while the bottom three sides all lost their respective matches in what was a tight weekend of action in National One.

After the opening round of 2016 went with the form guide, Week 17 may well follow suit as league leaders Richmond, Blackheath & Hartpury College are all at home.

The beginning of the second half of the season saw no upsets in National One as the form guide proved to be correct in Round 16.

The first weekend of the New Year signals the second half of the season and if the first 15 games are anything to go by, we are in for a treat in National One.

With the top eight teams all taking on each other and the bottom eight sides going head to head, no wonder there were some close results and thrilling action on the final weekend of the year in National One.

We have reached the halfway point of the National One season and it is incredibly close at both ends of the table heading into 2016.

As ever in National One, there are some interesting fixtures this weekend none more so than the top two taking on each other.

Richmond went top of National One after Round 13 as Hartpury College suffered their third defeat of the season while Blackheath were held to a draw at home to Fylde.

Round 13 in National One serves up some intriguing fixtures as Hartpury College and Richmond face tough away fixtures which leaves the door open for Blackheath and Esher if they are to slip up.

Round 12 of National One saw all the sides in the top four secure victories, but Hartpury College are now level at the top of table with Richmond as College failed to pick up a bonus point this weekend.

It will be interesting to see if the defeats to Esher, Ampthill and District and Rosslyn Park last Saturday will have any effect on their performances this weekend as they look to get their promotion challenge back on track.

After dropped points have been seldom at the top of National One, it was a surprise to see three of the top six sides all lose on Saturday which league leaders Hartpury profited from as they cemented their place at the summit of the table.

Loughborough Student’s victory over Wharfedale at home may not have been the stand out result in National One this weekend, but for George De Cothi the win was more like picking up 10 points rather than just the usual five.