National League 1

With the World Cup now over, our attention will turn back to the domestic game and after reading an opinion piece from Mark Smith of the Newcastle Chronicle about the state of the game in the North East, we compared it to the North West.

After winning the National Two North play-off last season, Ampthill and District are now top of National One after picking up maximum points from their opening three matches. There were five away wins in Round Three of the division including Ampthills’ victory at Cinderford as well as victories for Hartpury College, Blackheath, Richmond and Wharfedale.

After two weeks, it is clear how tight this league maybe as 10 of the 16 teams have won one and lost one match already.

It can be argued that this is the toughest division to be promoted from across the National Leagues. With one promotion place up for grabs, it really is all or nothing for teams who have their sights set on the IPA Championship.

With the title already decided in the third tier of English rugby, attention turns to the bottom to see who will beat the drop back to National Two. Here is a brief look at the final round of action in National One.

Fylde's new Head Coach (designate), Paul Arnold, has made his first signings for the 2015/16 campaign.

After forming back in 2004, the club has gone through a meteoric rise up the leagues and they currently ply their trade in National One, the third tier of English rugby.

Talking Rugby Union have spoken to Coventry Captain Cliffie Hodgson, Fylde's Oli Brennand and Richmond's Matt Chambers ahead of Round 23 of National League 1 and have also had a brief look back at round 22.

Coventry and Richmond put on an excellent advert for National League 1, Hartpury recorded a seventh consecutive victory and there were also big victories for Old Albanians, Esher and Wharfedale as league leaders Ealing enjoyed a week off.

Talking Rugby Union and The Rugby Paper reporter Steven Smith previews and predicts all the upcoming weekends fixtures from Round 21 of National League 1.

This week in National League 1 bottom of the table Macclesfield recorded their second win of the season while Coventry broke a club record as they won their sixteenth consecutive league game.

Round 19 was one of the best yet as league leaders Ealing slipped up for just the second time this season while newly promoted Hartpury have now won an incredible six consecutive games.

Rugby reporter Steve Smith casts his eye over this weekends National League One fixtures and gives his predictions.

Here our TRU's SSE National League Division One predictions for Round 18.

As the league entered its 15th playing week Macclesfield once again find it a hard day at the office, unable to get anything away from home at the Woodlands.

National League 1 reached its half way stage this past weekend and despite the weather getting colder and the pitches getting boggier there was no shortage of action up and down the country.

A few weeks ago we mentioned that it looked like Ealing Trailfinders could cruise to the league championship but after losing their first game of the season against Coventry last weekend, the title race is firmly on.

Ealing Trailfinders continue to run away with the lead in National League Division One with the likes of Rossyln Park and Fylde trying desperately to keep pace as we head into the 11th round of matches which sees the top four all at home.

Ealing Trailfinders continued their march towards the National League Division One title after scoring eight tries to beat Hartpury College 50-17.

Fylde had to work very hard against a tough, abrasive Darlington Mowden Park side on their first ever visit to the impressive 25,000 capacity Northern Echo Arena.