National League 2 North

Sale FC kicked off the National League Two season with a comfortable win over Otley at Heywood Road.

The big kick-off in National Two is nearly upon us once again, but what will it serve up this season?

Disappointment of relegation spurred on Macclesfield to bounce straight back into National One and a squad full of desire and commitment helped Cambridge to glory.

At the end of WW2 the US set about delivering The Marshall Plan to assist in rebuilding Europe. Old Albanian’s clearly had their very own plan to take them out of National 2 South and back to National 1. At the head of the plan, Head Coach, James Shannahan.

Eight months on from the start of the 2015/16 campaign and it comes down to this in National Two; Which side will be joining Cambridge and Macclesfield in National One next season?

Sandal became the third and final team to be relegated from National Two North as their defeat to the Luctonians sees them drop back into National Three after just one season at this level.

In the final rounds of the National League season, the attention was well and truly on National Two with relegation still looming for sides in the North while the title was yet to be decided in the South.

All eyes will be on the bottom half of National Two North this weekend as five teams are all in danger of relegation from the fourth tier of English rugby, but only one can fall through the trapdoor.

Like last season in National Two North, the relegation battle has gone to the final day of the campaign and arguably it is even closer than 12 months ago.

After Macclesfield clinched the National Two North title last Saturday, the spotlight is now firmly on the relegation battle with five teams still in danger of being relegated to National Three.

This season couldn’t have gone much better for Macclesfield. Following relegation from National One, they had to dust themselves down and go again and they have gone about that in the best way possible by gaining promotion at the first time of asking.

Macclesfield fought back from a slow start against Chester to clinch the National Two North title after a 40-12 victory at Priory Park.

The champagne is on ice and the after party is on hold as Macclesfield are on the verge of being crowned champions of National Two North.

The attention in National Two North was all one fixture in Round 27; Sedgley Park v Macclesfield. With expectations high, it didn’t fail to disappointment as the league leaders took a huge step towards the championship crown.

With four games left to go of the National Two North season, Macclesfield may well be crowned this weekend as they prepare to take on second placed Sedgley Park away from home.

League leaders Macclesfield left it late to pick up a bonus-point win against Huddersfield on the weekend, but they now know the title and promotion could only be one more win away.

After their victory last Saturday, Huddersfield extended their stay in National Two North for another week, but if results don’t go their way this weekend, their relegation to National Three could be confirmed.

With just four games in the National Leagues taking place over the Easter period and all coming in National Two North, many may have thought action and drama would be limited.

It may be the Easter weekend, but don’t expect any one of the eight teams in action this Saturday to be handing over gifts to their opposition, especially at this stage of the season.

TRU's Alex Hannah caught up with Leicester Tigers’ Owen Williams on life with National Two North side Leicester Lions and his recovery from injury.