National League 2

Sale FC secured a brilliant win against promotion rivals Leicester Lions to tighten their grip on the play-off spot in National Two North.

We are at the stage of the season where title races and relegation battles are scrutinised more than ever and in Devon this weekend, the fight for survival will is firmly under the microscope.

Coach Jonathan Keep says the play-off place in National Two North will only be Sale FC’s to lose if they secure a victory against Leicester Lions on Saturday.

At this time of the season, any blip in form and any shock result could prove costly but as we begin the final stretch of the campaign, the teams aiming for a top two spot all held their nerve in Round 21.

Sale FC produced an outstanding performance away at Stourbridge to stay in the driving seat for the play-off position in National Two North.

In recent weeks Talking Rugby Union has focused on potential reform to the Championship and the leagues immediately below it within the RFU’s domestic structure following reports that significant problems threaten the existence of a second-tier professional league in England.

With the season now entering the final third, teams are now focusing on their end goals and for the likes of Chinnor that aim is to clinch promotion to National One.

Stourbridge clinched a crucial win over Leicester Lions two weeks ago to keep their promotion ambitions alive and they can increase their chances of a possible top two finish when they lock horns with Sale FC this weekend.

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With promotion rivals Chinnor and Bishop’s Stortford securing victories, Old Elthamians failed to keep pace with their fellow title contenders as they were beaten by Taunton Titans.

Preston Grasshoppers sealed their first win in seven matches to move off the bottom of National Two North.

After postponements to Bishop’s Stortford’s and Old Elthamians’ fixtures last weekend, the title challenging sides will be itching to return to action as they aim to wrestle top spot off Chinnor.

It has been the perfect 2017 so far for Caldy having secured three wins in January, but the league leaders will be keen to stay in control of the National Two North title race by ending the month with yet another victory.

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After a few difficult weeks for Chinnor, they now find themselves back on top of the National Two South table thanks to victory over the Redingensians.

Stourbridge came out on top against promotion rivals Leicester Lions to keep their top two ambitions alive in National Two North.

With potential reform of Championship rugby as a professional league continuing to serve as one of the most pressing debates in English rugby, the possible implications of such reform to semi-professional leagues must also be considered.

High drama as well as twists and turns were the themes to come out of Round 18 in National Two South as Bishop’s Stortford returned to the summit of this division and Andy Long’s men will now be aiming to stay there.

It is getting to that time of the season where every game seems to become a ‘big’ game and that certainly applies to Stourbridge’s clash with Leicester Lions in Round 19.

Tom Banks’ last minute penalty saw Bishop’s Stortford return to the top of National Two South after victory over title rivals Old Elthamians.