National League 2

Last Saturday, Preston Grasshoppers gave themselves a glimmer of hope that they can avoid relegation from National Two North this season and the Lancashire side will be hoping to build on that in Round 24.

The first round of rearranged fixtures was also going to be important for sides fighting for survival across the National Leagues and there was joy for four teams battling to avoid the drop.

The first round of rearranged fixtures this season is upon us and all the games taking place this weekend hold great significance for the reminder of the campaign.

Worthing Raiders and Exmouth both secured vital victories against relegation rivals to give themselves a chance of avoiding the drop.

Round 23 in National Two South has provided us with some intriguing matches at both ends of the table as sides battle for promotion and relegation at this pivotal stage of the campaign.

It has been a perfect 2017 for league leaders Caldy and with one final fixture of February still left to play, Simon Verbickas’ side will be keen to begin the penultimate month of the season in the driving seat.

A last-gasp try for Barnstaple secured victory over Devonshire rivals Exmouth in National Two South leaving Steve Perry’s side outside the bottom three with eight games remaining.

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.