National Leagues

This is where you will find all of The Rugby Paper’s National Leagues news, interviews, reports, opinion and other content.

Terrier-like Tykes are back to showing Yorkshire grit

10 December 2023 0 comments

By MATTHEW LUDDINGTON When Peter Seabourne took on the role of Leeds Tykes director of rugby last summer, the club had been through a tumultuous […]

Try-star Ferguson fires up superb students

10 December 2023 0 comments

By FREYA COLLINGTON Exeter Uni………29 Clifton…………… 24 EXETER University eventually came out on top in a tight encounter against Clifton at Rubber Crumb. Clifton gained […]

Rampant Walsh turns on the style

10 December 2023 0 comments

By JAMES GALLAGHER Loughborough S….50 Chester…………………26 LOUGHBOROUGH Students produced some free-flowing rugby to come out on top in a high-scoring thriller against Chester. The game […]

Old Reds triumph in 11-try classic

10 December 2023 0 comments

By JACK TAYLOR Old Redcliffians …45 Dudley K ………………29 IN terms of value for money, there was no better place to be than Scotland Lane […]

Campbell joy as Dutton try wins it for Hinckley

10 December 2023 0 comments

By GEOFF VICKRESS Luctonians………. 7pts Hinckley…………12pts HINCKLEY head coach Chris Campbell was delighted as his side extended their unbeaten run to six matches with a […]

It’s looking Priddy good for Cam after Salop first

10 December 2023 0 comments

By DAVID BALLHEIMER Newport (S)………… 19 Camborne…………….40 CAMBORNE came away victorious after their first meeting with hosts Newport (Salop) at The Old Showground. A four-try […]

Lock holds key as Dings down Reds

10 December 2023 0 comments

By BILL HOOPER Redruth…………………. 5 Dings Crusaders…26 DINGS Crusaders kept the pressure on leaders Luctonians with a superb bonus-point win at Redruth. It was a […]

Bourn boost bid to stave off drop

10 December 2023 0 comments

By PAUL BOLTON Bournville……………24 Hornets………………… 12 BOURNVILLE leapfrogged Hornets in the table with a valuable but hard-earned bonus-point win. A brace of tries each from […]

Elswood on the money after making big step up

10 December 2023 0 comments

By OLLY PINHEY When Hornets achieved promotion to National Two West for the 2022-23 season, the whole team had to adapt to the standard of […]

Penfold pulls the strings as islanders flounder

10 December 2023 0 comments

By MIKE MARSHALL Guernsey………. 10 Bury St Ed’s……40 GUERNSEY Raiders suffered a home battering as Bury St Edmunds proved to be far too strong in […]

Cook keeps cool in dramatic finale

10 December 2023 0 comments

By MARTIN CONWAY Barnes…………………. 16 Tonbridge J………… 12 TWO penalties in the final eight minutes earned Barnes a hardfought victory over Tonbridge Juddians at a […]

Oaks pay penalty as Park cling on

10 December 2023 0 comments

By JOHN VALLELY Westcombe P………22 Sevenoaks…………..20 WESTCOMBE Park managed to hang on in a dramatic finale as Sevenoaks missed a lastgasp penalty attempt in a […]

Three-try blitz puts Esher in the clear

10 December 2023 0 comments

By KEVIN BEAL Dorking……………19pts Esher……………….38pts THREE well-worked tries from Esher’s back three in a purple patch midway through the first half were enough to sink […]

Raiders triumph over Dons in big basement clash

10 December 2023 0 comments

By ADAM CLEARY Worthing……………… 51 Wimbledon………….33 WORTHING came away with a bonus-point win against Wimbledon in a clash between two of the basement boys. It […]

Prolific wing Macrae is aiming high with Dorking

10 December 2023 0 comments

By MATTHEW LUDDINGTON Following the highest finish in the club’s 102-year history last season, Dorking sit top of National 2 East with aspirations of an […]

First-half surge seals it for Hawks

10 December 2023 0 comments

By CARRICK BLAKE Canterbury…………..33 Henley………………….43 HOSTS Canterbury managed to sneak a bonus point, but the day belonged to Henley at the Marine Travel Ground after […]

OAs halt losing run in fine style

10 December 2023 0 comments

By PAUL MORSE North Walsham……. 8 Old Albanian………..35 OLD Albanian claimed their first win in four with a solid performance at bottom-placed North Walsham. OLD […]

Matavesi happy he is back home in Cornwall

3 December 2023 0 comments

By MARK STEVENS Among the quaint villages and historic towns that dot the local landscape, Josh Matavesi has once again discovered the magic of his […]

Coach to Coach with Taff Gwilliam

3 December 2023 0 comments

Steve Hill speaks to Taff Gwilliam who last season lead Kent to their first County Championship title since 1927 and is currently director of rugby […]

Looking back is not Morley’s way to take his team forward

3 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN CONEYBEARE Success is addictive, and once a team has had a taste of it, they can become preoccupied with chasing the phantoms of […]

In-form Chinnor show why they are riding high

3 December 2023 0 comments

By RHYS PAUL Leicester L …… 15 Chinnor………….40 CHINNOR maintained their top-of-the-table challenge with a comprehensive victory. The Lions started strongly and took the lead […]

Honey seals sweetest win in classic contest

3 December 2023 0 comments

By RICHARD ASHTON Rams ………………22pts Tries: McRae 40, Jones 58, Kalling-Smith 74 Conversions: Honey 40, 58 Penalties: Honey 79 Tries: Daly 3, 61 Conversions: Putt […]

Luis has a Ball as Stortford win dourest battle

3 December 2023 0 comments

By JOHN ALLANSON Bishop’s S…………… 13 Darlington MP……… 6 THE freezing cold conditions made handling difficult and, as far as could be discerned from the […]

Hosts pay price as visitors Sale away

3 December 2023 0 comments

By MIKE AMOS Taunton Titans…..32 Sale FC…………………56 A TAUNTON yellow card and three penalties against them saw three kicks to the corner, three mauls and […]

There’s no Luc as Smith steals show

3 December 2023 0 comments

By RHYS STRATTON Rosslyn Park……….49 Cinderford……………29 A LATE try denied Cinderford a second bonus point as Rosslyn Park secured a big win, with Luc Smith […]

Garry’s laying down the Law in bid to find consistency

3 December 2023 0 comments

By MATTHEW LUDDINGTON In their ninth consecutive season in National One, Darlington Mowden Park’s director of rugby Garry Law possesses a profound understanding of the […]

High-scoring games make it great ‘fun’ for Campbell

3 December 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK National Two West has been the highest-scoring division in the National Leagues so far this season and Hinckley director of rugby Chris […]

Chester’s first half points the way to victory

3 December 2023 0 comments

By ADAM CLEARY Chester………….. 18 Bournville………. 8 A DOMINANT firsthalf display laid the foundations for a Chester victory as they kept Bournville at arm’s length. […]

Larkins hails Cam focus for Uni clash

3 December 2023 0 comments

By BILL HOOPER Forward power: Camborne’s Jordan Nicholls is driven towards the try-line by Josh Matavesi Below: Adam Hughes fends off Kofi Barton-Byfield PICTURES: Simon […]

Dings delight after try-fest sinks spirited Salop

3 December 2023 0 comments

By BAZ JOHNSON Dings Crusaders…77 Newport (S)………… 12 DINGS Crusaders ran riot as they racked up a big victory over visitors Newport (Salop). Wary of […]

Pointon late show sees off Old Reds

3 December 2023 0 comments

By CHRIS CAMPBELL Hinckley………………32 Old Redcliffians….22 HINCKLEY continued their hot form on a freezing cold day at Leicester Road, beating Old Redcliffians in an entertaining […]

Sting in the tail for battling Hornets

3 December 2023 0 comments

By JON RICHARDSON Hornets………………… 17 Luctonians………….. 30 LEAGUE leaders Luctonians got the better of hosts Hornets in an enthralling encounter that could have gone either […]

Ace Myatt sets the pace to subdue Students

3 December 2023 0 comments

By ROGER OPIE Clifton…………… 48 Loughboro’ S…26 POWER and dominance in the tight exchanges helped Clifton to victory against a spirited Loughborough Students side. The […]

Long-server Evans lauds club’s family atmosphere

3 December 2023 0 comments

By MATTHEW LUDDINGTON Billingham prides itself on being one of the top family rugby clubs in then north of England, and it has made remarkable […]

Shard hits top form in Lymm’s vital win

3 December 2023 0 comments

By NATHAN EDWARDS Lymm…………….. 46pts Preston G………..22pts LYMM moved seven points clear of the drop zone after a convincing victory against relegation rivals Preston Grasshoppers. […]

Perfect ten for high-flying Esher

3 December 2023 0 comments

By OLLY PINHEY Esher…………………….62 Worthing……………… 20 ESHER secured a sixth consecutive win with a ten-try rout over Worthing at Molesey Road. Worthing started brightly, but […]

McRae magic seals victory

3 December 2023 0 comments

Tonbridge J…………36 Dorking…………………45 A HAT-TRICK for Tobermory McRae helped Dorking to victory over Tonbridge Juddians in a 13-try spectacular at Slade. It didn’t take long […]

Coach to Coach with Neil Shillingford

26 November 2023 0 comments

Former Richmond boss Steve Hill talks to Dudley Kingswinford director of rugby Neil Shillingford Steve Hill: How and why did you get into coaching rugby? […]

Rogers at double as Bishop’s get better of Lions

26 November 2023 0 comments

■By JAMES JOHNSON Leicester L ……29 Bishop’s S……..36 BISHOP’S Stortford deservedly won an entertaining contest against Leicester Lions at Westleigh Park. The day couldn’t have […]

Battering Rams finally sink Club

26 November 2023 0 comments

■By GRAHAM COX Blackheath …………22 Rams ……………………42 RAMS powered to a six- -try victory over Blackheath, largely thanks to a dominant final half an hour. […]

Red card fails to halt Tigers’ march

26 November 2023 0 comments

■By NIGEL WILCE Ben Atk Cinderford………….. 19 Sedgley Park ……..43 SEDGLEY Park were reduced to 14 men but still proved too strong for Cinderford in […]

Ace Worboys takes the plaudits with star show

26 November 2023 0 comments

■By JOHN VAUGHAN Chinnor…………..55pts Tries: Worboys 2, Walker 2, Passman 2, Merrick, Smith, Gillespie Conversions: Worboys 5 Richmond ………26pts Tries: Jones, Post 2, Hitchcock Conversions: […]

Five-try Titans grind out a crucial triumph on road

26 November 2023 0 comments

By TOM BULMER Darlington MP…….24 Taunton Titans ….33 TAUNTON Titans put in a spirited performance to down Darlington Mowden Park and claim a second win […]

Dogs have their day in vital victory

26 November 2023 0 comments

By GARETH DANIELS Sale FC…………………45 Rosslyn Park………. 12 SALE FC ran in six tries to claim a vital win over Rosslyn Park to aid their […]

Albion fight back for dramatic win

26 November 2023 0 comments

By PATRICK MARSH Plymouth A…………. 19 B Moseley…………… 18 PLYMOUTH Albion snatched victory from the jaws of defeat by scoring two late tries against a […]

Winger Walker revelling in the freedom of his new Park life

26 November 2023 0 comments

By EDDIE MCATEER With 16 tries from ten games, Rosslyn Park winger Charlie Walker is thriving in National One this season. Walker retired from a […]

Holmes on hand to seal a success

26 November 2023 0 comments

By LOUIS CHAPMAN-COOMBE Sheffield T…………..47 Lymm……………………35 SHEFFIELD Tigers put up a spirited second-half perfor mance to secure a bonus-point win over Lymm. Lymm made their […]

Hull’s errors make it easier for Dale

26 November 2023 0 comments

By RICHARD GORE Hull………………………. 10 Tynedale……………..34 HULL’S line-out losses on their own throw and an inability to retain possession when in good positions proved costly […]

Tykes win the battle of top two

26 November 2023 0 comments

By ANGELA RIMMINGTON Breakaway: Jacob Mounsey sets up Leeds’ first score and, below, Leeds’ Kieran Davies is in again PICTURES: Mike Inkley Leeds Tykes…..26pts Rotherham […]

Gregory lights up dour tussle to see Fylde home

26 November 2023 0 comments

By MALCOLM KNOWLES Hull Ionians………… 14 Fylde…………………….36 THERE have been some classic encounters featuring the two clubs in recent seasons. This wasn’t one of them. […]

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