National Leagues

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

Late Gamble try seals tense tussle

5 November 2023 0 comments

By GLYN CASTLEDINE Newport (S)…………32 Bournville…………… 16 NEWPORT just had enough in the end for Bournville. The hosts took the lead with two early Adams […]

Crusaders too strong for lively Luctonians

5 November 2023 0 comments

By BAZ JOHNSON Dings C…………… 17pts Luctonians…….. 15pts THE in-form Luctonians arrived undefeated at Shaftesbury Park. And the early indications suggested they were prepared to […]

Ormsby makes it uncomfortable visit for Dudley

5 November 2023 0 comments

By WYN TIGLEY Clifton…………………..45 Dudley K………………… 7 CLIFTON welcomed their Black Country opponents to Station Road for the first time – and made it a […]

Hornets stung by late penalty try

5 November 2023 0 comments

By BEN JACOBS Hornets…………………36 Redruth………………..38 A LATE penalty try sealed Redruth’s first back-to-back wins this season, lifting them into the top half of the table. […]

Pack power holds key for Hinckley

5 November 2023 0 comments

By DESMOND HICKIE Chester………………… 10 Hinckley………………22 WET conditions, and a greasy surface, meant the game was punctuated by knock-ons and dropped balls. In a forward-dominated […]

Life’s so good for Grimes as Lucs make a positive mark

5 November 2023 0 comments

By BEN CONEYBEARE With an utterly faultless seven-game run to begin the National Two West season, it is difficult to resist the temptation to label […]

Dramatic finale as Esher oust Oaks

5 November 2023 0 comments

By STEVE FITZMAURICE Sevenoaks………….. 18 Esher…………………….22 ESHER scored two late tries to come from behind and snatch an away victory against a combative Sevenoaks side […]

Bury cut loose for eye-catching win

5 November 2023 0 comments

By ANDREW HERLIHY Bury St Eds…………..49 Worthing……………… 12 BURY St Edmunds racked up a convincing victory over a Worthing side hampered by yellow cards. The […]

Benning bags winner as Dons suffer a late blow

5 November 2023 0 comments

By ALISTAIR BEYNON Henley H………….23pts Wimbledon……. 19pts Flying high: Left, Hawks full back Toby Evans on the attack and right, Will Benning goes over for […]

Macmillan clinches derby victory over gutsy Park

5 November 2023 0 comments

By CARRICK BLAKE Canterbury…………..25 Westcombe P……… 19 CANTERBURY fought back from a half-time deficit to edge to victory against battling visitors Westcombe Park. Canterbury started […]

Raiders rocked as Barnes go top

5 November 2023 0 comments

By MIKE MARSHALL Guernsey………………11 Barnes………………….28 BARNES bossed an attritional tussle against Guernsey to pick up a victory that returned them to the summit of the […]

King’s crowning glory for Dorking

5 November 2023 0 comments

By RICHARD HOMER Old Albanians…….. 10 Dorking…………………23 DORKING kept up their unbeaten start to the season, but they were made to work hard by an […]

Allen aiming for long-term success at the Hawks

5 November 2023 0 comments

By OLLY PINHEY Luke Allen is in his first year as Henley Hawks’ director of rugby but knows exactly where he wants to take the […]

Heald: New tackle height law causing concussions

29 October 2023 0 comments

By MATTHEW LUDDINGTON Barnes director of rugby Jack Heald wants the RFU’s law change on tackle height to be scrapped. New laws introduced this season […]

Barrow: It’s our outstanding work ethic that sets us apart

29 October 2023 0 comments

By OLLY PINHEY Sedgley Park head coach Scott Barrow has credited their early season success to his squad’s outstanding work ethic. The Tigers achieved promotion […]

Loughborough boys determined to fight back to the top again

29 October 2023 0 comments

By BEN CONEYBEARE If you come as agonisingly close to glory as Loughborough Students did in the BUCS Super Rugby final that closed out last […]

Latvian brothers enjoying life at Wharfedale

29 October 2023 0 comments

By EDDIE McATEER National Two North side Wharfedale is the unlikely home of two brothers playing internationally for Latvia. Robbie, 28, and Tom Davidson, 33, […]

After Jersey, Biljon offered a chance at Rotherham

22 October 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Having had his world turned upside down due to Jersey Reds’ suspension from the Championship, Harvey Biljon has since teamed up with […]

Bullett clear that Esher aiming for quick return

22 October 2023 0 comments

By MATTHEW LUDDINGTON In its centenary year, Esher, a club steeped in history and tradition, finds itself at a critical juncture. It’s a year of […]

Lions knock over big boys but still have lot to learn

22 October 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK The term ‘anyone can beat anyone on their day’ is an overused cliche in sport, but none is more appropriate to describe […]

Clifton fly-half Cozens enjoys mixing playing with coaching

22 October 2023 0 comments

By BEN CONEYBEARE The heroics of George Ford and Owen Farrell at the Rugby World Cup have been a potent reminder to all that sometimes […]

Seabourne keen to spread word to rebuild Leeds

22 October 2023 0 comments

By EDDIE MCATEER Leeds Tykes have started the season with a bang as they sit top of National Two North with seven wins from seven […]

Tykes in charge and keep hold of top spot

22 October 2023 0 comments

By TED BROMWICH Leeds Tykes…30 Fylde …………….. 17 LEEDS Tykes made it eight games unbeaten with another dominant performance over Fylde, picking up another five-point […]

Moseley boys have last laugh with late penalty

15 October 2023 0 comments

■By TOM BULMER Darlington MP27 B Moseley …….28 BIRMINGHAM Moseley snatched a dramatic late win at the Darlington Arena. Adam Balding’s side slotted a last-minute […]

Last-gasp Lewis try saves the day

15 October 2023 0 comments

■By SIMON DAVIES Leicester Lions ….26 Rams ……………………24 LEICESTER Lions bounced back from fivestraight defeats to beat the leaders in style. The hosts set their […]

Warren and Crowe seals Park triumph

15 October 2023 0 comments

■By JOHN ALLANSON Bishop’s S……………33 Sedgley P ……………45 WARREN SEALS was the architect for Sedgley Park as they edged a thrilling encounter. The first half […]

Brilliance of sets tone for Browning Chinnor

15 October 2023 0 comments

■By JOHN VAUGHAN Chinnor…………..53pts Tries: Browning 9, 13, 50, 54, Gillespie 59, 74, Hardwick 23, Clementson 44, Ryan 67 Conversions: Bourton 10, 68, 75, Smith […]

Cinderford first-half shutout sets

15 October 2023 0 comments

■By THOMAS LLEWELLYN one for victory Cinderford………….. 20 Plymouth A ………… 12 CINDERFORD keep second in the table after keeping Plymouth Albion pointless in a […]

Richmond rain on Sale’s parade

15 October 2023 0 comments

By GARETH DANIELS Sale FC………………… 15 Richmond…………….24 THE blue and whites entered the Heywood Road turf looking to bounce back to winning ways against Richmond. […]

Sinclair steers the Titans around Park

15 October 2023 0 comments

By MIKE JAMOS Taunton T……………40 Rosslyn Park………. 17 TAUNTON Titans ran riot on home soil to leave Rosslyn Park departing with a whimper. It was […]

I’m enjoying seeing the big picture – Easter

15 October 2023 0 comments

By MATTHEW LUDDINGTON Oxfordshire-based Chinnor might not grab the headlines in a league filled with historic English rugby powerhouses and well-funded teams, but they are […]

Tigers on the loose as Field’s misery extended

15 October 2023 0 comments

By ANDREW SMITH Huddersfield…25 Sheffield T…… 44 A DOMINANT firsthalf display from Sheffield Tigers saw bottom-placed Huddersfield slip to their fifth loss on the bounce. […]

Fylde grit is in vain as Dale stand tall

15 October 2023 0 comments

By STUART McCRACKEN Fylde…………………….28 Tynedale……………..34 TYNEDALE made it back-to-back wins as they condemned Fylde to their fourth defeat in a row. Dale went into a […]

Titans continue their perfect start

15 October 2023 0 comments

By ADAM CLEARY Sheffield……………… 17 Rotherham T……….37 ROTHERHAM Titans made it seven wins out of seven with a bonus-point win against local rivals Sheffield. The […]

Power of three for Peter in Hull’s joy

15 October 2023 0 comments

By MO SHER Hull………………….40pts Billingham……. 24pts A SUPERB hat-trick from Peter Hudson-Kowalewicz secured Hull a well-deserved bonus-point win against Billingham, keeping them in touch with […]

Sanderson makes his mark to set up Ionians

15 October 2023 0 comments

By BRIAN NORMAN Hull Ionians…………3 6 Wharfedale…………23 HULL Ionians found their energy levels and confidence to storm into 19-0 lead in the first 20 minutes […]

Waddington gets Otley off to a flier

15 October 2023 0 comments

By NICK DOYLE Otley……………………..45 Lymm……………………34 DESPITE getting the bonus point within the first quarter, it was harum scarum for Otley in the second half, losing […]

Jukes too hot for Grasshoppers

15 October 2023 0 comments

By BEN CROPPER Leeds Tykes………..53 Preston G…………….. 21 A SCINTILLATING back three performance helped leaders Leeds Tykes see off Preston Grasshoppers. The visitors took an […]

Oliver looks destined for the top after stirring start

15 October 2023 0 comments

By EDDIE McATEER Tynedale have started the season with one win and five losses, however in Jacob Oliver they have something to smile about. The […]

Ford proving to be the right Guy to lead Chester charge

15 October 2023 0 comments

By OLLY PINHEY Chester head coach Guy Ford is proud of how his side has adapted to National Two West after being moved across from […]

Barnes helps give Worthing a second success

15 October 2023 0 comments

By FRANK REYNOLDS Worthing………. 46 Old Albanians.36 WORTHING got their second league win of the season after a resounding first-half performance saw them come away […]

Bury savour a first win on their travels

15 October 2023 0 comments

By BEN CONEYBEARE Wimbledon…………. 31 Bury St Eds…………..45 BURY St Edmunds secured their first away win of the season in an entertaining clash with Wimbledon. […]

Thrilling finale to a scrappy contest

15 October 2023 0 comments

By GARETH WITHERS Tonbridge J…………29 Sevenoaks…………..29 WHAT proved a scrappy, stop-start derby, not helped by an excessive amount of whistle from the man in the […]

Pierre proves Esher are back in title reckoning

15 October 2023 0 comments

By MATTHEW LUDDINGTON Esher……………… 46pts Henley…………….25pts Touchdown: Fergus Donnelly crossing the whitewash just before half time. Right, Henley’s Kaspar Strugar goes over PICTURES: Leo WIlkinson […]

Wyman sparks Westcombe as the Vikings stormed

15 October 2023 0 comments

By RICHARD HEWITT North Walsham……. 7 Westcombe P………59 NATHAN WYMAN led the way as Westcombe Park turned on the style to destroy their hosts. In […]

Hat-tricks at the double for hosts

15 October 2023 0 comments

By KEVIN BEAL Dorking…………………59 Guernsey…………….. 14 HAT-TRICKS from Craig Holland and Toby McRae sealed Dorking’s best performance of the season thus far. Nine tries, seven […]

Barnes hang on after sin-binnings

15 October 2023 0 comments

By TOM MCARTHUR Barnes………………….39 Canterbury…………..22 BARNES finished the game as comfortable winners despite a flurry of yellows that left them with just 12 men on […]

Tom shows different codes not Poles apart

15 October 2023 0 comments

By BEN CONEYBEARE Representing your country is one of the highest honours any rugby player can hope to receive, so to be given the chance […]

DMP hit ground running to see off hosts

8 October 2023 0 comments

By TIMOTHY FORRESTER Richmond ……. 24 Darlingtn MP . 34 DARLINGTON Mowden Park were good value for their excellent win at Richmond after getting off […]

Six of the best for Rams pacesetters

8 October 2023 0 comments

By RICHARD ASHTON Rams ……………………26 Bishop’s S …………… 10 RAMS ground out a hard-fought home success against Bishop’s Stortford to make it a super six […]

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