National Leagues

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

Plymouth plan statue for Peters

19 March 2023 0 comments

Plymouth Albion RFC have organised a Go-Fund-Me page to raise money in order to erect a statue of James ‘Jimmy’ Peters at the ground to […]

Titans hit top form to oust Mowden

12 March 2023 0 comments

By MIKE AMOS Taunton T ……..35 Darlington MP. 26 TAUNTON Titans came out on top in a hardfought contest against Darlington Mowden Park. The two […]

Leaders toppled by Albion’s aces

12 March 2023 1 comment

By PADDY MARSH Plymouth A …………27 Rams ……………………24 PLYMOUTH Albion opened up the promotion race with a well-deserved win over leaders Rams at Brickfields. Albion […]

Chinnor hit back for crucial triumph

12 March 2023 1 comment

By JACK JOHNSON Esher ……………………22 Chinnor………………..24 CHINNOR produced an outstanding second-half performance to clinch a crucial comeback victory over fellow strugglers Esher. It was a […]

Howcroft’s joy as Sale up the pressure on Rams

12 March 2023 0 comments

By LUKE JARMYN Sale FC…………… 31pts Tries: Barron 10, Bradley 27, Robins 42, Onasanya 53, Bamber 80+1 Conversions: Curtis 43, 54 Bishop’s S……….. 7pts Tries: […]

Cinderford bounce back in style with Hull romp

12 March 2023 0 comments

By THOMAS LLEWELLYN Cinderford………….. 50 Hull………………………….0 CINDERFORD bounced back from a three-game losing streak to rack up a superb win over bottom of the table […]

Barnes’ blitz too much for Westcliff

12 March 2023 0 comments

By MARTIN CONWAY Barnes…………… 81 Westcliff………… 3 BLISTERING Barnes blew Westcliff off the park with superb forward dominance and slick work by the backs to […]

Blackheath again slow out of blocks

12 March 2023 0 comments

By GRAHAM COX Blackheath………….48 Tonbridge J………… 19 FOR the second week in succession, Blackheath found themselves under early pressure and needing to play catch-up. Nevertheless, […]

Henley battle back to take all honours

12 March 2023 1 comment

By JIM EVANS Dorking………………… 14 Henley…………………. 19 HENLEY came from behind to secure the victory at Dorking. The hosts started with a bang and went […]

Reed in at the double as Bury show all their class

12 March 2023 0 comments

By CARRICK BLAKE Ruaraidh Williams from B St Eds player and right, Tom Williams on the charge down PICTURES: Phillipa Hilton Canterbury…….. 11pts Bury St […]

Rochford recover from a big loss to earn top draw

12 March 2023 1 comment

By GRAHAM PRATT Rochford H………….. 21 Old Albanians…….. 21 AFTER the trouncing at Bury last week, Rochford needed a good result at home to Old […]

Adams turns on the style for Oaks

12 March 2023 2 comments

By STEVE FITZMAURICE Sevenoaks…………..3 3 Guernsey……………..26 A HIGHLY determined Sevenoaks team won the day thanks to a great all-round team display. But Guernsey opened the […]

Barnes is just too strong for visitors

12 March 2023 2 comments

By STEPHEN DAVIS Worthing………………57 North Walsham…..22 NORTH Walsham’s relegation plight was further deepened at as the Raiders ran riot, with Curtis Barnes claiming four tries […]

Tigers tamed at last by Rodgers

12 March 2023 0 comments

By BRIAN TILLEY Tynedale………… 14 Sedgley Park…..11 LEADERS Sedgley Tigers were sent crashing to their first defeat of the season by a fired-up Tynedale outfit. […]

Grasshoppers ease their relegation fears

12 March 2023 1 comment

By BEN PITKEATHLY Preston G………. 34pts Harrogate………. 17pts PRESTON Grasshoppers hung on to a crucial bonus-point victory over relegation rivals Harrogate. Hoppers started the day […]

Reeves grabs victory with late, late penalty

12 March 2023 1 comment

By DESMOND HICKIE Chester…………………34 Hull Ionians…………32 CHESTER snatched victory over Hull Ionians in a topsy-turvy match with the lead fluctuating until the final minute. It […]

On-song Sale fight back to deny Hull

5 March 2023 0 comments

By RICHARD GORE Hull………………… 12 Sale FC………….. 19 Basement side Hull came within minutes of an historic victory against third-placed Sale with a display of […]

Titans toppled as Bishop’s hit form

5 March 2023 1 comment

By JOHN ALLANSON Bishop’s S……………39 Taunton T …………….. 7 Bishop’s Stortford were in imperious form as they brushed aside Taunton Titans in a one-sided contest. […]

Cracking quartet for quick-fire Park

5 March 2023 0 comments

By TOM BULMER Darlington MP…….33 Plymouth A …………26 Darlington Mowden Park made it four wins in a row with a bonus-point victory over Plymouth. Garry […]

Easter delight as battling Chinnor dig in for big win

5 March 2023 2 comments

By JACK JOHNSON Chinnor…………..26pts Tries: Hodson 8, 43, Heathman 14, Marshall 53 Conversions: Price 15, 44, 54 Cinderford……..22pts Tries: Adderly-Jones 22, Taylor 30, Austin 34 […]

Try star Asiedu strikes again as ’Bridge run riot

5 March 2023 0 comments

By MO SHER Esher ……………………22 Cambridge ………….56 Nana Kwaku Asiedu bagged a hat-trick of tries to take his tally for the season to 24 as […]

Rossiter’s treble fires up the Rams

5 March 2023 0 comments

By RICHARD ASHTON Rams ……………………52 Leeds Tykes……….24 Jak Rossiter returned to the Rams side in stunning fashion as his hat-trick helped fire the leaders to […]

Park cling on to edge out Moseley

5 March 2023 1 comment

By RHYS STRATTON Rosslyn Park……… 21 B Moseley ………….. 19 Rosslyn Park got back to winning ways at The Rock with a narrow victory against […]

Titans in double derby delight

5 March 2023 1 comment

By DAVID BEDDOWS Rotherham T…36 Sheffield………..26 Rotherham completed a league double over their South Yorkshire neighbours in a derby that produced nine tries. The division’s […]

Hoppers hold off the Tynedale tide

5 March 2023 0 comments

By BEN PITKEATHLY Preston G……………..40 Tynedale……………..34 A ruthless Preston Grasshoppers edged Tynedale in a thriller at Lightfoot Green Lane. Robert Parker kicked an early penalty […]

Tigers claw their way to success

5 March 2023 0 comments

By CHRIS NUNN Blaydon………………..26 Sheffield T…………..28 Sheffield Tigers held on for a hard-fought win at Crow Trees. Ten minutes of early Sheffield pressure eventually saw […]

Fylde seal fine draw to cage the Tigers

5 March 2023 1 comment

By ELLIOT BURROW Fylde………………. 19pts Sedgley P………. 19pts There was nothing to separate the top-two teams in the league as the points were shared in […]

Cards cost Chester as Harrogate take advantage

5 March 2023 0 comments

By TIM THORLEY Harrogate……………. 21 Chester………………… 17 In a hard-fought tie at Rudding Lane, Harrogate emerged victorious to aid their quest to avoid relegation. Harrogate […]

Ionians secure Yorkshire glory

5 March 2023 0 comments

By MALCOLM KNOWLES Hull Ionians………… 41 Otley……………………..35 This fixture was to settle the division’s best Yorkshire team, and it did not disappoint. A game that […]

Oscar’s Canny double for Dale

5 March 2023 1 comment

By JOHN CLARK Wharfedale…………32 Huddersfield………. 31 Oscar Canny’s firsthalf double helped Wharfedale secure victory over Huddersfield by the tightest of margins. This was a game […]

Ruthless Guernsey edge out Dorking

5 March 2023 1 comment

By ADAM DICKINSON Guernsey………. 31 Dorking…………..27 Guernsey Raiders held off a spirited Dorking comeback to win an entertaining encounter in the Channel Islands. After the […]

Free-scoring Bury batter Rochford

5 March 2023 0 comments

By ANDREW HERLIHY Bury St Ed’s………….52 Rochford H……………. 7 Bury St Edmunds were in rampant form as they thrashed Rochford Hundred. Rochford should have scored […]

Hosts see red in Barnes reverse

5 March 2023 0 comments

By CARRICK BLAKE Canterbury………….. 15 Barnes………………….38 Canterbury slumped to a second successive defeat as they picked up a red card en route to a home […]

Raiders chief delighted at key Hawks triumph

5 March 2023 1 comment

By NICK PITSON Henley…………… 24pts Worthing……….. 34pts Worthing Raiders overcame a spirited Henley Hawks at Dry Leas in an entertaining game that contained nine tries. […]

Vikings overcome as Blackheath hit back in style

5 March 2023 0 comments

By RICHARD HEWITT N Walsham…………..25 Blackheath………….35 A hard-fought game saw North Walsham lead for 60 minutes before falling to a narrow defeat at home to […]

Seven-up OAs in big win over Oaks

5 March 2023 1 comment

By RICHARD HOMER O Albanians…………49 Sevenoaks……………. 8 Old Albanians got back to winning ways with a seven-try victory over a Sevenoaks side still looking over […]

Juddians pile on misery for Wests

5 March 2023 1 comment

By GARETH WITHERS Tonbridge J…………55 Westcliff………………. 3 Tonbridge Juddians ran in nine tries to inflict another heavy defeat on visitors Westcliff. The home side had […]

Bournville savour a most vital victory

5 March 2023 0 comments

By BILLY PAGE Bournville……..52 Redruth………….40 Bournville claimed a huge win in their battle against the drop, beating Redruth in a breathless encounter. Embroiled in a […]

Lions come alive after early scares

5 March 2023 0 comments

By MICHAEL HOWKINS Leicester L…………..40 Barnstaple………….. 12 Leicester Lions emerged victorious after Barnstaple put up some impressive first-half resistance. The visitors started strongly, with Brendan […]

Students edge a top nine-try thriller

5 March 2023 0 comments

By SAM JACOBS O Redcliffians……..32 Loughborough S….36 Loughborough took the honours in a pulsating game that swung one way and another in a nine-try contest. […]

Hornets stung by Salop’s fast start

5 March 2023 1 comment

By PHIL GITTUS Newport (S)….. 34pts Hornets……………19pts Newport’s recent rich vein of form continued with a bonus-point win over the visiting Hornets. Early on, it […]

Anderson almost everywhere as Dings triumph

5 March 2023 0 comments

By BAZ JOHNSON Dings C…………………52 Stourbridge………… 12 Despite Stourbridge being a big side and showing great forward movement through Mark George, Matt Moseley and Dan […]

Boyland’s four is the crowning glory

5 March 2023 2 comments

By CHRIS CAMPBELL Hinckley……………… 31 Clifton………………….. 71 Clifton put in a barnstorming performance in a game which saw 102 points scored in a 15-try spectacular. […]

Lucs cut loose in second-half show

5 March 2023 1 comment

By GEOFF VICKRESS Luctonians…………..59 Exeter Uni…………….28 Luctonians powered past Exeter University, who more than contributed to an entertaining game. Charlie Grimes wasted little time opening […]

Four-try Fisher has rivals Tigers in his sights

5 March 2023 2 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Sheffield have survived in National Two North for the first time in their history and scrumhalf Elliot Fisher says their next aim […]

Rochford look for a big finish to difficult campaign

5 March 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Rochford Hundred secured a prized win last weekend against Canterbury that boosted their survival bid after what has been a difficult campaign […]