National Leagues

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

Hodgson the hero for Walsham

5 February 2023 1 comment

By GRAHAM PRATT Rochford H…….26 N Walsham…… 44 Second-from-bottom North Walsham were deserving winners over disappointed Rochford. The home team had started well, taking the […]

Sting of Hornets proves too great

5 February 2023 1 comment

By MO SHER Barnstaple……. 12 Hornets…………. 24 Hornets took a huge step towards retaining their National Two status by beating fellow survival rivals Barnstaple in […]

Newport conquer in-form Crusaders

5 February 2023 0 comments

By PHIL GUTTUS Newport (S)……32pts Dings C……………26pts The form book was well and truly thrown out of the window as Newport recorded what must go […]

Old Reds hand out a lesson in Exeter

5 February 2023 0 comments

By MAX COURTIS Exeter Uni……… 20 O Redcliffians.30 A mouth-watering line-up last Saturday saw a huge clash between red and green to settle century-long scores. […]

Lions show bite with seven-try rout

5 February 2023 0 comments

By MIKE HOWKINS Leicester Lions…..47 Hinckley……………….. 7 At Westleigh Park there was a local derby between Leicester Lions and Hinckley Hornets. The Lions were soon […]

Henderson has Fylde in sight

5 February 2023 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK Leading National Leagues try scorer Rhys Henderson has been in the right place at the right time this season and hopes to […]

Table topping Lions fill Collins with pride

5 February 2023 0 comments

By BEN JAYCOCK Leicester Lions have lost just once in their last 25 games and head coach Gareth Collins believes the team’s incredible run is […]

Six-hitting Tykes see off fellow strugglers

29 January 2023 1 comment

By ANGELA RIMMINGTON Leeds Tykes …36 Hull………………… 12 Leeds Tykes beat visitors Hull to register their first win since the reverse fixture in October. Grayson […]

Speare points way to Albion success

29 January 2023 2 comments

By NICK BURT Plymouth A …………28 Chinnor……………….. 12 A late try by winger Kyle Speare’s earned Plymouth Albion a bonus-point win against Chinnor. Chinnor started […]

Sale hero Walsh weaves his magic

29 January 2023 1 comment

By TOM BARRY Sale FC…………………24 Cinderford………….. 17 Sale FC got their promotion bid back on track with a home win against Cinderford. The second-placed hosts, […]

Hosts hit by a Rams raid as final flurry steals win

29 January 2023 0 comments

By STEVE JACKSON Cambridge …….27pts Tries: Maka 4, Brownlie 12, 22 Conversions: James 5, 13, 23 Penalties: James 42, 57 Rams ………………33pts Tries: Hayman 15, […]

Moseley unable to cling on after Stedman treble

29 January 2023 1 comment

By ANDY MITCHELL B Moseley …………..34 Bishop’s S……………34 A perfect first-half performance was followed by a wretched second period as three yellow cards saw Moseley […]

Park’s late surge floors Mowden

29 January 2023 0 comments

By RHYS STRATTON Rosslyn Park………. 31 Darlington MP……. 21 Rosslyn Park ran in two late tries to hit back from 14 points down and secure […]

Titans strike back to topple Esher

29 January 2023 2 comments

By MIKE AMOS Taunton Titans…..27 Esher……………………. 18 Taunton Titans overcame a 15-point deficit to down visitors Esher. The home side conceded two tries in the […]

RFU creating a big divide in the game says Honey

29 January 2023 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK The RFU’s decision to lower the tackle height to ‘waistline and below’ next season for all levels below the Championship has produced […]

Otley hold out after Chester’s late surge

29 January 2023 2 comments

By NICK DOYLE Otley……………….36 Chester…………..22 Otley regained fourth spot in the first half – after holding off a second-half Chester rally. Otley’s first try came […]

Dore Moor fortress as strong as ever

29 January 2023 0 comments

By MO SHER Sheffield T…………..34 Preston G……………..22 The fortress that is Dore Moor claimed yet another victim as the Tigers notched a fifth home win […]

Wearmouth seals a top Dale tussle

29 January 2023 0 comments

By BRIAN TILLEY Tynedale…………….. 21 Wharfedale………… 20 The two Dales produced a pulsating match which ebbed and flowed throughout. But it was Tynedale who edged […]

Sheffield send out warning to rivals

29 January 2023 1 comment

By STEPHEN SMITH Sheffield………… 21pts Harrogate………. 10pts Sheffield RUFC have moved up to ninth in the table after they overcame Harrogate in some style at […]

Field crown a mid-season revival with top triumph

29 January 2023 0 comments

By ANDREW SMITH Huddersfield……….33 Hull Ionians………… 17 Huddersfield’s mid-season revival scaled new heights with a barnstorming win over third-place Ionians. First-half tries from Callum Thomson […]

Rhys runs riot as visitors thrashed

29 January 2023 0 comments

By VINNY MORLEY Sedgley Park………75 Blaydon…………………..0 Unbeaten Sedgley Park demolished bottom-placed Blaydon with a blistering display. They took the lead after just three minutes when […]

Dorrington double secures success

29 January 2023 0 comments

By ELLIOT BURROW Fylde……………………. 30 Rotherham T……….23 Fylde maintained their lead at the top of table and their unbeaten home record intact as they held […]

Alex at double as Barnes March on

29 January 2023 1 comment

By MICHAEL WHITFIELD Barnes……………39 N Walsham……. 19 Barnes eased to victory in a scrappy encounter against battling North Walsham. Barnes started brightly and took the […]

Oaks on top as Rochford see red

29 January 2023 1 comment

By STEVE FITZMAURICE Sevenoaks…………..35 Rochford H………….. 19 Sevenoaks ground out a bonus-point victory over Rochford Hundred in a highly entertaining clash at the Paddock. The […]

Ace Armstrong on song for visitors

29 January 2023 0 comments

By NICK CROWE Westcliff…………….. 13 Guernsey…………….. 41 An efficient Guernsey side were good value for their convincing win over luckless Westcliff. Westcliff had a dream […]

Taggart treble is key as Raiders turn to Plan B

29 January 2023 1 comment

By RICHARD PHELPS Worthing…………29pts Bury St Ed’s…….22pts Full stretch: Worthing’s Will Rigelsford dives over the line for the winning try in the final minute PICTURES: […]

McRae’s high five leads Dorking scoring spree

29 January 2023 0 comments

By KEVIN BEAL Dorking………………… 50 Canterbury………….. 21 Dorking ran out comfortable winners at the Big Field, scoring eight tries to three as their forward power […]

Juddians slide to rare home reverse

29 January 2023 0 comments

By GARETH WITHERS Tonbridge J………… 17 Henley………………….24 Henley Hawks condemned Tonbridge Juddians to only their second home defeat of the season in an enthralling encounter […]

Club class shows in victory over OA

29 January 2023 1 comment

By GRAHAM COX Blackheath………….33 Old Albanians…….. 21 Blackheath were pushed all the way by Old Albanians before claiming their ninth home win of the campaign. […]

Crusaders continue their fine away run

29 January 2023 0 comments

By JACK TREGONNING Barnstaple……. 19 Dings C………….. 31 The Crusaders backed up last week’s outstanding performance against runaway league leaders Leicester Lions by easing past […]

Hornets stung by canny scholars

29 January 2023 0 comments

By FREYA COLLINGTON Exeter Uni…………….29 Hornets………………… 19 Lowly Hornets suffered a tough defeat at the hands of Exeter University. The home side started with a […]

Lions made to work by Old Reds

29 January 2023 0 comments

By MIKE HOWKINS Leicester Lions…..36 Old Redcliffians…. 14 Leicester Lions’ second-half comeback against a determined Old Redcliffians continued an unbeaten run that began in early […]

Ward’s tries give Clifton the edge in hundred-point classic

29 January 2023 0 comments

By WYN TIGLEY Clifton…………………64 Bournville…………. 40 Hat-trick: Clifton’s Matt Ward celebrates his third try Bourneville first visit to Station Road to play Clifton saw them […]

Students teach Newport a lesson in thrilling clash

29 January 2023 1 comment

By GARY TAYLOR Loughborough S….45 Newport (S)………… 31 Loughborough Students came out on top in a 12-try thriller against Newport. Fast out of the blocks, […]

Redruth display their clinical side

29 January 2023 2 comments

By BILL HOOPER Redruth……………….. 21 Luctonians……………. 3 Luctonians will rue a string of missed opportunities as they head back from Cornwall and wonder what might […]

Pointon runs the show for Hinckley

29 January 2023 0 comments

By MILES EDGE Stourbridge…………28 Hinckley………………52 An entertaining try-fest at Stourton Park saw 12 tries, the majority scored by Hinckley. Frankie Sleightholme opened the scoring for […]

Sheffield topple misfiring Hoppers

22 January 2023 1 comment

By BEN PITKEATHLY Preston G ……… 18 Sheffield ……… 24 Sheffield hung on to claim a well-fought victory over a wasteful Preston Grasshoppers side at […]

In-form Fylde see off Blaydon threat

22 January 2023 0 comments

By CHRIS NUNN Blaydon………………. 12 Fylde …………………… 31 Fylde kept up the pressure at the top of the table with a hard-fought win away at […]

Two-try Chester shake off Tigers

22 January 2023 0 comments

By DESMOND HICKIE Chester………………..23 Sheffield T …………. 17 Chester edged to victory by scoring two tries to one in a close encounter with Sheffield Tigers. […]

Sale stunned as Asiedu hat-trick ends home run

22 January 2023 0 comments

By STEPHEN SMITH Sale FC…………… 19pts Tries: Ford 9, Dixon 16, Hirskyj 36 Conversions: Robins 10, 17 Cambridge …….35pts Tries: Asiedu 1, 23, 44, Brownlie […]

Piper brace keeps Park on top in Bishop’s battle

22 January 2023 2 comments

By JOHN ALLANSON Bishop’s S…………… 10 Rosslyn Park ……… 13 Rosslyn Park held on for a narrow win after a second-half arm wrestle at Bishop’s […]

Morley’s magic is crucial in Esher win

22 January 2023 0 comments

By TOM SANSOM Esher…………….. 34 Plymouth A….. 24 Sam Morley’s consistent kicking proved the difference as Esher claimed victory over Plymouth Albion in an entertaining […]

Ward treble keeps Clifton on course

22 January 2023 0 comments

By MAX COURTIS Exeter Uni……………. 19 Clifton…………………..35 Slick Clifton proved too strong for Exeter University as they maintained their challenge at the top end of […]

On-song Hornets in seventh heaven

22 January 2023 0 comments

By MO SHER Hornets…………………47 Stourbridge…………26 A Blistering first 40 minutes from Hornets saw them blow Stourbridge away, with prop Mua Inoke grabbing a brace. The […]

Lions hit back in late Dings drama

22 January 2023 1 comment

By BAZ JOHNSON Dings C…………. 24 Leicester L…….27 Leicester Lions staged a stirring second-half comeback as they edged out hosts Dings Crusaders, sealing victory with […]

Reynolds’ Raiders learn from setbacks

22 January 2023 1 comment

By MUHAMMED SHER Impact: Callum Roberts first touch of the ball ends in a try to extend Raiders’ lead PICTURES: Mike Marshall Guernsey………..25pts Tonbridge J…… […]

Sterling on the money for Foxes

22 January 2023 0 comments

By CARRICK BLAKE Canterbury…………..43 Worthing………………33 Fans at Canterbury were treated to a superb game as the Foxes produced a fine display. Guy Hilton was taken […]

Johnson aiming to pile on the pounds

22 January 2023 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK Australian winger Kyle Johnson hopes to put on the pounds as he adjusts to the physicality of the English National Leagues. Johnson, […]

Chinnor 3rds just can’t stop winning

22 January 2023 1 comment

By BEN JAYCOCK Chinnor’s 3rd XV are currently enjoying a sensational five-year unbeaten run that goes back to 2018. The Wildboys’ sensational run includes 71 […]