National Leagues

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

Moseley get back on track

12 January 2020 1 comment

By TOM HALLAMGRAVELLS MOSELEY’S eight-game losing streak came to an emphatic end as they blew away Cinderford in a bonus-point victory. The result means Cinderford […]

Free-flowing Lions hit six

12 January 2020 1 comment

By ROGER OPIE LEICESTER LIONS toasted victory over their near-table rivals as they outplayed Clifton to win 39-13 on the road. The visitors were practically […]

Warren Seals it for Darlington

12 January 2020 0 comments

By KEVIN ROBINSON DARLINGTON head coach Garry Law made his first appearance of the season and helped them to victory against Bishop’s Stortford. The visitors […]

Barnes seal valuable win to cast Dings aside

12 January 2020 0 comments

By SAMUEL DRAPER BARNES earned their fifth win of the season by overpowering Dings in a tight bottom-half encounter. A Jamie Collins try put the […]

Beattie calls time at 34

12 January 2020 0 comments

RUGBY SHORTS FORMERScotland No.8 Johnnie Beattie has retired from rugby. The 34-year-old ex-Glasgow Warriors, Montpellier and Castres forward finished his career with a three-year stint […]

Hawks lay down the gauntlet in Titans win

12 January 2020 0 comments

By NICK PITSON HENLEY kept up the pressure on leaders Tonbridge with a bonus-point win over third-placed Taunton at Dry Leas. In an excellent advert […]

Chin up for Hull after Villagers loss

5 January 2020 0 comments

By MALCOLM KNOWLES Hull Ionians ……7 Chinnor…………54 HULL Ionians suffered another heavy defeat at the hands of Chinnor but put in an improved firsthalf performance […]

Blood & Sand survive late drama

5 January 2020 0 comments

By NIGEL WILCE Cinderford ……3 Cambridge ……….8 THE FESTIVE break appeared to affect Cinderford more than Cambridge as they edged to an unlikely victory. That […]

Terrific Tom kicks five out of five to down Club

5 January 2020 2 comments

By TOM HOLMES Midfield punch: Richmond centre Morgan Ward is stopped by Tom Williams PICTURES: Prime Media RICHMOND’S director of rugby Steve Hill praised his […]

Rams’ pack keeps on feasting in dominant win

5 January 2020 0 comments

By RICHARD ASHTON Rams …………27 Darling’n MP 17 A DOMINANT forwards effort and some superb defence combined to give Rams a bonus-point victory at home […]

Honey-pot traps hosts as gritty Reds dig in

5 January 2020 0 comments

BY LYNDON EDNEY A FINE kicking performance from Fraser Honey helped Redruth come from behind twice to grind out a narrow 26-17 victory over Barnes […]

Stortford stroll past lacklustre Moseley

5 January 2020 0 comments

By JOHN ALLANSON Bishop’s S ……29 B Moseley ……15 BISHOP’S Stortford secured a bonus-point win at home to Birmingham Moseley. Moseley were ahead from an […]

Hawks escape Lions shocker

5 January 2020 0 comments

By ADAM HUNTER BOTTOM club Bournemouth came within a score of upsetting table-toppers Henley Hawks, going down 26-20 at Chapel Gate. Few gave Bournemouth a […]

OEs hold on for crucial victory

5 January 2020 2 comments

By JON EDWARDS Old Elthamians28 Sale FC………………21 OLD Elthamians withstood a late Sale fightback to begin the new year with a deserved bonuspoint victory. OEs […]

Leaders roll on in Red warning

5 January 2020 0 comments

By GEOFF SIBLEY OLD Redcliffians, fighting for their lives, had the dubious honour of hosting free-scoring Juddians at Scotland Lane, and despite putting up stiff […]

Like father, like son for Brooks

5 January 2020 1 comment

By WARREN MUGGLETON Canterbury……5 Rosslyn P ……38 JAMES Brooks honoured his father’s Rosslyn Park legacy with a superb debut as the leaders put in a […]

Seven-try win thanks to first-half barrage

5 January 2020 1 comment

By MIKE HOWKINS LEICESTER Lions showed their class in a splendid first-half performance that welcomed in the New Year. Westcliff opened the scoring early with […]

End-to-end thriller as Dalton try wins day

5 January 2020 0 comments

By MIKE AMOS Power play: Taunton’s Cory Teague bursts through. Right: Worthing on top at a line-out PICTURES: CJ Photos A NEW Year crowd of […]

Rundle runs in brace in Stour away day triumph

5 January 2020 0 comments

By RICHARD GORE Hull ………………18 Stourbridge….25 A LATE bonus-point surge was not enough for Hull as they lost to Stourbridge and saw the visitors leapfrog […]

Mid-table rivals begin with a banger

5 January 2020 1 comment

By NEIL IRELAND THE first game of the new decade for both teams was a thriller, the home side triumphing 24-22 against an excellent and […]

Students pass with full marks

5 January 2020 0 comments

By AMY WALMSLEY Loughborough 64 Chester …………….31 LOUGHBOROUGH Students were in rampant form as they kicked off the new year with an emphatic ten-try victory […]

Late tries edge 12-score cracker

5 January 2020 1 comment

By JOHN WHITE DINGS made a fantastic start to the new decade thanks to a bonus-point win over Esher at Shaftesbury Park. The victory came […]

Lucs unlucky after late blitz

5 January 2020 0 comments

By GEOFF VICKRESS Luctonians……20 Hinckley ……….26 LUCTONIANS were pipped to the finish line by a well-organised Hinckley side in an entertaining spectacle at Mortimer Park. […]

OAs come from behind in thriller

5 January 2020 1 comment

By JOHN CROYSDILL SUTTON & Epsom opened their 2020 account in disappointing fashion, losing at Rugby Lane to Old Albanian by 55-22 despite having led […]

Zebras start new year with spring in their step

5 January 2020 0 comments

By NICK DOYLE Otley …………….16 Tynedale ……13 TWO second-half tries from Otley were enough to down a spirited Tynedale team and move ahead of them […]

Tigers hit for six as Ravers go rocking on

5 January 2020 1 comment

By LUKE JARMYN Caldy ………………40pts Sheffield Tigers ….7pts Double: Ben Jones scores his second PICTURES: Gareth Lyons Inventive: Peter Swatkins with a chip-and-chase for the […]

Fairbrother flying to keep title hopes alive

5 January 2020 1 comment

By ALLAN FOSTER Fylde …………24 Wharfedale 17 A FIRST-HALF barrage proved enough for Fylde to overcome Wharfedale but it wasn’t without a late scare and […]

Hoppers jump for joy after Taylor trio

5 January 2020 1 comment

By LEW CLAYTON Scunthorpe ……7 Preston G’h ….30 CHRISTIAN Taylor hat-trick inflicted further misery on Scunthorpe as Preston Grasshoppers triumphed in the battle of the […]

Titans collapse increases anxiety

5 January 2020 1 comment

By GUY WILLIAMS Rotherham……32 Plymouth ……38 A POWERFUL second half performance by Plymouth Albion, during which they scored 28 points without reply, not only secured […]

Steve leaves Field green with envy

5 January 2020 0 comments

By STEVE SMITH Sedgley Park 28 Huddersfield….24 STEVE Collins scored a last-minute try to snatch victory away from Huddersfield and secure a vital bonus-point win […]

Joe’s late show stuns Students

22 December 2019 1 comment

By RICHARD JONES HINCKLEY came from behind to ensure a Merry Christmas for their supporters as they saw off Loughborough Students. The visitors started the […]

Shepherd’s flock get set for a happy Christmas

22 December 2019 0 comments

Muddy marvel: Jack Hodge goes over for a try for Redruth By BILL HOOPER REDRUTH wrapped up a deserved win over Taunton as they weathered […]

Fylde show no mercy in derby

22 December 2019 1 comment

By MIKE MITCHELL CLINICAL Fylde secured a bonus-point win at local rivals Preston Grasshoppers. An error-strewn performance from Preston Grasshoppers was a huge factor in […]

Bradley helps Hawks to pass Redcliffians test

22 December 2019 0 comments

By NICK PITSON DRY Leas was anything but dry on a day when Henley Hawks bested the visiting Old Redcliffians with a simple-seeming five-try display. […]

Henri Packs a punch as Tigers maul Scunthorpe

22 December 2019 1 comment

By CHRIS ANDREWS SHEFFIELD Tigers romped to an incredible eight-try triumph against Scunthorpe to ensure an enjoyable festive period. Henri Packard was the star of […]

Bury switch on turbo as Westcliff are felled late

22 December 2019 1 comment

By NICK CROWE BURY St Edmunds grabbed two late tries to put the gloss on victory in an evenly-fought match-up at Westcliff. Just five points […]

Field have no answer to Otley half-backs

22 December 2019 0 comments

By ANDREW SMITH Huddersfield ….15pts Otley ………………..27pts OTLEY director of rugby Charlie Maunder paid tribute to a ruthless half-back combination as his side ran in […]

Lucs pile more pressure on rivals Stour

22 December 2019 0 comments

By NICK PULLEN Stourbridge ..10 Luctonians ..14 LUCS pulled off a prized victory at arch-rivals Stourbridge whose alarming slide down the table continues with a […]

Simple Simon on the money for Hull

22 December 2019 1 comment

Tynedale ……..12 Hull ………………..16 By BRIAN TILLEY TYNEDALE crashed to their fourth successive defeat before a bumper Christmas crowd. Visitors Hull dominated throughout as they […]

Another away win for flying Cinders

22 December 2019 1 comment

By PADDY MARSH CINDERFORD maintained their fine form away from home this season with a two try to one victory over Plymouth Albion in atrocious […]

Tigers hang on in an 11-try thriller

22 December 2019 0 comments

By ED WILLIAMS Wharfedale ….36 Sedgley Park 39 AN 11-try thriller at the Avenue was served up by two sides that played enterprising rugby all […]

Humberstone’s the hero for Rams

22 December 2019 0 comments

By DAVID LAWRENCE ANDREW Humberstone kicked a last-gasp penalty to round off a dramatic fightback from league high-flyers Rams who had trailed for an hour […]

MY LIFEIN RUGBY

22 December 2019 1 comment

TONY SPREADBURY ONE OF THE GAME’S GREAT CHARACTERS AND CURRENT RFU HEAD OF PROFESSIONAL GAME MATCH OFFICIALS I WAS a touch judge at Combe Down […]

Brady on fire as Titans are crushed

22 December 2019 0 comments

By STEVE SMITH SALE made it an incredible festive season for their supporters by smashing Rotherham Titans on home turf. Speedster Fergus Mulchrone opened the […]

Holland brings up a ton as Rosslyn keep pace at top

22 December 2019 0 comments

By SAMUEL DRAPER He’s in: Joe Munroe goes over for Rosslyn Park PICTURES: David Whittam ROSSLYN Park head coach John Mills praised his team’s collective […]

Sweet 16 for Hodgson as Chinnor finally beaten

22 December 2019 0 comments

By JACK JOHNSON RICHMOND ended Chinnor’s unbeaten run as they left Oxfordshire with a hard-earned victory. Sixteen points from Tom Hodgson and an Alexander Bibic […]

Fry Cookes up a treat in bonuspoint victory

22 December 2019 0 comments

By GRAHAM COX A CONTROLLED and disciplined performance saw Blackheath to this comfortable win in a match dominated by the conditions. With the almost relentless […]

Seventh heaven for Asher-Wood

22 December 2019 2 comments

By KEVIN ROBINSON BRANDON Asher-Wood scored seven tries and Darlington Mowden Park crossed 14 times in all as they thrashed a sorry Hull Ionians. The […]

Tongan ace Lousi loving his new life in Llanelli

22 December 2019 1 comment

By STEFFAN THOMAS SAM Lousi believes he is the perfect fit for the Scarlets and is confident his style of play will thrive in west […]

Cambridge dig in after yellows

22 December 2019 0 comments

By STEVE JACKSON CAMBRIDGE and Bishop’s Stortford served up a deliciously spiky local derby, marred in the end by three yellow cards for the Blood […]

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