National Leagues

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

Crusaders hold off Albion assault on home soil

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By BAZ JOHNSON Dings Crusaders ..46 Plymouth A …………29 PLYMOUTH brought physicality to the park, opening the scoring with the metronomic boot of Tom Putt. […]

Hunt stars as go for a stroll the Dogs in Park

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By GARETH DANIELS Sale FC………….. 24pts Sedgley Park .. 18pts Tries: Walsh 14 Roberts 24, 53 Hunt 59 Conversions: Hunt 54, 60 Tries: Henderson 22 […]

Rams raid Esher to end home run

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By SAOPE SOKO Esher…………………….24 Rams…………………….43 HAVING lost to the promoted Sedley Park last week, Esher looked to maintain an impressive 12-match winning home run following […]

Ice-cool Dennett seals rescue act

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By RHYS STRATTON Rosslyn Park………. 19 Richmond……………. 21 RICHMOND emerged victorious from a brutal derby defeating rivals Rosslyn Park in dramatic fashion yesterday. The visitors […]

Rampant Lymm in show of strength on road

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By DESMOND HICKIE Chester………….. 19 Lymm…………….. 51 LYMM were certainly not flattered by this one-sided result, outscoring the home side seven tries to three. Impressive […]

Dorrington leaves it late in triumph…

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By WILL JUDD Fylde…………………….22 Preston G…………….. 20 FYLDE came from behind in the last minute, defeating their local foes. The home side started strong, with […]

Gaudie tally helps to close the Gate

15 September 2024 0 comments

By TIM THORLEY Harrogate…………….29 Wharfedale…………35 AN enterprising match saw Wharfedale run out winners on an excellent day for open rugby. Harrogate scored first in the […]

Tykes enjoy their run out in Otley to seal gritty win

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By NICK DOYLE Otley…………………….. 20 Leeds Tykes………..24 LEEDS Tykes were made to work for their narrow win against neighbours in an enthralling game yesterday against […]

Ionians in derby-day demolition job in Hull

15 September 2024 1 comment

■By RICHARD GORE Hull…………………. 18pts Hull Ionians……55pts THIS derby game was settled by half-time as a rampant Hull Ionians gave Hull a lesson in both […]

Tigers tamed by familiar adversaries

15 September 2024 1 comment

■By ANDREW SMITH Sheffield Tigers…. 13 Sheffield………………22 SHEFFIELD maintained their unbeaten start, edging their way to a three-try victory in a fiercely contested encounter at […]

Points shared as Evans slices wide

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By MO SHER Tynedale…………….. 19 Billingham………….. 19 IF there ever was a phrase to describe a typically combative, robust, National League affair, ‘hard fought’ couldn’t […]

Bracken hat-trick makes it a dream debut

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By SAM SMITH L’ghboro S…….. 50 Hinckley……….. 21 ENGLAND age-group star Jack Bracken made a dream debut for Loughborough Students with a hattrickof tries to […]

Holcombe sinks Reds with treble

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By ROGER OPIE Clifton…………………..36 Old Redcliffians….28 A DOMINANT second-half, led by their pack exerting serious pressure, underpinned a Clifton comeback from being 14 points adrift […]

Students teach Services a lesson

15 September 2024 0 comments

By MIKE YEATES Devonport S………… 19 Exeter Uni…………….59 A FAST start and a controlled finish saw Exeter University romp to an emphatic win at Devonport […]

Lucs ride luck to snatch win as kicking is off key

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By JACK TOZER Cinderford………13pts Luctonians……..15pts Smiler: James Mear scores Luctonians’ first try LUCTONIANS narrowly beat Cinderford in their first-ever league encounter with both sides battling […]

Andrew leads way as Camborne survive yellows

15 September 2024 0 comments

By BILL HOOPER Redruth………………..35 Camborne…………….43 CAMBORNE did enough during the first half to ride out a spirited comeback by Redruth in a proverbial game of […]

Macc add win to the club’s party

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By ALEX CLARK Macclesfield………. 31 Bournville……………28 MACCLESFIELD put the icing on the cake of club celebrations with victory over Bournville. It was the first home […]

Tough Titans draw the Hornets’ sting

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By MIKE AMOS Taunton Titans…..34 Hornets………………… 19 TAUNTON Titans overcame a slow start to run out winners over Hornets. They were starved of early possession […]

Big guns in sights for Students’ challenge

15 September 2024 0 comments

By CIARA FEARN England U20s star: Jack Bracken LOUGHBOROUGH Students head coach Brad Jones is targeting a top-half finish in National Two West after ending […]

Martinas stars for Islanders as Park pipped

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By MIKE MARSHALL Guernsey……….37 Westcombe P..26 NEWCOMER Martinas Dromantas shone as Guernsey Raiders saw off the challenge of Westcombe Park. Both teams started with pace […]

Barnes stormer leads TJs again

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By ED MARRIAGE Colchester…………..26 Tonbridge J…………48 TONBRIDGE Juddians made it two wins from two as they beat National League 2 new boys Colchester on the […]

Hawks swoop to grab late winner

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By ALISTAIR BEYNON Henley…………………. 20 Bury St Ed’s…………. 17 A STIRRING second-half comeback from Henley Hawks saw them edge past a solid Bury St Edmunds […]

Stephens’ debut try sees off old rivals

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By KEVIN BEAL Dorking……………29pts Barnes…………… 24pts DORKING had to dig deep in another tight game between two old rivals, with the lead changing hands twice […]

Albanian bounce back to edge out Harlequins

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By HAMISH OGILVY Oxford H……………….32 Old Albanian………..38 Old Albanian bounced back from their narrow opening round defeat to Henley with Michael Bond’s late try enough […]

Oaks are toppled by a flying start

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By STEPHEN FITZMAURICE Sevenoaks………….. 14 Canterbury…………..27 CANTERBURY survived Sevenoaks’ second-half revival to take the Kent derby honours. The visitors dominated the first half, opening the […]

Rudder returns to haunt Worthing

15 September 2024 0 comments

■By PETE MAYHEAD Worthing………………34 Havant………………….40 HAVANT backed up last week’s performance with a hard-fought but controlled win in the Worthing sunshine. Worthing started the better […]

Canterbury sign centre Kurt Heatherley

8 September 2024 0 comments

National League 2 East side Canterbury have signed 29-year-old former Auckland and Jersey Reds centre Kurt Heatherley.

Titans lay a marker down with gritty win over Park

8 September 2024 0 comments

Rotherham T .. 31 Rosslyn Park.. 21 ■ By DAVID BEDDOWS NEWLY-promoted Rotherham Titans hit the ground running by taking the scalp of fancied Rosslyn […]

Tigers maul Esher in 20-minute blitz

8 September 2024 0 comments

Sedgley Park ……..65 Esher……………………24 ■ By TOM MARKHAM SEDGLEY Park demolished Esher on their return to National League One rugby in a stellar performance. Tigers […]

Moseley conquer visiting Crusaders

8 September 2024 0 comments

B Moseley …………..40 Dings Crusaders .. 20 By JON MEADOWS DESPITE spending much of the opening period in their own half, it was Dings who […]

Richmond’s defensive efforts deny Club joy

8 September 2024 0 comments

■ By GRAHAM COX Blackheath …… 20pts Tries: Ffitch 17, Hennessey 62 Conversions: Ffitch 17, 62 Penalties: Ffitch 15, 55 Richmond ……… 31pts Tries: Grieve […]

Rayment running riot for Stortford on poignant day

8 September 2024 0 comments

Bishop’s S……………36 Leicester Lions …. 12 ■ By JOHN ALLANSON THIS game was dedicated to the memory of Stortford’s former 4th XV captain, Max Oliver, […]

Superior Sale enjoy trip south

8 September 2024 0 comments

Plymouth A …………. 19 Sale FC…………………28 ■ By JOHN BUTCHER SALE’S superior game management ensured a well-earned away victory in challenging conditions at Plymouth. An […]

Hat-trick Hayman leads by example

8 September 2024 0 comments

Rams ……………………. 41 Darlington MP……. 12 ■ By RICHARD ASHTON MAX HAYMAN enjoyed a sensational start to his tenure as captain with three tries as […]

Rowntree keeps his cool as late kick seals win

8 September 2024 0 comments

Hull………………… 12 Otley………………. 13 ■ By RICHARD GORE DESPITE scoring two tries to one, Hull were eventually undone by Otley’s scrum-half and kicker Joe Rowntree. […]

Dominant Dale pass Tigers test

8 September 2024 0 comments

Wharfedale…………22 Sheffield Tigers…… 8 ■ By EDWIN WILLIAMS WHARFEDALE grabbed a bonus-point win to start their campaign, while a plucky Tigers side went back down […]

Groark aids hosts to open the Gate

8 September 2024 0 comments

Billingham…………..33 Harrogate……………. 12 ■ By MIKE BROWN A CLINICAL second-half performance from Billingham saw them secure a bonus-point victory. An early Louie Groark score, following […]

Sheffield’s Posa is left proud as punch

8 September 2024 0 comments

Sheffield…………38pts Fylde……………….19pts ■ By ANDREW SMITH SHEFFIELD head coach Anthony Posa was a happy man as his side kicked off the campaign with a six-try […]

Hoppers grounded after missing late conversion

8 September 2024 0 comments

Preston G…………….. 30 Chester…………………32 ■ By TOM KELLY CHESTER made a winning return to the National 2 North, where they edged out Preston Grasshoppers by […]

Lymm joyous over away-day success

8 September 2024 0 comments

Hull Ionians…………27 Lymm……………………39 ■ By BRIAN NORMAN LYMM came away from Brantingham Park with the spoils after an entertaining clash against Hull Ionians yesterday. The […]

Tykes hope romp sets tone for year

8 September 2024 0 comments

Leeds Tykes………..47 Tynedale………………. 5 ■ By BEN CROPPER PRE-SEASON title favourites Leeds Tykes lived up to their billing with a comprehensive victory over Tynedale. The […]

Wills wins it with the final kick to sting the hosts

8 September 2024 0 comments

Hornets…………..27 Redruth………….29 ■ By JON RICHARDSON DEAN Wills was Redruth’s hero as his last-minute penalty snatched victory to break Hornets hearts. Hornets opened the scoring […]

Mayell proves too strong for Titans

8 September 2024 0 comments

Loughborough S….33 Taunton Titans……. 3 ■ By SAM SMITH IN-FORM Loughborough Students welcomed Taunton for the first time in the two clubs histories in the […]

No sweet start for league new boys

8 September 2024 0 comments

Bournville……………40 Devonport S…………22 By PAUL BOLTON DEVONPORT Services were given a tough introduction to national league rugby by a Bournville side who eased to a […]

Anderson steps up to secure top draw

8 September 2024 0 comments

Exeter Uni………. 15pts Clifton…………….. 15pts ■ By JOSH THOMAS CLIFTON produced a brilliant second-half performance to stun Exeter University after they came from behind to […]

Welcome back! Brassington’s the star of the show

8 September 2024 0 comments

Camborne…………….52 Macclesfield……….25 ■ By BILL HOOPER CAMBORNE began their campaign in fine style, scoring eight tries with Aden Brassington bagging a hat-trick on his return […]

There’s no Luc in second-half storm

8 September 2024 0 comments

Hinckley……………… 17 Luctonians…………..27 ■ By CHRIS CAMPBELL LUCTONIANS secured victory in a battle of attrition between two physical sides thanks two early second-half tries. Hinckley […]

Late Cinderford surge not enough

8 September 2024 0 comments

Old Redcliffians….38 Cinderford…………… 31 ■ By MO SHER AN ABSORBING, high-scoring encounter at Scotland Lane went the way of the hosts, Cinderford’s late surge running […]

Simmonds makes the difference as Raiders do battle

8 September 2024 0 comments

Guernsey……… 24 Worthing……….. 16 ■ By MIKE MARSHALL FOURTEEN-MAN Guernsey edged out Worthing in a tight tussle between the Raiders. Guernsey opened the scoring within […]

Wonderful Webb has Quins in spin

8 September 2024 0 comments

Barnes………………….47 Oxford H……………….22 ■ By MICHAEL WHITFIELD BARNES opened their account with victory over Quins Star man Paul Webb made the first impression, breaking from […]

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