The four National League divisions (National One, National Two North, National Two East & National Two West) all are approaching exciting promotion climaxes with just three games to go in the 2023-24 season.
When the two 16 team National Two divisions (North & South) were reorganised for the 2022-23 campaign into three 14 team leagues, the promotion/relegation arrangements changed too. Instead of two clubs being promoted it reduced to just one and this was mirrored in the various regional divisions below the National Leagues. This makes it extremely hard to win promotion with only the champions going up and in consequence the pressure on ambitious clubs is even more intense than in the past.
The closest, most titanic battle of all in the three National Two leagues is in N2 (North) where Leeds Tykes and Rotherham Titans have chased each other throughout the campaign. Both clubs have notched up an outstanding 22 victories, with just one defeat each – against each other! This struggle was underlined last Saturday when at Clifton Lane, Rotherham snatched victory by 32-26 with a 77th minute try by John Okafor. In so doing, the Titans closed up to just two league points behind their near neighbours and rivals and are breathing down their necks.
Who will come out on top by 16.45 on Saturday, 27th April, the end of the National League season? Leeds have two home games (v Tynedale & Sheffield) to come and an away match at Fylde. None of these are likely to be easy. The Titans on the other hand have what look to be somewhat more comfortable fixtures at Sheffield Tigers and Billingham and home to Preston Grasshoppers.
It’s anyone’s guess which of these two ambitious, former Premiership clubs will move up to National One next season. Fylde, with home advantage, could play a crucial part on Saturday, 13th April, when Leeds visit the Woodlands for the first time in league action since 1998 when both were in Allied Dunbar Premiership 2, what is now the RFU Championship.
If the Lancastrians can field a relatively injury free squad for their last home game of the season, and they play to their potential, they could seriously challenge the Tykes. What better way to reward the home supporters at the end of what has been a rather ‘mixed’ campaign, hopefully a last hurrah?!