AT the turn of the year and mid season for rugby clubs it was already apparent that in National League One there were already four teams competing for the one promotion place to progress to the Championship League.
From mid table to the bottom club, seven teams were already looking over their shoulders at avoiding the three lowest positions by the season’s end in April when three clubs would be placed in the regional leagues for the 2026-27 campaign. Some clubs had recruited on-loan players from the Premiership to boost survival chances.
Both local clubs Clifton and Dings Crusaders were in the group of seven with few points separating them. Consequently securing wins, losing bonus points and extra points for touching down tries were crucial !
Clifton’s aborted trip to top team Rotherham in January when the hosts called off the game as they arrived after a four-hour journey meant that they had to return there in February on what was planned to be a rest day in the league. Several players had arranged to be away that weekend and Clifton had incurred injuries to key players. With those facts in mind there was no real surprise in the result with their hosts cementing their league leadership!
A well-deserved home win over Sedgely Park with maximum points had boosted morale but a home loss to Leeds Tykes was disappointing . They had arrived with loanees from Premiership club Sale Sharks providing extra muscle. With both influential fly half Tom Quinlan and all-action flanker Jay Evans suffering head injuries in the same collision they will be missed as they sat out the concussion protocol time during the rest of February.
Against Sedgley two trademark Brad Talbot tries delighted the crowd and young winger Ollie Harris touched down a thrilling try in the corner. Little surprise that Harris was called up by the Bears for Premiership Cup games. This win placed Clifton for the time in a more comfortable league position.
The outcome of away trips to Reading Rams and Bishop Stortford as well as the home clash with bottom team Leicester Lions will have proved vital as Clifton head into season-defining encounters in March and April.
The visit of Dings Crusaders on March 21 will be an intense occasion.
Roger Opie