Oundle Rugby Club's outstanding National League season is rewarded with a tough trip to Northumberland for a play-off semi-final

Oundle clinched second spot in the National League 2 East Division with a final day 39-29 win at Havant. They finished on 106 points after winning 20 of their 26 fixtures, just two points fewer than champions Bury St Edmunds who blasted third-placed Old Albanians 95-28 in their final game.

Northumberland-based Tynedale finished second in National League Two North, also with 106 points, after winning 21 matches so a fiercely contested play-off match on Saturday, May 9 can be expected.

Oundle took an early lead through a try from full-back Joe Sagoe in Havant and they quickly extended that advantage when Grant Snelling touched down. Havant responded with a try of their own before Sagoe ran in his second score.

A second try and conversion brought Havant back into the game, but further tries from Jack Arthur and Taylor Gourlay plus a conversion from Ben Young left the score at half time 27-12 in Oundle’s favour.

The sweltering heat was sapping everyone’s energy levels, but it was great credit to both sides who continued to run the ball on the 5G pitch resulting in a further five tries, three for the home side, but crucially two for Oundle from Gourlay and centre Cormac Calnan with a further conversion from Young.

This turned out to be a very competitive match and Oundle’s victory meant they finished their last five league games with full bonus points to enable them to claim an excellent second-place.

In a game where the whole squad gave everything, special mention should be given to Ben Whyman in the pack and Lewis Finlay at scrum half, both of whom performed superbly.

Peterborough Lions forfeited their Counties 2 Midlands East South clash against champions Oundle seconds after failing to raise a full side. A friendly did take place instead with Oundle, who have won all 21 league games and scored over 1,000 points, winning easily at Bretton Park.

Lions are supposed to host fellow struggles Huntingdon in their final fixture on May 2.