Crucial bonus points collected while Stortford, Sheffield and Hinckley remain on winners trail
Sides battling to remain in their respective divisions boosted their survival hopes, while in National Two North, Sheffield stayed faultless and Hinckley kept the pressure on in the National Two West play-off race. (Photo Credit: Gareth Lyons)
National One
Birmingham Moseley (11th) added two bonus points to their survival bid in a 35-31 defeat to Rosslyn Park (5th) at Billesley Common.
Both sides scored five tries in a tightly contested affair, but it ultimately came down to the boot of Rosslyn Park’s Edward Morgan who converted all of his side’s scores.
The result for Mose keeps them in the ‘relegation play-off position‘, but they are now level on points with Sedgley Park (10th), who they host this coming Saturday.
This contest got off to a flying start with Ed Volley and Tighe Maxwell-Whiteley exchanging scores before the Rosslyn Park outside centre went over again, only to be matched by Moseley hooker Ben Pogson.
That pattern continued into the break, with Ewan Fenley and Santiago Edwards both going over to leave it at 21-21.
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Just before the hour, Park were able to create some breathing room thanks to Benji Marfo and Joe Luca Smith, and they held that advantage until the final 12 minutes when Sam McNulty and Ethan Priest touched down.
With both scores going unconverted, Moseley, in the end, had to settle for two points.
While Mose are still in the thick of the relegation battle, Bishop’s Stortford (7th) have all but secured their status in National One.
Tom Coleman’s side chalked up a fourth successive victory, beating Leeds Tykes (9th) 31-19 away from home.
Tristian Smith, Austin Pope and Asa Stewart-Harris crossed in the opening 25 minutes to give Stortford the platform in Yorkshire, with Alex Rayment and Tom Hitchcock adding second-half tries.
After a pointless first period, Lucas Walsh, Eddie Crossland and Will Yates went over for Leeds, but the Tykes couldn’t add a try bonus point to their tally, leaving them five points clear of the ‘relegation play-off’ place.
National Two North
Scunthorpe (12th) moved out of the bottom two after battling back against Sheffield Tigers (8th) in a 25-21 defeat.
The losing bonus point secured by Tony Wilkinson’s troops at Dore Moor leaves them one point clear of the drop zone with two games in hand.
But it looked like it could be a long afternoon for Scunthorpe when they were 20-0 down just after half-time.
Miles Dodsworth, Jamie Broadley and Rhys Williams had all gone over for the Tigers, but two quick-fire tries from Marcus Payne hauled the visitors back into the contest.
However, a yellow card to lock Nick Dyson stunted Scunthorpe’s momentum and was swiftly punished by Max Woolgar-Norton.
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But, to their credit, Scunthorpe refused to leave the Steel City empty-handed with Joe Mowbray touching down eight minutes from time.
The gap between the bottom three sides in National Two North remains at a single point as Rossendale (14th) claimed a try bonus in a 36-26 loss to unbeaten league leaders Sheffield (1st).
Saba Asatiani’s try a minute from time secured a point for The Stags while Sheffield have moved eight clear at the summit following their 19th straight success.
Winger Christian Hooper scored a hat-trick of tries – two of which came after Rossendale had pegged back the table-toppers to 19-19 at the start of the second half – while Will Archer, Felix Crapper and Rhodri Campbell also dotted down.
Anthony Posa’s side still have two games in hand over nearest challengers Tynedale.
National Two West
Hinckley (3rd) closed the gap to second-placed Luctonians to five points after beating Taunton (4th) 47-33 at Leicester Road.
Hinckley, who have now won 12 of their last 14 games, scored four first-half tries to hold a 27-14 lead at the break.
George Patten, Player of the Match Sam Read, Matthew Guilfoyle and Ben Pointon all went over, while the boot of fly-half Tom Addison kept the hosts ticking over.
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Two penalties either side of Read’s second try increased Hinckley’s control, even with Scott Gibson adding a third score for Taunton.
Vaea Taione’s try just after the hour cut the gap to 40-28, but when the in-form Freddy Elliott darted over on 69 minutes, the Titans might have sensed a fightback.
However, Callum Dacey’s try removed all doubt as Hinckley registered a sixth straight bonus-point win, leaving them hot on the heels of the play-off place.
This coming Saturday, Hinckley go to Old Redcliffians (9th) while Luctonians are on the road at Chester (11th).
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