The Review: Winning streaks snapped and the unbeaten fall in Round Eight
Tonbridge Juddians and Redruth saw their unbeaten runs come to an end in National One and National Two West respectively, as National League Rugby was up to its old tricks again in Round Eight. (Photo Credit: Dennis Dixon)
National One
Birmingham Moseley (8th) ended Tonbridge Juddians’ (2nd) perfect start to the season with a 35-26 victory at Billesley Common.
In front of the ClubberTV cameras, TJs were looking to extend their run to eight consecutive wins but were blown away in the opening 15 minutes. A brace from Ben Pogson and a Morgan Dawes try put Moseley 21-0 ahead.
Sam Morton-Smith and Harrison Sims replied for the visitors, but Harry Ingram’s try just before half-time kept Moseley firmly in control.
TJs had to wait until the 72nd minute to add to their tally, when quick-fire tries from Oscar Waite and Connor Lloyd brought them back into contention.
With the score at 28-26, the visitors looked to be building towards another remarkable comeback, but Fred Ma’a’s try sealed the win for Moseley and denied Tonbridge Juddians a losing bonus-point.
That result leaves Plymouth Albion (1st) four points clear at the summit after their 54-40 away win at Bishop’s Stortford (9th).
This was an eighth successive bonus-point victory for Ryan Lamb’s side, although they were pushed hard by a resilient Stortford.
Albion had built a 35-12 lead through tries from Huw Taylor, Dan Pullinger, Jake Clemson, Harry Wilkinson and Archie Hill, but Wilkinson’s yellow card before half-time gave Stortford an opportunity to fight back.
Tom Hitchcock and Theo Mannion both scored during his absence to cut the gap to nine points, but Albion responded with tries from Sam Daly and Rhys Williams after Austin Pope was sent to the sin-bin.
Stortford continued to threaten, with further scores from Hitchcock and James Apperley again reducing the deficit to nine points, but Wilkinson’s second try finally secured the win for Albion.
Camborne (3rd) are now just one point behind second-placed Tonbridge Juddians after a 57-38 win at Dings Crusaders (13th).
Tries from Joel, Sam and Josh Matavesi, as well as Herbie Stupple and Daniel Roderick, helped ‘Town’ establish a 31-12 half-time lead.
Oliver Roberts, Jago Sheppard (2) and Sam Matavesi crossed in a busy second half to seal the victory, while Dings secured a try bonus-point.
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Leeds Tykes (4th) remain in touch with the top three after producing a stunning fightback to beat Rams (10th) 36-33 at Old Bath Road.
Rams led 21-17 shortly after the interval before tries from Zach Clow and Ryan Cozens gave them some breathing space.
However, Leeds’ ability to turn games in their favour came to the fore once again. Tries from Albert Bradshaw and Kristan Dobson brought the Tykes to within four points.
The visitors then completed the comeback three minutes from time when Matt Salisbury finished a superb Leeds break to secure their fifth win from their last six games.
At the other end of the table, Cambridge (14th) are still waiting for their first victory after London Scottish (7th) continued their upturn in form with a 47-22 success at Ellgia Fields.
In a meeting between the two clubs relegated from Champ Rugby, Scottish built on a 19-10 half-time lead.
Tries from Harry Clayton (2) and Will Riglesford put the visitors 30 points clear before Cambridge forward Jacob McCay exchanged scores with Karl Main.
Max Hubbard crossed late on for the hosts, but it was only a consolation as Scottish made it three wins in a row.
Cambridge remain seven points behind nearest rivals Sheffield (13th), who fell to a 49-19 defeat away at Sale FC (5th).
Tries from Callum Posa, Josh Kent and Chris Hooper helped Sheffield fight back to 21-19 after 33 minutes. However, four unanswered converted tries from Sale took the game away from their visitors.
Corbin Thunder, recently on loan at Leicester Tigers, and a hat-trick from Alfie Longstaff sealed a second home win of the season for ‘The Dogs’.
Finally, Rosslyn Park (6th) bounced back from their derby-day defeat to London Scottish with a 42-12 victory away at Bury St Edmunds (11th).
Park led 21-0 at half-time, with Charlie Coe taking advantage of Matt Hema’s yellow card to score twice. Jake Cleet also crossed.
Conor Byrne and Ewan Fenley (2) added tries in the second half as Rosslyn Park secured their third away win of the season.
National Two North
Chester (3rd) stunned second-placed Darlington Mowden Park (2nd) as a last-gasp Scott Robson try snatched a remarkable 25-21 win at Hare Lane.
Chester were reduced to 12 men following yellow cards to Dave Jones and Morgan Bagshaw, as well as a red for Christian Hone. Oliver Ashton’s try two minutes from time looked to have won it for DMP after the visitors had fought back from 18-7 down.
However, with the clock deep in the red and Chester back to 14 players, Robson crossed from close range to clinch an unlikely victory.
Second-half tries from Wilbur Blackham and Tom Clarke, alongside a Sam Rogers penalty, had helped Chester respond to a 7-3 half-time deficit before Ashton’s double.
With DMP suffering late heartbreak, Sedgley Park (1st) have moved eight points clear at the top after a hard-fought 35-27 win away at Preston Grasshoppers (6th).
Jack Ellam opened the scoring for the league leaders, but tries from Sam Freeman and Dec Norrington, along with two Freeman penalties, put Hoppers 20-14 ahead after 47 minutes.
A Jacob Browne try then extended Preston’s lead, and suddenly Sedge’s 100 per cent start was under threat.
However, the Tigers overturned the 13-point deficit in the final quarter. Tries from Adam Mallinson, Mason Winterburn and James Oliver secured an eighth successive bonus-point win for Scott Barrow’s side.
Hull Ionians (5th) missed the chance to climb the table after Billingham (10th) produced an excellent display to win 41-36 at Greenwood Road.
Man of the match Seb Williams-Parry scored twice in the first half to help Billingham lead 15-12 at the break, before Brayton Taylor replied for Hull Ionians.
Yellow cards for Maliq Holden and Jack Townend proved costly for the I’s, with Billingham taking advantage through tries from Luke Wilson (2), Euan Oakes and Jamie Lane.
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Jack Howells and Will Metcalfe did respond for Ionians, before a late penalty try ensured the visitors left with two bonus points.
Tynedale (4th) took advantage of Hull Ionians’ second defeat of the season to move up to fourth after a 28-20 win away at Wharfedale (14th).
Tyne, who have now won their last five matches, trailed 8-0 before tries from Joe Beaty, Will Ainsley, Josh Leslie and Archie Rattray gave the visitors a 28-8 lead on the hour.
Wharfedale responded through Owen Bullock and Oli Cicognini, but ultimately came away empty-handed. Tynedale now sit just two points behind second-placed Darlington Mowden Park.
Otley (13th) remain level on points with Wharfedale in the bottom two after a 31-21 home defeat to an in-form Sheffield Tigers (8th).
The Tigers, who had won their previous two games, led 24-14 at half-time after tries from Dom Santamaria, Luca Orchard, Jamie Broadley and Silas Talbot.
Otley, who have a game in hand on the teams around them, struck first after the break through Alfie Hewitt to cut the deficit to three points.
However, the returning Louis Townsend, on loan from Leeds Tykes, secured a third consecutive win for the visitors with his try four minutes from time.
Heath (12th) are now four points clear of the bottom two and in the relegation play-off position after Fylde (9th) scored 33 unanswered points to claim a much-needed 50-13 victory.
Three first-half tries gave the hosts a 17-13 lead. Heath had stayed in touch through Callum Harriott-Brown’s score and the boot of former Fylde man Chris Johnson, but the home side took control after the break.
Rob Williamson scored a hat-trick, while Aaron Pope and Owain Williams, on loan from Sale FC, also crossed. Yellow cards for Josh Buller and Zach Baker did little to help Heath’s cause.
And lastly, Liam Stapley’s converted try four minutes from time earned Huddersfield (11th) a 31-31 draw with Harrogate (7th) at Apollo Capital Stadium.
Huddersfield led 17-12 at half-time, before Tom Haywood’s try extended their advantage early in the second period.
The hosts then fought back, with Amrit Sharma capitalising on two Huddersfield yellow cards to complete his hat-trick. Ashley Wilson and Harrogate’s effective rolling maul then put the Aces 31-26 ahead.
But Harrogate ultimately gifted Huddersfield a share of the spoils when an overthrown line-out was gobbled up by Stapley.
It could have been worse for Harrogate, but Will Milner’s long-range penalty attempt to win the game drifted wide.
National Two East
Oundle (1st) picked up from where they left off with an eighth successive bonus-point win, beating Guernsey Raiders (5th) 38-8.
After successive defeats, the Raiders arrived at Occupation Road and more than matched the unbeaten league leaders for much of the first half before Oundle centre Ewan Baker broke the deadlock on 35 minutes.
A Gwyn Parks penalty put Guernsey on the board shortly after half-time, but Oundle soon moved up a gear.
Rian Hamilton and Ben Brownlie crossed in quick succession before Chester Owen, Max Green and Tom Collins all scored during a six-minute spell to seal the win. Callum Roberts added a late try for the visitors.
Esher (2nd) remain Oundle’s closest challengers after a 41-12 win over bottom side Jersey (14th) at Molesey Road.
The in-form EEEs trailed 12-7 after 24 minutes following tries from Euan Spencer and Jack Macfarlane, but four yellow cards proved costly for Jersey.
Three of those sin-bins came before half-time and were punished by Josh Thorne and Alex Gribbon as Esher moved in front.
Lewis Pickford extended the hosts’ lead before Charlie Cadogan took advantage of Mark Boarer’s yellow card to make it 31-12.
Fellow wing Gribbon then completed his hat-trick to seal a seventh successive win for Esher.
Jacob Appleyard scored twice as Old Albanian (3rd) returned to winning ways with a 47-22 victory over Colchester (9th).
Appleyard crossed twice in three second-half minutes to give OAs a 33-5 lead, before a Charlie Fleckney try and a penalty try put the result beyond doubt.
To their credit, a much-changed Colchester side showed the fighting spirit they have displayed throughout the campaign, with late tries from Max Clark, Jack Lavin and Harry Bureau earning a try bonus-point.
Dorking (4th) moved up to fourth and made it six wins in a row by beating Henley (10th) 29-21 at The Big Field.
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A try from Harry Barker and a stunning score from Jack Thorn, as well as efforts from Finn Osborne and Tom Bloomer, gave Dorking a 22-0 lead by the 48th minute, before Mike Cooke replied for Henley.
George Head’s try 13 minutes from time secured the win for Dorking, despite late consolation scores from Will Benning and Leo Webb.
Canterbury (6th) overcame a determined Westcombe Park (13th) side to claim a 46-33 victory and their third successive home win.
First-half tries from Riley Burden, Max Campbell, Lucas Eule and Oliver Ashley-Jones, followed by Tyler Oliver’s score shortly after the break, gave Canterbury a 34-14 lead.
Westcombe Park kept the hosts on their toes, though, as Calum Harris and Najee Mundicha powered over to cut the deficit to six points after 58 minutes.
However, tries from Jesse De Vries and Garry Jones proved enough for Canterbury, despite Combe adding a fifth score late on.
Barnes (7th) continued their upturn in form, making it three wins in a row with a 29-15 victory over Leicester Lions (11th).
Jack Heald’s side led 17-3 at half-time thanks to tries from back-three trio Paul O’Dell, Iago Davies and Will Nicholson.
Leicester Lions hooker Tim Waterfield and Jasper Cameron exchanged tries before Owen Carroll finished off a sweeping move to bring the visitors within seven points with less than 10 minutes remaining.
However, Fergus Hughes’ intelligent finish sealed the win for Barnes.
And Havant (8th) held off a London Welsh (12th) fightback to register an important 36-31 victory at Hooks Lane.
The hosts made a strong start, racing into a 28-7 lead after 34 minutes through Wes Dugan, Sean Sheppard, Tam Lindsay and Oscar Wadman.
However, converted tries from Rob Edington, Harry Breeze and Olly Wiseman left Havant 31-28 ahead with 10 minutes remaining. Reuben Knight’s penalty had kept the home side in front.
But it was Brandon Vince’s late try that ultimately sealed the victory for Havant, while Welsh left Hampshire with two bonus-points thanks to Flynn Ward’s late penalty.
National Two West
Hinckley (4th) ended Redruth’s (1st) winning start to the season with a gritty 15-8 victory at The Recreation Ground.
Leaders Redruth had won their first seven matches, but Hinckley’s Devon Coulson broke the deadlock with a close-range try after 24 minutes.
A Joe Cummins penalty cut the deficit to two points at half-time before Redruth moved ahead, with Connor Gilbert finishing a slick move in the corner.
Tom Addison’s penalty levelled the scores just before the hour, but the decisive moment came six minutes from time when Ben Clark propelled himself over.
Redruth pushed to try and salvage a draw, but a superb turnover from Hinckley back-row Henry Higginson secured possession and clinched a seventh successive win for the visitors.
Despite their victory, Hinckley were leapfrogged in the table by Luctonians (2nd) and Clifton (3rd), who both recorded bonus-point wins.
The three sides had started the afternoon level on 30 points, but Luctonians claimed a hard-fought 31-19 victory away at bottom side Devonport Services (14th).
First-half tries from Rhodri King, Caleb Montgomery and George Bennett were followed by scores from Charlie Grimes and James Wheeler after the break.
Clifton also collected all five points, leaving Pottington Road with a 36-28 win over Barnstaple (11th).
Tries from Tom Quinlan, Ethan Allen, Chris Packer, Niall Gibbons and Ollie Harris had Clifton 33-14 ahead as the game approached the hour mark.
A penalty try for Barnstaple, alongside yellow cards for Freddie Myatt and Ricky Cano, threatened to derail Clifton’s seventh win of the season. However, a penalty nine minutes from time settled the visitors’ nerves, while Brandon Moore’s late try secured a bonus-point for Barum.
Clifton and Luctonians are now level on points with Redruth, with Hinckley just one point behind.
Old Redcliffians (5th) moved up to fifth with a fourth consecutive victory, as Dan Cox’s side eventually overcame Exeter University (13th) 50-28.
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Old Reds built leads more than once, but the winless hosts continued to fight back, not least when tries from Oisin Smith and Lewis Barnett reduced the deficit to 31-28 before the hour.
However, as they did in their previous away game at Devonport Services, Old Reds delivered in the final quarter. A brace from Tom McLean, alongside a Zac Tomlin penalty, sealed the win in Devon.
Cinderford (7th) made it five wins from their last six games by beating Taunton (6th) 28-20 at Summerfield Stadium.
The in-form visitors led 18-10 at half-time through tries from Tyler Jerrum, Andrew Smyth and Callum McCabe.
Tom Putt then kicked his second penalty of the afternoon for the Titans, but a Joe Winfield penalty and Smyth’s second try pushed Cinderford further clear.
A converted Putt try on the hour brought the hosts back into contention, but despite having a man advantage after Smyth’s yellow card, the Titans could not add to their tally as Cinderford became only the second team in the last 12 months to win at Summerfield Stadium.
Lymm (8th) returned to winning ways with a blistering first-half display in a 47-31 victory over Hornets (10th).
Four tries in the opening 24 minutes from Joe Heaton, Matt Hand, Will Hitchen and Harry Wasdell, along with a penalty try, gave Lymm a 33-14 half-time lead. Josh Hadland then crossed to keep the hosts in control.
Ayden Chenoweth and Hitchen exchanged tries, but Lymm had done enough to secure their fifth win of the campaign. Late scores from Josh Sheppard earned Hornets a try bonus-point.
And in the Midlands derby, Bournville (12th) fought back from 26-12 down to draw 29-29 with Loughborough Students (9th), although the Chocos missed the chance to snatch victory late on.
Four first-half tries from Freddie Brown (2), Finn White and Ellis James put Loughborough 26-12 ahead at the break.
Joe Jenkins began Bournville’s fightback, but a Felix Champain penalty kept the visitors in control.
The hosts then surged back into the contest with 12 minutes remaining as Jamie Harding and Jenkins both crossed.
Jenkins’ second try, scored on 78 minutes, levelled the match, but Jacob Fewtrell missed the conversion as both sides had to settle for a share of the spoils.
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