Christmas cheer towards the top and star performances elsewhere light up Round 13
Round 13 delivered a sackful of storylines, with thrilling contests at the top of each division and some much-needed festive sparkle for those near the bottom. (Photo Credit: Tim Pitfield)
National One
Rosslyn Park (3rd) suffered a third defeat in their last four matches as Rams (6th) produced an impressive 40-29 victory at The Rock.
Coming into this contest, Park had won just one of their previous nine meetings with Rams, and Seb Reynolds’ side once again proved to be their kryptonite.
Tries from Jack Digby, Luke Mehson (2) and Benji Marfo helped the hosts take a narrow 22-19 lead into the break after an entertaining first half in which Rams also crossed three times.
The visitors then took control early in the second period, with Connor Stapley and Player of the Match Zach Clow both scoring within 10 minutes of the restart.
George Orchard pulled one back for Park, but Rams sealed the win in the capital when debutant Henry Bartlett crossed five minutes from time.
Leaders Rotherham Titans (1st) have now moved five points clear at the summit after a 40-15 victory over Sedgley Park (9th).
The Titans trailed 15-12 approaching the hour mark, but four unanswered tries from Travis Gordon, Luke Cole, Xavier Valentine and Jackson Barling sealed a bonus-point win for Harvey Biljon’s side.
Rosslyn Park’s defeat to Rams also opened the door for Plymouth Albion (2nd), who climbed into second place after making it four straight wins with a 24-14 success over Sale FC (5th) at Brickfields.
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A try from Angus Hodges 11 minutes from time proved decisive, as Plymouth recorded a 12th victory from their last 13 home matches.
Blackheath (4th) again swapped places with Sale in the standings after returning to winning ways. A six-try 36-28 victory over Leeds Tykes (13th) lifted ‘Club’ back into fourth.
Despite claiming a try bonus point, Leeds slipped into the bottom two after results elsewhere went against them, with crucial wins for Dings Crusaders (12th) and Birmingham Moseley (11th).
Moseley made it back-to-back wins with a composed 38-7 victory over Clifton (10th) – their first home success since October – while Dings ended a five-match losing streak with a vital 41-24 triumph over bottom side Leicester Lions (14th).
The Crusaders ran in seven tries to claim their first win since Round Seven.
And Bishop’s Stortford (8th) extended their run to five successive bonus-point victories, but only just, as they edged Tonbridge Juddians (7th) 26-24 on the road.
After building a 19-10 lead, three yellow cards in quick succession put Tom Coleman’s side under pressure, and they trailed 24-19 until Jake Morris – Round 12’s Try of the Week winner – struck six minutes from time.
Connor Lloyd then had a late chance to snatch victory for TJs, but the scrum-half’s penalty attempt was off target.
National Two North
Sheffield (1st) ensured they head into the second half of the campaign unbeaten after edging a thrilling 29-28 victory against Darlington Mowden Park (4th).
The league leaders, who have now won all 12 of their opening fixtures, struck first through Elliot Fisher after just four minutes.
DMP responded superbly, however, with tries from James Bent, Simon Uzokwe and Jacob Oliver.
Sheffield prop George Rogers also crossed during a breathless opening quarter, while further tries from Will Smith and Zak Poole saw the visitors take a narrow 22-21 lead into the break.
Poole grabbed his second on the hour to give the table-toppers some breathing space, but Harrison Wood’s try eight minutes from time set up a tense finale in the North-East.
However, Sheffield held firm to preserve their perfect record and, in doing so, completed an excellent run of away victories over all of their fellow top-six sides.
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Macclesfield (2nd) remain four points behind leaders Sheffield [having played a game more] after a devastating four-try blitz either side of half-time helped secure a 55-34 win at Otley (9th).
Two tries from the irrepressible Harry Oliver, who went over on four occasions in total, along with scores from Louis Townsend and Samson Shute, saw Macclesfield turn a 22-19 deficit into a commanding 47-22 lead.
Ciaran Shone added a late try to cap off a fifth successive bonus-point win for the Blues.
In the first of two festive derbies, Tynedale (3rd) produced a dominant 41-0 victory over Billingham (11th), while Fylde (5th) maintained their perfect away record with a comfortable 57-10 win over local rivals Rossendale (13th). Will Hunt and Leo Gilliland both crossed twice.
Hull Ionians (6th) made it three wins on the bounce in style with a 41-7 success over Preston Grasshoppers (10th), with Maliq Holden and Sam Pocklington both grabbing braces, while Wharfedale (7th) moved back into the top half after edging a spirited Scunthorpe (14th) 34-28, with new signing Jack Greig impressing with the boot.
And Sheffield Tigers (8th) returned to winning ways at the first attempt, recording a 22-0 shutout against Hull (12th). All three Tigers tries came in the second half at Dore Moor.
National Two East
Bury St Edmunds (3rd) climbed into third place in National Two East after an 80th-minute try from Andrew Denham secured a dramatic 20-17 victory over table rivals Dorking (4th).
The visitors trailed 13-7 when scrum-half Luke Baldwin was sent off on 62 minutes, yet Dorking still managed to edge four points clear through Bryan Hotston’s try and a Tom Hardwick penalty.
However, Bury had the final say. Matt Hema’s weaving run released Denham, who crossed in the dying moments to swing the contest back in the hosts’ favour.
The drama wasn’t over as Dorking’s Tom Bloomer was also shown a red card for foul play before the clock restarted, allowing Penfold to add the conversion and seal the win for the Wolfpack.
Meanwhile, Old Albanian (1st) bounced back from successive defeats with a 33-19 victory over Havant (12th).
All of the league leaders’ tries came in the first half, as Oluwaseyi Ajeigbe, Josh Skelcey, and Ben Alexander (2) set the platform for victory at Hooks Lane before two late Elliot McPhun penalties sealed the deal.
Second-placed Oundle remain hot on their heels and level on points with OAs after making it five consecutive bonus-point wins with an impressive 31-24 victory at Westcombe Park (7th).
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A try from Rian Hamilton shortly after the hour stretched Oundle’s lead to 31-12, but a late flurry – led by Combe fly-half Ben Fryatt – set up a nervy finish. Nevertheless, the visitors held firm at Goddington Dene.
Barnes (5th) climbed into the top five following a 29-21 win at Guernsey (9th). Trailing 21-14 in the second half, a penalty via Will Nicholson and tries from Ross Kane and Jacques Birch secured their first away victory since Round Seven.
Canterbury (6th) continued their upward momentum with a fourth successive win after overturning a 24-14 deficit to beat Esher (10th) 33-29 away from home.
James Stephens’ try nine minutes from time capped the comeback and spoiled Mike Brown’s first game in charge of the EEEs.
London Welsh (8th) made it three wins in a row thanks to a pulsating 36-32 victory over Henley (13th).
Once again, Henley were undone late on as tries from Osian McAvoy and Hywel Williams turned the contest on its head at Old Deer Park.
And the feel-good factor at Sevenoaks (11th) continues to grow, with Adam Bowman’s side running in nine tries in a 61-19 victory over bottom club Oxford Harlequins (14th).
National Two West
Camborne (1st) moved eight points clear at the top of National Two West after overcoming title rivals Luctonians (2nd) 29-15, despite being reduced to 14 men after just four minutes.
Former Fiji international Josh Matavesi was dismissed following a fracas in the Luctonians 22, but Camborne responded superbly, with tries from Alex Ducker and Jordan Nicholls opening up a 14-0 lead.
Luctonians’ numerical advantage was short-lived, however, as Jack Goodwin – sin-binned for his involvement in the earlier scuffle – was shown a second yellow card on 29 minutes.
Ben Priddey then crossed to extend Camborne’s advantage to 19-0, before a try from Luctonians skipper Ben Link reduced the deficit.
A stretching finish from Andrew Hussell and the boot of Kyle Moyle pushed the table-toppers 29-10 in front, and although Link grabbed his second just after the hour, Camborne stood firm to blunt any further pressure and deny their visitors any points on their trip to Cornwall.
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Third-placed Barnstaple missed the chance to close the gap on Luctonians after slipping to a surprise 39-17 defeat against bottom side Syston (14th).
Alex White’s men ran in five tries at Barkby Road to claim back-to-back home wins, leaving them just eight points adrift of fellow bottom two side Loughborough Students as well as 12th-placed Exeter University.
Speaking of Exeter, they fell to a third straight defeat as Hornets (4th) claimed their first away win of the season.
Jon Richardson and Jack Gadd’s side overturned a 28-19 half-time deficit to secure a 54-38 victory, with hooker Kieran Ward grabbing a hat-trick.
For Loughborough Students (13th), a last-gasp try from Jack Lee – converted by Ben Webb – rescued a 28-28 draw against Chester (10th) after they had trailed by 14 points entering the final 10 minutes.
Elsewhere, Old Redcliffians (12th) created breathing space between themselves and those below with an impressive 28-26 win over Taunton (8th), while three tries in the final quarter from Jack Condliffe, Sonny Greenman and Sam Smith saw Cinderford (6th) end Lymm’s (7th) unbeaten home run in an entertaining 43-33 contest.
And finally, Redruth (9th) halted a five-match losing streak with a superb 27-10 victory over in-form Hinckley (5th).
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