Rotherham Stay Perfect as Round Six Serves Up First Wins, Four-Try Heroes and Nail-Biting Finishes
Round Six delivered thrilling action as Rotherham Titans maintained their unbeaten run, new winners emerged, late drama unfolded, and multiple four-try performances capped an exciting weekend. (Photo Credit: Mike Inkley)
National One
Rotherham Titans (1st) edged a pulsating top-of-the-table clash with Rosslyn Park (2nd), clinching a 27–26 victory to maintain their perfect start to the season whilst ending their rivals’ unbeaten run in the process.
This early-season showdown lived up to its billing, with the Titans carving out a 17–14 half-time lead thanks to tries from Jackson Barling, Morgan Veness and Harry Newborn.
Park – who began the day level on 25 points with Rotherham – kept pace through scores from Luke Mehson and Arthur Ellis, but a try from Travis Gordon on 54 minutes gave the hosts a cushion.
Visiting scrum-half Ewan Fenley hit back with his first try to reduce the deficit to three points, only for Lloyd Hayes, marking his 150th appearance for the Titans, to steady the ship with a penalty that extended the lead to 27-21 with six minutes remaining.
The drama wasn’t done there, as Fenley crossed for his second try to set up a tense finale – but the missed conversion proved costly, leaving Rotherham clinging to the narrowest of leads.
And despite there still being time for Park to find a winner, Harvey Biljon’s men held firm to secure their sixth straight victory, moving three points clear at the top of National One.
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The tension was just as high in Yorkshire, where Leeds Tykes (13th) claimed their first win of the season, edging out fellow new boys Clifton (9th) 27–24 in a hard-fought encounter.
The visitors had led 19–17 on the hour thanks to tries from Tom Hargan, Ollie Harris and George Perry, but the reliable boot of Eddie Crossland and a debut try from Seb Krippner swung the momentum back in Leeds’ favour.
A late score from Ricky Cano set up a nervy finish, but the Tykes stood tall to seal a much-needed and morale-boosting victory at West Park Leeds.
Back towards the summit where Blackheath (3rd) claimed a comprehensive Kent derby win over Tonbridge Juddians (8th), crossing on six occasions to seal a 40-0 victory while Plymouth Albion (4th) bounced back from last week’s defeat in emphatic fashion, running in 10 tries to dispatch Dings Crusaders (11th) 64–17 at Brickfields.
Elsewhere, Rams (5th) were made to work hard for their fifth win of the campaign.
The Berkshire outfit led Birmingham Moseley (12th) 21–7 after tries from Luke Graham (2) and Charles Robson, but a quickfire second-half double from Morgan Dawes and Ollie Stedman drew the visitors level.
A Mike Cooke penalty and a converted Max Hayman try then ultimately secured a 31–28 win for Seb Reynolds’ side, though Moseley salvaged two bonus points courtesy of Will Safe’s late effort.
Sale FC’s (6th) strong form continued as they eased past Bishop’s Stortford (10th) 43–12, notching their fourth straight victory while Sedgley Park (7th) also impressed, with winger Albert Bradshaw running in four tries in a 52–29 triumph over Leicester Lions (14th), who are now the only winless side in National One.
National Two North
Sheffield (1st) further signalled their intentions for this season as they maintained their 100 per cent record with a 40–18 victory away at previously unbeaten Fylde (5th).
Will Hunt’s early penalty gave Fylde the lead, before Elliot Fisher (2) and Chris Hooper crossed for Sheffield.
Wing Ben Turner opened the second half with a try for Fylde, but the irrepressible Fisher added two more scores. Matt Ashcroft notched a third for Fylde, yet it was Alex Reid who had the final say as the Steel City club secured their sixth win from six.
The result leaves Sheffield as the only unbeaten side, after Tynedale’s (4th) perfect run was ended by Hull Ionians (6th) in a 35–19 defeat. It proved a fitting backdrop after the I’s announced the retirement of club legend Lewis Minikin, with player-coach Maliq Holden stepping up to score four tries.
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Darlington Mowden Park climbed to second following a battling 28–24 win at Sheffield Tigers (13th), overturning a 19-14 half-time deficit thanks to scores from Shaun McCartney and Ben Dougles.
Macclesfield (3rd) responded to their first loss of the campaign with a 10-try, 66–26 demolition of Hull (12th), led by four tries from centre Harry Blackwell. Preston Grasshoppers (8th) also dazzled, racking up 11 scores in a 74–7 rout of bottom club Scunthorpe, with Owain Williams and Harry Holden both completing hat-tricks.
Elsewhere, Billingham (9th) edged a 47–42 thriller against Otley (11th), with Anthony Jackson scoring a hat-trick, while Wharfedale (7th) secured their third consecutive victory with a 29–3 win at Rossendale (10th).
National Two East
After a few near misses, London Welsh (12th) finally registered their first win since promotion, overcoming Sevenoaks (11th) 34–24 at Old Deer Park. Fly-half Matt Hodgson led from the front with 19 points, while full-back Osian McAvoy added two tries in a welcome victory for Cai Griffiths’ men.
At the top, Old Albanian (1st) now hold a four-point lead after a 34–21 win at Dorking (5th), built on a dominant first-half display. Barnes (2nd) are now their nearest competitors after a resounding 52–5 win over Oxford Harlequins (14th), with four tries from winger Jacques Birch.
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Esher slipped to fourth after a 45–19 defeat at Guernsey Raiders (9th), who have rediscovered form with three straight victories, while Oundle are up to third after being involved in late drama once again. This time, they sealed a 33–29 win at Henley Hawks (12th) thanks to Shay Kerry’s last-minute try.
Westcombe Park (6th) also celebrated a win on the road as they narrowly beat Bury St Edmunds (7th) 29–26, driven by a hat-trick from tighthead prop Elliot Roofe.
And Canterbury (8th) rounded off a high-scoring weekend with an eight-try, 56–26 triumph over Havant (10th) which featured doubles from Tyler Oliver, Charlie McGovern and Harvey Furneaux.
National Two West
Second-placed Barnstaple left it late to edge Cinderford (6th) 25–23, with Henry Sellick holding his nerve to slot a last-minute penalty.
The Chiefs were behind until the hour – with Matt Cotton’s try and the boot Sonny Greeman pushing Cinderford ahead – but scores from Viliame Kotobalavu and Ben Jago put Barnstaple 22-16 up with seven minutes to play.
Back came Cinderford, who thought they had won it through Sam Smith’s try, but Sellick kept his cool right at the death to seal a fourth win on the bounce.
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Luctonians (3rd) made it five victories in a row after a 29–24 success at Taunton Titans (8th), while table-toppers Camborne continue to lead the way, scoring 11 tries in a 69–40 win over bottom club Syston, who never threw in the towel at Barkby Road.
Hinckley (11th) picked up a morale-boosting 39–22 home win over Lymm (7th), scoring three tries in the final quarter through Josh Kent, Sam Read and Matt Browne while Old Redcliffians (10th) marked fly-half Ash Groves’ 200th National League Rugby appearance with a 47–19 victory over Loughborough Students (13th).
In Devon, a back-and-forth contest went the way of Exeter University (9th) as Toby Ferguson’s try and the boot of Finlay Usher helped Gareth Elliott’s side to an absorbing 46-40 victory over fourth-placed Redruth while Hornets (5th) bounced back from defeat at Luctonians with a 48–17 home win over Chester. Winger Josh Sheppard starred with four second-half tries.
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