Round 12 Review: Statement Wins and Much-Needed Boosts Heighten Intrigue with halfway mark approaching
Next weekend will mark the midway point of the National League Rugby season, and all the indications provided by Round 12 suggest the second half of the campaign will be one to savour. (Photo Credit: Gareth Lyons)
National One
Sale FC (4th) claimed a fourth consecutive victory after overcoming table rivals Blackheath (5th) 26-21 at the Morson Stadium.
Despite falling behind to a customary Billy Harding score, Sale responded superbly, with Evan Mintern, Corbin Thunder and Mark Dixon all crossing in difficult conditions to establish a 12-point cushion.
Tom Johnson and Dan Birchall traded tries after the hour, but Tom Emery’s effort a minute from time for Blackheath set up a tense finale.
However, ‘The Dogs’ were able to cling on to remain firmly in the title conversation.
League leaders Rotherham Titans (1st) also endured a nervous finish but held on for a valuable 35-31 victory away at Rams (6th).
Harvey Biljon’s side had moved into a 32-12 lead at Old Bath Road, yet tries from Harry Stone, Axel Kalling-Smith and Zach Clow – sandwiched around a Robbie Povey penalty for Roth – produced a tight ending in Berkshire.
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But the table-toppers were able to see the game out, and they remain one point clear at the summit.
Rosslyn Park (2nd) were also made to work hard for their bonus-point win as two tries in the final 14 minutes from Cameron King and Max Fraine secured a 26-13 victory over a spirited Leicester Lions (14th).
Plymouth Albion (3rd) moved into the bronze-medal position after a powerful final quarter saw them defeat Sedgley Park (8th) 50–26, sealing a third win on the bounce.
Next up for Albion is the visit of Sale FC as the tasty fixtures towards the top continue.
At the other end of the table, Birmingham Moseley (12th) began the Ollie Thomas era in style with a vital 42-17 win over Leeds Tykes (11th). Five first-half tries from Ben Pogson, Perry Humphreys, Ollie Stedman and Aquile Smith (2) laid the foundations.
Elsewhere, Clifton’s (10th) four-match winning streak ended as Tonbridge Juddians (7th) claimed their first away victory since Round Three with a 28–12 success at Station Road while Bishop’s Stortford (9th) recorded a fourth consecutive bonus-point win, eventually getting the better of Dings Crusaders (13th) 33–26.
National Two North
Macclesfield (2nd) climbed into the play-off spot in National Two North after defeating Darlington Mowden Park 38-24 in Cheshire.
James Oliver set the tone for an excellent first half showing for Macc as he scored after two minutes before Andrew Darlington and Dan Leake also crossed.
Interim captain Liam Checksfield had scored for DMP, but a penalty try just before the interval kept Macclesfield in control.
Harry Oliver’s penalty and try maintained their momentum, and despite two late yellow cards allowing DMP to collect a try bonus via a Simon Uzokwe double, the hosts were able to seal a fourth straight win.
Macclesfield now sit four points behind unbeaten leaders Sheffield (1st), who have a game in hand.
And the table-toppers made it 11 wins from 11 with a 38–13 victory over Wharfedale (10th), pulling away in the final quarter thanks to two tries from Will Smith and another from Aaron Lonsdale.
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Tynedale (4th) returned to winning ways with an emphatic 47-5 victory over bottom club Scunthorpe, while Fylde (5th) earned their first home win since Round Four by defeating Sheffield Tigers (11th) 36–12.
Hull Ionians’ (6th) impressive form on the road continued as Maliq Holden’s side made it five away bonus-point wins on the bounce as they surged past Billingham (9th) 39-12 in the North-East.
There were also significant wins for Preston Grasshoppers (7th) and Hull (12th), the latter climbing out of the relegation zone thanks to a 24-18 triumph over Otley (8th).
Fly-half Reece Dean was pivotal, kicking 14 points and scoring a try as Hull collected just their second win of the season.
As a result, Rossendale have fallen into the drop zone after losing 32-20 away at Preston in an all-Lancashire affair,
Hoppers headed into the weekend with only one win from their last five games, and it looked as though that run might continue when Hugo Castle was sent off following a fracas between the sides. Moments later, teammate Jacob Browne also saw red.
However, Owain Williams’ brace inside the last four minutes turned things around for Preston and condemned Rossendale to an eighth straight loss.
National Two East
League leaders Old Albanian (1st) had their possible title ambitions dented as Westcombe Park (5th) stunned them with a 40-31 win at Woollams, despite Namir Khalil’s red card early in the second half.
OAs hit the break 14-7 ahead thanks to tries from Ben Alexander and Matt Ramzanpour, and after Khalil had levelled the scores for Combe, his dismissal allowed the table-toppers to extend their advantage through Charlie Fleckney and Aaron Florestein.
But Combe launched a remarkable response, scoring four times in 10 minutes through Taine Wagstaff, Sam Kenny and Nick Cook (2) to seal an outstanding comeback. A late penalty try was merely a consolation for OAs as they fell to their first home loss of the term.
With that defeat, OAs are now level on points with Oundle (2nd), who beat Sevenoaks (11th) 41–36.
Trailing 14-0 early on, Oundle roared back and were inspired by Grant Snelling and Rian Hamilton, who both scored twice.
Oaks did fight back late on to earn two bonus points, but this was Oundle’s seventh win from their last eight games.
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Next up for the Northamptonshire outfit is a trip to the aforementioned Westcombe Park before hosting fourth-placed Bury St Edmunds.
Dorking (3rd) stretched their winning streak to five matches with a clinical 41-10 win over Havant (12th), scoring five second-half tries including a Max Coyle brace.
Just three points now separate the top four after Bury St Edmunds (4th) cruised to a 54-18 victory at Henley (13th).
With the game at 23-6 to the Wolfpack, Henley hooker Spencer Hayhow was sent off for a second yellow card offence on what was another difficult afternoon for Luke Allen’s side.
The Hawks remain in the bottom two alongside Oxford Harlequins (14th), who were beaten 76-17 at home by Esher (10th).
With the news this week that former England and Harlequins full-back Mike Brown has been appointed as the club’s sporting director, the EEEs kicked off their new era by ending a six-match losing run in style, scoring 12 tries in the process.
Canterbury (7th) moved into the top half with a third straight win, beating Guernsey (8th) 34–8 thanks to a hat-trick from hooker Eoin O’Donoghue, and London Welsh (9th) also made it back-to-back victories, grinding out a gritty 7–0 win at Barnes (6th) with Adam Dunne scoring the only try of the day.
National Two West
Luctonians (2nd) continue to track leaders Camborne closely, but had to battle to secure a 26-17 win over second-from-bottom Loughborough Students at Mortimer Park.
Things seemed to be going swimmingly for Lucs at half-time after tries from Charlie Grimes, Owien Harriott-Davis and Samuel Hayler put them 19-0 up.
Ben Link added to the tally on 51 minutes, but a second yellow card shown to scrum-half Owen Randell for a late tackle – just after a Loughborough try via Rhys Hulse – changed the complexion of this clash.
The Students smelled blood and when Louis Nancekivell crossed and the visitors were awarded a penalty try, it set up a tense finale in Herefordshire.
However, Luctonians were able to hold on for a third straight win.
George Thomas’ side sit three points behind Camborne, who they face in Round 13, and the table toppers were also victorious on Saturday as they picked up a valuable 19-14 win away at Cinderford (8th).
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This was a fixture the Cherry and Whites lost last term, but Sam Matavesi’s try 10 minutes from time proved to be the difference on this occasion as Tom Kessell’s side now prepare for the visit of their nearest rivals.
Barnstaple (3rd) still have the leading duo in their vision as they made it seven consecutive home victories by edging out Lymm (6th) 19-12 despite being shown three yellow cards during the 80 minutes.
In fact, Barum have won their last 13 at Pottington Road (a run which stretches back to last December) and now sit six points behind Luctonians.
Hinckley (4th) moved into fourth spot as three tries in the final 12 minutes from Matt Browne, Will Callan and Callum Dacey clinched a bonus-point 24-13 win over Exeter University (12th) and a fifth victory in a row for the Midlands club.
As for Hornets (5th), they extended their winning run at The Nest to seven matches as they edged past Old Redcliffians 18-15 in this West Country derby.
These matches are usually tight and spiky affairs, and this one was no different with Hornets receiving four yellow cards across the course of the afternoon.
Taunton (7th) moved into the top half with a 51-28 win over bottom-of-table Syston, their third straight home success, while Chester (10th) made a fast start count as they beat Redruth (9th) 39–28 at Hare Lane.
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David Verdon
Excellent reporting