Round Four Review: Maiden Wins Registered and Unstoppable Starts Roll Into October
As September ends, some clubs get off the mark while others carry forward growing momentum. (Photo Credit: Martin Gray Photography)
National One
September closed with welcome wins for Clifton (12th) and Dings Crusaders (10th), as both Bristol clubs got off the mark away from home.
Newly-promoted Clifton produced an accomplished display to see off Sedgley Park (8th) 41-30, with Player of the Match Brad Talbot crossing twice. Dings, meanwhile, laid the platform in the opening hour against Birmingham Moseley (11th) before sealing a 34-19 success in the Midlands.
At the other end of the table, three clubs remain perfect heading into October. Rotherham Titans (1st) now top the pile after dismantling Bishop’s Stortford 71-12 at Clifton Lane.
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The visitors had been the only side to beat Rotherham away from home last term, but there was no repeat as JB Bruzulier, Jackson Barling, Callum Bustin and Mitchell Lacey all helped themselves to doubles.
Plymouth Albion (2nd) maintained their strong start with a 45-22 win over an improved Leicester Lions outfit at Brickfields, while in South-East London, Rosslyn Park (3rd) edged out Blackheath (4th) to end the latter’s 100 per cent record.
Last season’s runners-up prevailed 31-27 thanks to a second-half brace from Tom Stanton and a try from Charlie Walker, setting up a tantalising meeting with Plymouth Albion next weekend.
Elsewhere, Rams (5th) responded superbly to their setback at Sale FC by running in six tries to beat Tonbridge Juddians 40-19 (7th) at Old Bath Road, while Sale (6th) themselves made it consecutive victories, overcoming a battling Leeds Tykes 38-15.
National Two North
The top five in National Two North all ended September with bonus-point wins, which ensured that both Sheffield (1st) and Tynedale (2nd) preserved their perfect records.
Sheffield were made to work at Hull Ionians (8th), trailing 16-10 at the break, but second-half tries from Christian Hooper (2) and Zak Poole, combined with the boot of centurion Callum Posa, guided the Steel City club to a 32-21 victory.
Tynedale also had to come from behind, turning a deficit at Sheffield Tigers (12th) into a 31-14 win thanks to scores from James Telford, Dan Baines and Charlie Turnbull.
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Macclesfield (3rd), the league’s top scorers so far, had belief and confidence flowing through their veins again as they ran in six tries during a hard-fought 42-29 triumph at Preston Grasshoppers (6th).
Just down the road, unbeaten Fylde (4th) produced a clinical performance in a 40-29 success over Hull (13th), with outside centre Daniel Cassidy contributing two tries as well as 10 points from the tee.
In their first league clash for 14 years, Darlington Mowden Park (5th) secured the North-East bragging rights against Billingham (11th), winning 36-26 at Greenwood Road. Former Newcastle Falcon Simon Uzokwe was the star of the show, grabbing a first-half hat-trick.
Elsewhere, Wharfedale (10th) finally broke their duck with a tense 21-20 derby win over Otley as Archie Haddon slotted a decisive penalty three minutes from time, and new boys Rossendale (7th) capped a decent opening month with a 54-29 triumph over fellow newcomers Scunthorpe (14th). Full-back Daniel Holland amassed a superb 24 points for The Stags.
National Two East
For those following National Two East, September certainly provided value for money, and the final weekend of the month was no exception with dramatic finishes, surprise results, and plenty of points.
The perfect records of Old Albanian (1st) and Esher (2nd) came to an end. OAs suffered a narrow 22-21 defeat at Barnes (3rd), who are now the division’s only unbeaten side, while Esher fell 43-35 at Bury St Edmunds (7th), with James Shanahan’s men ending the month with back-to-back wins following an entertaining contest.
There were also big moments at the other end of the table as Oxford Harlequins (12th) and Guernsey (13th) registered their first victories.
The Raiders beat Oundle (8th) 24-21 thanks to tries from Nick Selway, Charlie Simmonds, and Josh Poullett before Tom Ceillam’s last-gasp score snatched it at the death, while Oxford Quins edged London Welsh (14th) 24-22 on the road.
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Westcombe Park (11th) were once again left heartbroken, falling to a late defeat for the third consecutive week. This time, Eoin O’Donoghue’s decisive try sealed a 30-23 triumph for Kent rivals Canterbury (5th), who had received three yellow cards in the final quarter.
Elsewhere, Dorking (4th) and Sevenoaks (9th) both claimed excellent away wins. Dorking laid the foundations with a strong first-half display to defeat a defiant Henley Hawks (10th) 41-36, while Sevenoaks overturned a 33-21 deficit in the final half-hour to beat Havant (6th) 48-33.
Ben Adams landed 12 points from the tee, and tries from Cameron Cummings (2) and Jacob Ivell secured successive wins for Adam Bowman’s side.
That result means just five points separate table-toppers Old Albanian and ninth-placed Sevenoaks, underlining the competitiveness of National Two East as the calendar turns to October.
National Two West
Old Recliffians (10th) ended September on a high by recording their first win of the National Two West campaign, defeating Chester (12th) 52-21 at Scotland Lane.
After early setbacks against Barnstaple, Cinderford and Luctonians, this emphatic result was just the tonic for Dan Cox’s side, with Kacey Pike and Lewis Eaves both notching braces.
Elsewhere, Camborne (1st) maintained their 100 per cent start thanks to a clinical display from Alex Ducker. Trailing 10-7 at half-time against Hinckley (11th), the winger produced a second-half hat-trick to secure a 34-24 win for Tom Kessell’s troops.
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The Cherry and Whites are now the only unbeaten side in the division, and that status came courtesy of Hornets (6th), who ended Cinderford’s perfect start with a 33-24 home win.
The Gloucestershire outfit fought back through Sam Smith, a Nathan Taylor double, and Grady Alford, but a late score from prop Alex Hawkins clinched Hornets’ third victory of the season.
Barnstaple’s (3rd) dream opening to the campaign rolled on with a thrilling 41-34 success away at Taunton Titans (9th). The Chiefs trailed 34-26 shortly after the break following tries from Ratu Vakalutukali and Jay Toogood, but an effort from Connor Swan, and then a quick-fire double from Albert Stretch and Ben Parsons, turned the tide in their favour.
Luctonians (4th) made it three wins on the spin, running in three unanswered second-half tries to beat Exeter University (8th) 38-19 in Devon while Lymm’s (5th) excellent start shows no signs of slowing down, with Adam Fletcher and Andy Davies’ side racking up a 52-35 triumph over Loughborough Students (13th) at Crouchley Lane.
And Redruth (7th) matched Lymm’s three wins from four after edging past Syston (14th) 35-24. The newly promoted side led 24-21 with 10 minutes left, but tries from Jack Counter – who scored a hat-trick – and Tyler Gendall snatched the victory for the Cornish club and denied their hosts a losing bonus.
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