The Review: National League Rugby returns with comebacks, late drama and statement wins
National League Rugby is back with a bang as high-scoring thrillers, dramatic finishes and absorbing action set the tone for an exciting season ahead. (Photo Credit: Daniel Kerr)
National One
Camborne made a winning start to life in National One as they edged out Leeds Tykes 38-36 after a pulsating contest in Yorkshire.
The Tykes looked in control at half-time after tries from debutant George Worthington (2), Ewan Laughton (2) and Charlie Venables had put them 29-14 ahead.
But Camborne hit back after the interval, with converted tries from Josh Matavesi, Jamie Prisk and Alex Ducker turning the game around and putting the visitors 35-29 in front.
Connor Walker restored Leeds’ lead 10 minutes from time, but Rory O’Kane’s late penalty ultimately settled an enthralling contest and handed Camborne a historic victory.
The Cherry and Whites’ next opponents, Plymouth Albion, made a statement on opening weekend as Ryan Lamb’s side stormed to a 61-17 victory away at Rosslyn Park.
Hooker Harry Wilkinson scored a hat-trick, Ben Moa added two and Archie Hill, Noah Fenton, Sam Daly and Oscar Stewart also crossed in a relentless performance from Albion.
Park also had Alistair Wade sent off at 21-5 down.
Sale FC were equally impressive, beating Rams 50-22 away from home after establishing a 24-7 half-time lead.
Mark Dixon, Joe Green, Tom Walsh and Corbin Thunder all scored before Green added a second after the break.
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Rams did threaten a comeback with three tries in 11 minutes, but Pete Vickers and Green’s third of the afternoon sealed the points for ‘The Dogs’.
There were contrasting fortunes for the two sides dropping down from Champ Rugby, with London Scottish beating newly promoted Bury St Edmunds 53-27.
Alex Earnshaw, who moved to Scottish from Bury during the summer, scored four second-half tries after the visitors had trailed 22-17 shortly after the break.
Meanwhile, Birmingham Moseley condemned Cambridge to defeat, winning 38-33 at Billesley Common.
The Blood and Sand outscored Moseley five tries to four but were punished for their indiscipline, with fly-half Harry Read kicking four penalties and the hosts also being awarded a penalty try.
Elliott Creed (2) and new signing Jack Condliffe also crossed for Ollie Thomas’ side.
Newly promoted Sheffield claimed two bonus points in a 31-26 defeat at Tonbridge Juddians.
TJ’s had led 31-12 after tries from Connor Lloyd, Jack Walsh (2), Harrison Sims and Tom Mannix, but a score from Will Smith, as well as Will Archer’s converted try six minutes from time, ensured Sheffield had something to take back to the Steel City.
And there was another high-scoring affair between Bishop’s Stortford and Dings Crusaders, with Stortford prevailing 52-42 at Silver Leys. Fourteen tries were shared, with the hosts scoring eight and Tom Mills crossing twice.
National Two North
All three newly promoted sides in National Two North were involved in dramatic finishes, none more so than Heath, who suffered a heartbreaking 27-26 defeat at Preston Grasshoppers.
Chris Johnson’s side raced into a 14-0 lead through Thomas Egan and Pete Hampshire, but Preston responded through Harry Holden, Josh Ree, Zephyr Ogden and a Sam Freeman penalty to lead 24-14.
Shortly after the hour, last season’s top try scorer Jake Haynes scored twice to put Heath 26-24 ahead, but there was to be no fairytale start to their National League Rugby journey.
Freeman pushed a late penalty attempt wide, but the full-back was able to hold his nerve in the dying embers.
Another penalty opportunity presented itself, and this time he slotted it as Preston snatched the spoils.
There was late heartbreak for Huddersfield, who were beaten 31-24 by Hull Ionians.
Huddersfield had led 24-17 and looked on course for victory, but a yellow card for fly-half Will Milner proved costly.
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James Sanderson powered over from close range before Ben Stephenson broke Huddersfield hearts with a try in the final play of the game.
There was better news for Harrogate, who claimed a 24-21 win at Otley thanks to Conor Miller’s 79th-minute score.
Otley had led 19-14 after Josh Sarsfield joined Harvey Sellers and Leon Mudd on the scoresheet, but Miller had the final say for the Aces.
Sedgley Park look well placed to challenge near the top after beginning life back in National Two North with a 47-26 victory over Darlington Mowden Park.
New signing Alessandro Minozzi scored a first-half hat-trick, while Bob Birtwell, Adam Mallinson, Nathan Pope and Alex Davies also crossed.
Elsewhere, Tynedale, runners-up last term, came from behind to beat Sheffield Tigers 28-19, with Will Graham, Will Roberts and the returning Archie Fletcher scoring for Tyne, who had trailed 14-7 at half-time.
And on their return to the division, Chester beat Wharfedale 35-7, while Fylde won 17-7 at Billingham.
National Two East
The two newly promoted sides to National Two East may have lost in Round One, but Colchester and Jersey both showed enough to suggest they will be competitive.
Colchester were beaten 45-28 at Barnes after falling 26-0 behind, but four second-half tries from Matthew Wagstaff, Jack Daly, Edward Reid and Tom Williams earned Mike Haywood’s side a bonus point.
London Welsh held off a late Jersey rally to win 33-22, with debutants Ollie Monye and Buster Wilkins both scoring twice.
Jersey had trailed 33-10 before Kade Bird and Jack Macfarlane crossed in the final nine minutes to secure a bonus point ahead of next week’s derby against Guernsey Raiders.
Last season’s runners-up Oundle eventually overpowered Esher 52-31 after trailing 24-21 early in the second half.
Rian Hamilton completed a hat-trick as Oundle scored five tries to Esher’s one after the 55th minute, with Jamie Annand and Liam Burrows also crossing.
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Old Albanian began with an encouraging 34-31 win at Canterbury, with Elliot McPhun scoring a try and kicking three conversions and a crucial penalty. Lucas Eule’s late double earned Canterbury two bonus points after they had been 31-10 down.
Guernsey Raiders made an impressive start with a 40-19 victory at Leicester Lions. Matt Creber, Jon Dawe and debutant Joseph Callery scored before the latter added a second after the break. Martinas Dromantas and Anthony Armstrong also crossed.
Over at Goddington Dene, Westcombe Park secured a 38-35 victory over Henley.
At 38-21 with seven minutes remaining, it looked like Luke Allen’s side would end Round One empty-handed, but Zack Taylor and Tom Molhoek crossed late on to earn the Hawks two bonus points.
And Havant began the campaign with a win at Hooks Lane, edging Dorking 43-35.
Sam Trood scored twice as Havant led 21-14 at half-time, before a nip-and-tuck second half ensued.
Both sides traded two scores apiece before a penalty from Reuben Knight and a Wes Dugan try pushed the hosts clear.
National Two West
Clifton marked their return to National Two West with a 48-31 comeback victory away at Cinderford.
The hosts led 24-12 at half-time through doubles from Cormac Saint and Jacob Perkins, but Clifton produced a stunning second-half turnaround.
Harry Tovey, who moved from Cinderford to Clifton during the summer, sparked the comeback before Peter Carter, Reece Malone, Zak Hamid and Andrew Thomas all crossed.
Old Redcliffians left it until the final play of the match to snatch a frenzied 27-24 win at South West rivals Hornets.
Hornets led 24-17 with 10 minutes remaining, but two late tries from Finn Murphy turned the game around.
The second came right at the death after Hornets’ Evan Russell had been sent off following a second yellow card.
Two of last season’s top three met in the Midlands, where Luctonians claimed an impressive 29-17 victory over Hinckley.
Lucs led 13-12 at half-time before taking control after the break thanks to Ben Link’s double.
Hinckley responded through last season’s top try scorer Will Callan in the 70th minute, but Luctonians saw out the contest to become the first side to win at Leicester Road in almost a year.
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Lymm also started strongly, scoring three tries in the final eight minutes to beat Loughborough Students 50-27.
Loughborough had cut the deficit to 29-27 through Ben Roberts in the 65th minute, but Lymm responded emphatically, with Tom Manaton and debutant James Hampson both completing braces either side of a Joe Heaton try.
Elsewhere, Barnstaple ran in nine tries in a 53-24 victory over Exeter University, with Albert Stretch scoring a hat-trick and Cameron Johnson adding two.
And Round One ended in defeat for both newly-promoted sides, with Devonport Services falling to a 53-17 loss to Taunton Titans on Friday night.
Ben Russell’s men were 12-3 ahead following tries from Sam Brown and James McFarlane, but Taunton then took control.
They carried a 17-12 lead into the break before five second-half tries sealed an opening night win.
As for Bournville, they experienced a tough Saturday down in Cornwall as Redruth stormed to a 61-10 victory.
Centre Sam James scored four of the hosts’ nine tries as the Reds held a 40-0 lead at half-time.
Noah Clifford, Jack Counter (2), Tom Cowan-Dickie and Rob Baragwanath also scored, whilst Bournville’s tries came via Oscar van Deventer and Adam Collingwood in the final seven minutes.
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