Hartpury College keep their cool to finish second
Jonas Mikalcius scored twice as Hartpury secured their highest ever finish in the National Leagues
©Andrew Beacham
Going into the final day of the National One campaign, there was one issue still yet to be decided: Who would finish runners-up in the third tier of English rugby?
Of course in National One, second place doesn’t earn you promotion or a play-off spot, but it does give you a psychological edge ahead of your rivals for the championship next season.
Before the start of play, Hartpury College, Ampthill & District and Blackheath were separated by just a point and it was the side that began the day in second place that stayed in the top two as Hartpury College got their job done with a comfortable win over Hull Ionians.
Elsewhere on the final day in National One, newly crowned champions Richmond fell to back to back defeats while Wharfedale ended their stay in the third tier with a win.
Richmond 39-40 Plymouth Albion
Newly crowned champions Richmond saw an 11 point lead slip as they ended their time in National One with a defeat at home to Plymouth Albion.
Albion were 15 points behind after 25 minutes at the Athletic Ground thanks to a double from Rory Lynn and a try from Jack Allcock, but the visitors were able to reduce the deficit before the break.
Matthew Shepherd added to his earlier try and Nile Decres also got on the score-sheet to make it 22-21, but Lynn dotted down for his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time.
After the interval, Lynn added a penalty for Richmond before the game was turned on its head.
Samuel Holmes, Harrison Cully and Shepherd all crossed to give Albion a 40-32 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of this pulsating encounter before Richmond converted a penalty try to set-up a grandstand finish.
However, the league winners were unable to breakthrough one more time as Plymouth held on for a superb win in what has been a tough couple of weeks for the club off the field.
Hartpury College 68-21 Hull Ionians
Hartpury College have sealed second place in National One for this season following a comfortable win over Hull Ionians.
The contest was over at half-time as Daniel Thomas and Jonas Mikalcius both scored braces while Alec Clarey and Steven Leonard also touched down for the hosts.
Joseph Makin and Aquile Smith went over for Hull Ionians either side of the break before Mikalcius sealed his hat-trick and George Boulton, Gareth Thompson and Luke Eves all got their names on the score-sheet.
Greg Lound scored a consolation try for the I’s with the final play of the game as College ended a successful season in their highest ever finish in National Leagues and it was the perfect send-off for Director of Rugby Alan Martinovic who is off to Bristol next season after seven years with Hartpury.
Blackheath 45-17 Blaydon
David Allen scored a brace on his final appearance for Blackheath as they ended the season third in the National One table thanks to this win over Blaydon.
Allen has spent 12 seasons with Club and this was a fitting way to end his time at the Rectory.
The game was level at 12-12 at the break thanks to tries from Markus Burcham and Allen while Jason Smithson scored a double for Blaydon.
After Allen and Daniel Hamilton crossed early in the second period, Thomas Grimes touched down for Blaydon.
However, Hamilton crossed again before Jake Lloyd and Burcham went over to seal the win for Blackheath.
Ampthill & District 20-13 Esher
Ampthill & District have finished fourth in National One after this victory over Esher at Dillingham Park.
The A’s won promotion in the National Two play-off last year and have continued to look stronger and stronger as the season has gone and thoroughly deserve their top four finish.
Ampthill were sitting in third before the start of the day, but they missed out on the bonus-point win in this clash with Esher that would have given them a top three spot for this season.
Despite this, they will be very pleased with their campaign and tries from Elliot Clements-Hill, Joe Tarrant and Jonathan Morgan helped them on their way to a 20th win of the term.
Henley Hawks 12-31 Rosslyn Park
Rosslyn Park capped off a wonderful second half to the season to finish fifth in National One following a comfortable win at already relegated Henley Hawks.
Park had won nine of their last 15 games before this clash with Henley and were on course for a 10th triumph as they led 12-5 at the break after tries from Samuel Shires and Thomas Whiteley.
Jake Randall levelled the scores up at 12-12 after half-time with Henley’s second try of the afternoon but after a keenly contest first hour , the away side took control as they ran in three further tries.
Matthew Hawke, Michael MacFarlane and David Vincent all touched down while Henley failed to register another point as Rosslyn Park secured the win. This excellent recent form for Rosslyn Park’s puts them in a good position to mount a stronger promotion challenge next season.
Darlington Mowden Park 52-22 Cinderford
Darlington Mowden rounded off a brilliant campaign with a crushing eight-try bonus-point victory over Cinderford in the north-east.
Simon Uzokwe went over for the hosts after a blistering start that set the tone for a dominant display.
Roger Birkin’s try gave Cinderford hope midway through the first half, but scores from Sebastian Ferreria, Robert Conquest and Peter Homan put DMP 24-10 ahead at the break.
Adam Balding and Lloyd Stapleton crossed in the second period for Cinderford, but tries from Jake Henry, Jacob Woodhouse, Callum McKenzie and Uzokwe again sealed a heavy loss for already Cinderford and wrapped up a successful season for DMP.
Wharfedale 28-24 Coventry
Wharfedale ended their time in National One on a high with victory over Coventry in Skipton.
Dale were relegated to National Two North following a defeat to Hull Ionians two weeks ago, but they ended their 20 year stay in English rugby’s third tier with this win.
Philip Woodhead and Daniel Solomi crossed early on for Wharfedale, who then conceded a try as Matthew Price barged his way over.
The hosts then looked to pull away when Cameron Hudson darted over, but Coventry pegged them back once again as tries from Alex Woodburn and Dominic Lespierre levelled things up at half-time.
Matthew Jones then gave Coventry the lead for the first time in the contest from the tee before both sides were reduced to 14 men as Lespierre and George Hedgley were yellow-carded.
With the sides a man light, Dale scored the pivotal try to seal the win as Josh Burridge touched down seven minutes from time.
Loughborough Students 57-17 Fylde
Loughborough Students ended their 2015/16 season in style as they comfortably beat Fylde in the Midlands.
Students had already ensured their place in National One for next season before kick-off, but they were in no mood to rest on their laurels on the final day of this term.
Loughborough ran in a total of nine tries, with wing Paolo Odogwu completing an impressive hat-trick and there was also a brace from Jack Wardle while William Edwards kicked a total of five conversions.
There was scant consolation for a tireless Fylde side, who were rewarded with a Penalty Try and scores from Benjamin Gregory and Jordan Dorrington.
