Hartpury send out strong statement in National One

Last year’s runners-up in National One, Hartpury College, couldn’t have asked for a better start to this campaign as two bonus-point wins leaves them clear at the top of the division.

College missed out on promotion to the Championship in May, but victories over promotion candidates Blackheath and Plymouth Albion is a fantastic response from the side.

Birmingham Moseley also look like they have bounced back from disappointment. Following relegation from the second tier last season, they have begun with two victories. Ampthill and District are the only other side in the division with a 100 per cent record.

With that in mind, there were maiden wins in Round Two for Macclesfield and Cambridge following promotion from National Two while Loughborough Students, Darlington Mowden Park and Esher all got off the mark for the season.

Hartpury College 37-14 Plymouth Albion

Hartpury College cruised to a bonus-point win over Plymouth Albion in Gloucester.

Tries from Harry Cochrane and Wayne Thompson for Hartpury and a brace from Dan Williams for Plymouth Albion ended a tight first half.

However, Hartpury took the game away from Albion after the break with Luke Eves, Adam Hastings and Cohcrane again, all going over.

Hastings converted three of the five tries for his side and nudged over a penalty in each half as Hartpury continued their impressive start to this campaign.

Birmingham Moseley 19-14 Coventry

Harry Hone’s late try edged Birmingham Moseley to a second successive National One win of the season against Coventry.

The hosts flew out of the blocks to open up an early lead thanks to tries from Ed Sheldon and Jacques Le Roux.

They carried their 14-0 advantage into the second half, but it was wiped out just before the hour as Brendon Snyman and Tony Fenner both crossed to level the scores.

But after waves of Birmingham Moseley attack, Coventry were no longer able to repeal the danger as Hone’s score 10 minutes from the end ensured the four points for the home side.

Old Albanian 17-18 Ampthill and District

A last minute penalty from Joe Tarrant saw Ampthill and District snatch victory away from the Old Albanian at Woolams.

The A’s went into the break with a narrow 8-6 lead thanks to Sam Baker’s early try and a first penalty of the afternoon for Tarrant with Chris May responding from the tee for the Old Albanian.

After the restart, May put the hosts ahead with another penalty before Nicholas Foster extended their advantage as he dotted down the first try of the game.

Ampthill retaliated with relentless attacks and were back in front when they were awarded a Penalty Try which Tarrant converted.

The game swung back in the OA’s favour six minutes from time as May landed his fourth penalty of the afternoon, but it was his opposite number Tarrant that would have the final say as he kept his cool to slot over another three points right at the death.

Macclesfied 44-22 Fylde

Macclesfield secured their first win since promotion to National One thanks to this victory in an absorbing clash at Priory Park.

Giles Heagerty’s men romped to a 21-3 lead following quick fire tries from Ryan Parkinson and Ollie Parkinson as well as a further score from Josh Redfern.

Matt Bradley chipped in with the boot, but Scott Armstrong’s try edged Fylde back to 27-10 at the break.

A Matt King try and a Bradley penalty put Macclesfield in control before a yellow card to David Fairbrother further handed the initiative to the Blues as Ryan Parkinson grabbed his second score of the afternoon.

Late tries from Jordan Dorrington and Anthony Bingham were merely consolations for the Lancashire side who take on Blackheath this weekend.

Loughborough Students 13-6 Hull Ionians

Loughborough Students bounced back from their opening day defeat to Coventry to edge out Hull Ionians in this contest.

The visitors, who beat Darlington Mowden Park last weekend, were made to rue missed penalty opportunities.

Austin Beckett gave the home side the lead on 16 minutes, before the I’s responded as Issac Green slotted over a penalty.

Green then rattled the posts with his next attempt, but his third effort sailed over to give away side the lead. However, that didn’t last long as his opposite number Josh Sharp kicked Loughborough back in front just before the break.

Green and Sharp both missed early penalties, and the only other score came from Students’ Theo Vukasinovic with four minutes remaining.

Rosslyn Park 19-22 Cambridge

Cambridge clinched their first win of the season in National One thanks to a late Dan Lewis drop goal at The Rock against Rosslyn Park.

Lewis converted James Ayrton’s try minutes from the end before he produced a wonderful 45 metre drop goal to seal the win for Ross Stewart’s side.

Chris Leathem and Lawrence Hutchinson got Cambridge off to the perfect start as they scored two tries in the opening 10 minutes of this contest. Rosslyn Park’s Scott Sneddon landed a penalty and then converted Josh Ovens’ try on the half-hour to send the hosts into the break 12-10 behind.

Sneddon was accurate with the boot again after the interval as he nudged his side in front with two more penalties before replacement Harry Leonard added another three points to Park’s total.

However, Cambridge weren’t going to roll over that easily as the late converted try from Ayrton was followed up by the brilliance of Lewis who secured victory for the Blood and Sand.

Darlington Mowden Park 15-14 Bladyon

Darlington Mowden Park secured their maiden win of the season as a last-gasp penalty from Caolan Ryan clinched victory over near neighbours Blaydon.

DMP did exactly trail this encounter 14-0 heading into the final quarter of the match thanks to a hat-trick of penalties from Andrew Baggett and a try from winger Tom Bramwell.

After a frustrating opening hour for the home side, they final got on the scoreboard as Ryan slotted over a close range penalty.

Blaydon then lost two players to the sin-bin and DMP took advantage of this as Talite Vaioeti touched down to reduce the visitors’ lead to just a point.

With time running out and DMP still hammering at the Bladyon line, a late tackle was penalised and Ryan made no mistake to seal victory.

Blackheath 13-6 Esher

Blackheath battled hard to secure their first win of the season over Esher at Well Hall.

Dan George’s 34 minute try helped Blackkheath lead 10-0 at the break with Leo Fielding kicking five points for Club.

Fielding and his opposite number Paul Roberts exchanged penalties in the second period before the Esher fly-half landed his second penalty of the afternoon on 66 minutes.

However, Blackheath held firm in defence and claimed the deserved win.