National League 1 Round 21 review, 1st February 2015

Coventry and Richmond put on an excellent advert for National League 1, Hartpury recorded a seventh consecutive victory and there were also big victories for Old Albanians, Esher and Wharfedale as league leaders Ealing enjoyed a week off.

Cinderford 14-17 Blackheath

A late penalty try rescued what could be a crucial losing bonus point come end of the season as Cinderford narrowly lost out to a impressive Blackheath.

The visitors, who have now won five consecutive games, have now climbed up to fourth and will now go in pursuit of local rivals Rosslyn Park, whilst the Stags have dropped back into the bottom three.

Blackheath had taken the lead through Ben Summers', who struck a penalty confidently, before the visitors extended the lead further through a disputable penalty try after 32 minutes to give the visitors a ten-point lead at the break.

The Stags got on the scoreboard two minutes after the interval when Jack Adams touched down, and James Moffat converted to cut the deficit to three points.

Blackheath then began to apply pressure and after 49 minutes broke Cinderford down when centre Markus Burcham touched down, and Summers’ was on hand to convert, 7-17.

Nevertheless, the resilient hosts came back again, and after Moffat converted a penalty try after 79 minutes they were right back in the game.

And although the last ten minutes of the game was keenly contested Blackheath held on for the win.

The Stags relegation fears will not be lessened next week when they head to third place Rosslyn Park while Blackheath will attempt to cement themselves in fourth when they face Richmond on home turf in a good old fashioned local derby.

Blaydon 27-23 Loughborough Students

Micky Ward’s Blaydon secured a fifth home win of season as well as bonus point as the men in red hung on despite a late rally from Loughborough Students.

Tom James struck a penalty before Jack Pons’ try put the students further ahead.

But Blaydon dominated in the scrum and by half-time had turned the game around through tries from Tom Jeffrey, Harry Bate and Nathan Bailey, 17-10.

Pons touched down his second of the game four minutes after the interval but Blaydon replied instantly when Toby Bain touched down to score a carbon copy of his earlier effort that had been disallowed.

But the Students, who have only won once on the road this season, sensed they were in with a chance and cut the deficit to three points when Will Roberts charged down a Blaydon clearance resulting in a Harry Elrington try to set up a dramatic finish.

Andrew Baggett and Sam Pointon then exchanged penalties, and although the Students controlled possession Blaydon hung on for an important victory.

Blaydon next week have the long trip to Hertfordshire to face Old Albanians while the Students host Wharfedale,

Esher 58-20 Tynedale

Spencer Sutherland scored a hat-trick for Esher as Tynedale’s relegation worries intensify following eleventh straight defeat.

The victory ended a run of three straight defeats for the hosts, and marked an impressive eighth home win of the season.

Struggling Tynedale started brightly and even held a narrow 20-19 lead at half-time, but were overwhelmed by Esher after the break as the hosts began to dominate, running in 39 unanswered points.

Tynedale remain second bottom, five points from safety, as their dismal run goes on, and they won’t fancy their chances against the red-hot Hartpury College at Tynedale Park next weekend.

The win means Esher are secure in mid-table, but will be hoping to push on and finish as high as they can however will likely be in for a tough week next week when they travel to league-leaders Ealing Trailfinders.

Hartpury College 34-14 Darlington Mowden Park.

Matt Protheroe scored two tries and got a yellow card as Hartpury came out on top against fellow newly promoted side Darlington Mowden Park on Saturday.

Both sides entered the game unbeaten in 2015, but it was the College who secured a seventh consecutive victory with a first-half blitz.

The game was over as a contest and the bonus point was secured by half-time as the College hurried into a 28-0 lead through Matt Protheroe’s brace and try each for Jaike Carter and Craig Jackson.

Darlington Mowden Park fought back in the second half with two tries from Andrew Cox, Tom Kill and Matt Johnston but two penalties from Gareth Thompson, who has the best kick completion rate in the league, meant the win was never in doubt.

Next week Hartpury have a 550 mile round trip to struggling Tynedale while DMP travel West to Lancashire to take on Fylde.

Macclesfield P-P Ealing Trailfinders

The game was postponed following a pitch inspection, not sure when the game will be played. 

The Trailfinders will return to action at home against Esher next weekend while bottom of the table Macclesfield have a tough trip to second place Coventry.

Old Albanians 25-15 Fylde

Dom Regan scored the crucial score as Old Albanians put a run of five back-to-back defeats to bed to climb out of the bottom three with an important home victory against Fylde.

The Lancastrians, who have just three wins on the road this season, started superbly when centre Scott Rawlings touched down.

Fly-half Chris Johnson, who was missing last week due to suspension, returned to the side and confidently struck the conversion before adding a further three points with a penalty, 10-0.

However, the battling hosts scored three tries through George Warner, Mike Allen and finally Regan to build an unassailable lead.

Rawlings got a second try for Fylde right at the end but it proved mere consolation, meaning Fylde are now on their poorest run of the season after losing three in a row, and have also now been leapfrogged by Blackheath.

After escaping the drop-zone the OA’s will be hoping for another home victory in their battle against the drop when they welcome Blaydon next week whilst Fylde will try to stop the rot at home against Darlington Mowden Park at Woodlands.

Richmond 22 Coventry 22

Matt Chambers late try rescued a share of the spoils for Richmond as Coventry missed out on making up ground on top spot.

The game was intense, free-flowing, entertaining and truly a great advert for National 1 rugby.

Richmond had led going into the closing stages, but two penalties from Cov full-back Cliffie Hodgson give the visitors a narrow five point lead.

Nevertheless, with the seconds counting down, Chambers crashed over late on to secure the draw to the delight of the home fans.

Cov had started the brighter when they took the lead through Matt Price, but Jack Rossiter then replied for the hosts, and a following Rob Kirby pen meant the hosts had a narrow one point lead, 8-7.

The teams then traded penalties before Myles Scott finished a fine team try for Richmond, but Cov replied through Dan Rundell.

Nevertheless, the hosts crashed over again through Ian Michael Williams, who was making his first team debut, to regain the lead.

Another try from Will Hurrell for Cov reduced the deficit to one point before Hodgson kicked both penalties to give the visitors a five point advantage.

And Chambers try finished the game off with things ending all square as both teams drew for the first time this season.

Coventry will be however expectant of getting back to winning ways against Macclesfield while Richmond have a tough local derby away to Blackheath. 

Wharfedale 12 Rosslyn Park 17

Hugo Ellis scored two first-half tries as Rosslyn Park gained ground on the top two with a narrow victory against battling Wharfedale.

The Yorkshiremen ledd through Dan Solomi try early on, with Jamie Guy converting

However, two tries in three minutes from Ellis turned the game around, with Scott Sneddon converting one of the pair.           

However, the enterprising Dale backline opened up the game and got back on level terms when flanker James Tyson crashed over, 12-12.

Joseph Ajuwa then scored the crucial score for Rosslyn Park, but again Sneddon couldn’t convert, meaning Park held a narrow 17-12 lead at the break.

The second-half was end-to-end, but there would be no more scores, but Park remained calm and composed to secure a ninth away win of the season.

Park, who are now four points off top, next face a rejuvenated Cinderford on home turf while Wharfedale will be looking to get back to winning ways when they travel to in-form Loughborough Students.