National One Review: Ealing Trailfinders maintain their 100 per cent start

Ealing Trailfinders continued their march towards the National League Division One title after scoring eight tries to beat Hartpury College 50-17.

Tom Wheatcroft put in a man of the match performance for the home side who now have a four point lead at the top of the table. As for Hartpury College – who were promoted into National One last season – they remain mid table after a solid start to the campaign.

Meanwhile, the formbook did not go out the window in the local derby between Rosslyn Park and Richmond as the hosts won 28-15. Richmond were shown two yellow cards, but despite this they put on an impressive display against the 2nd placed side and will be eagerly anticipating the return fixture at Athletic Park. Rosslyn Park continued their unbeaten start to the season on home soil.

Third placed Fylde remain on the same points as Rossyln Park after 42-24 win over Blaydon but that doesn’t tell the full story of the game. The Tynesiders looked favourites to come away with the points after Fylde flanker Ben Vernon was shown a red-card just after half-time, but the home side stood strong and ran in four second half-tries to steal what looked like an unlikely victory. Vernon attended an RFU disciplinary last night and was given a three match ban.

Game of the weekend came from the Butts Park Arena as Coventry edged out Esher 33-31 in front of a crowd of over 1,000. It was a pulsating affair, but Coventry hung on to make it five wins in a row which is the hosts best run in National League One history. Esher have never won at Coventry and to add to that, they have now lost three games in a row.

Blackheath Rugby Club heaped more misery on Macclesfield after scoring five tries to win 34-0. The bottom club were solid for 37 minutes before Mike Canty got the ball rolling for the South East London based side. Since returning to National One Macclesfield haven’t picked up a solidity point all season, but have shown signs of improvement over the last two weeks. Blackheath stay sixth.

One of the ‘shocks’ of the weekend game at Tynedale Park as Darlington Mowden Park put in a very professional performance to win 19-53. Tynedale sit ninth in the division with the visitors in 13th and it was the North East side who inflicted Tynedale’s heaviest defeat at home since March 2012 when they lost 0-60 to Jersey RFC. This was Darlington Mowden Park’s first visit to Tynedale in six years and stunned their opposition to claim a massive victory.

Like Tynedale, Wharfedale also suffered an upset as they were beaten 31-7 by Old Albanians who claimed their first victory of the season. They have now stretched their gap to seven points from bottom club Macclesfield. Wharfedale have only won once since September.

Loughborough Students ran out deserved winners against Cinderford as they won 25-15 on Saturday. The away side are struggling so far this season and are now five games without a win. Loughborough couldn’t quite find that four-try bonus point, but will be pleased to pick up their third win of the season.