National One Review Round 15

Blackheath 37 Rosslyn Park 21

This local derby through up probably the shock result of the weekend as Blackheath scored 29 unanswered points in a few minutes to turn around a 13-point deficit to leave Park in tatters.  The win means Blackheath have consolidated themselves in sixth while Park have dropped to third and are now nine points adrift of league leaders Ealing. Both these sides have what it takes to progress in 2015 with Park particularly eager to get back into the scuffle for promotion. 

Coventry 48 Loughborough Students 22

After beginning the season at a snail's pace Coventry have taken off as serious promotion contenders after twelve consecutive wins, and Scott Morgan’s men are now just five points behind league leaders and promotion favourites Ealing. Covs latest win came this past weekend against Loughborough, who sit anxiously three points above the drop zone going into the festive break.  The win was not plain sailing for the hosts mind as the students stayed in contention up until the final quarter of the game when Cov ran in three unanswered tries to take their total for the day to imposing seven.  Next time out Cov have a tough trip to Old Albanians while Lougborough face an in form Blackheath on home turf. 

Darlington Mowden Park 26 Wharfedale 27

The hosts progressed out of the bottom three compliments of a losing bonus point while Wharfedale, who snatched a third away victory of the season late on, moved eight points clear of danger. The Dale popped up with a late penalty courtesy of Jamie Guy’s boot to win the game which had been a back and forth affair since the first whistle. Both sides will remain content with their positions as they look to rise away from the relegation places. 

Ealing Trailfinders 45 Old Albanians 18

Promotions favourites Ealing confirmed they would lead the way into 2015 after a comfortable win over Old Albanians. The visitors had been in relegation trouble after losing their opening eight games but have recovered to sit twelfth but will still be nervously looking over their shoulder as the league is exceptionally close-fitting down in the bottom half. 

Esher 27 Richmond 37

The hosts narrowly missed out on a losing bonus point as Alistair Chisholm, who has a strike rate of 60% failed to convert a late penalty from 36 metres with the last kick of the game. Both sides entertained the festive crowd with entertaining rugby as Esher ran in four tries to Richmond’s five. The pair are safe and will just want to build upon their seasons so far with more of the same in the second half of the campaign. 

Fylde 57 Macclesfield 5

The Lancastrians made easy work of their latest fixture as they ran in nine tries to crush their struggling North-West rivals Macclesfield, with young winger Jordan Dorrington topping it off with a superb hat-trick. Fylde are probably exactly where you would expect them to be in fourth while Macclesfield, who did not invest in playing staff are where you would expect them to be, rock bottom. 

Hartpury College 20 Cinderford 8

A stunning try from teenage Hartpury fly-half Matt Protheroe  was the outstading moment of the Gloucestershire derby as visiting Cinderford saw their relegation troubles worsen.  The Stags were fortunate to survive the drops last season and will need a similar turnaround in form as they sit second bottom heading into 2015, while their neighboring College will be proud to be in eighth position in their inaugural season in National League 1. 

Tynedale 17 Blaydon 27

After conceding over 250 points in the last five weeks injury-troubled Tynedale may have fell victim to a sixth successive defeat but will be happy with the competitive nature of game as they were beaten by local rivals Blaydon. It was sweet revenge for the men in red who had lost out to the Tynedale earlier in the season. Blaydon were always in control really despite being down to 13 men at one point and will be now hoping to push on and contend higher in the table with the likes of Esher, Richmond and Blackheath. Tynedale like this time last year are in the bottom three over Christmas and will be hoping for a similar revival to last season.