National One: Rosslyn Park lose unbeaten start as Ampthill return to the top

Rosslyn Park’s unbeaten start to the season was ended on Saturday meaning Ampthill returned to the summit of National One.

Hartpury, Blackheath and Hull Ionians continued their solid starts while Coventry bounced back from two straight defeats. Elsewhere there were wins for Esher, Henley and Loughborough Students.

The top half is separated by just seven points with the bottom half being divided by just six points.. It is already very tight and here is a round-up of all the drama from week five in National One.

Ampthill and District 32-20 Darlington Mowden Park

I don’t think we can call Ampthill the ‘surprise package’ much longer as they continue to show their credentials to challenge for back to back promotions as they extended their unbeaten run.

This was another bonus point win for the A’s which took them back to the top of the league. 17 points from winger Elliot Clements-Hill seemed to be the difference between the sides as DMP were comfortably beaten despite some valiant defending over the course of the afternoon. Darlington have now slipped to 15^th in the table.

Blaydon 22-28 Hartpury College

Hartpury College’s impressive run continues as they sealed another away win; this time at bottom club Blaydon.

Gareth Thompson was once again superb with the boot as his accuracy was key in this victory for Hartpury who moved into the second place. After finishing fifth last season, they are certainly looking to push for promotion this season.

Rosslyn Park 18-31 Blackheath

Rosslyn Park’s unbeaten start to season came to an end as they were defeated at home by Blackheath.

16 points from the tee scored by Freddie Gabbitass was the difference for ‘Heath whose tries came from David Allen, Lindokkuhll Mvelase-Jolyan and Jake Lloyd.  With this win, Blackheath have now leapfrogged Park into third place.

Fylde 35-38 Hull Ionians

After defeat at home last week, Hull Ionians hit back immediately as they beat Fylde on the road.

The hosts have struggled this season after the upheaval at the club in the summer. They have brought in new personnel and they are still waiting for everything to start to click.

That seemed to be the case at half-time when they led 25-10 thanks to tries from Jordan Dorrington, Daniel Maher and David Fairbrother, but a hat-trick from flanker Will Foden sealed the win for the visitors three minutes from time.

The I’s are now fifth having picked up three wins – which is more than what they achieved the last time they were in National One.

Coventry 26-19 Plymouth Albion

Coventry battled hard to earn a win over Plymouth Albion in front of a bumper crowd at the Butts Park Arena. The hosts flew out of the blocks as a try from Peter Weightman and three penalties from Matthew Jones gave them a 16-7 half-time advantage.

But like last week against Richmond, ill-discipline let Coventry down and they conceded two tries either side of half-time as Michael Stupple and Ethan Ford crossed for Albion.

Jones kept things ticking over for Coventry, but a try from Nile Decres levelled the scores at 19-19 on 53 minutes.

However, Coventry kept their cool and Jacque le Roux scored the decisive try to seal a much needed win for Coventry which sees them stay in sixth place.

Esher 41-34 Richmond

This all-London affair was an enthralling one, but it was Esher who came out on top. Richmond went into the interval having shaded proceedings thanks to a brace from Jack Allcock and 10 points from Robert Kirby.

However, Esher grew into the second half and blitzed their way to a 38-20 lead as they scored four unanswered tries through Cameron Gentles, Stanley South, Thomas James and Calum Waters.

Richmond weren’t giving up though as two late tries from Charles Broughton gave them two bonus points.

Henley Hawks 39-13 Wharfedale

Henley Hawks continued their recent good form with a comfortable win over Wharfedale. They were ahead by just two points at the break as David Clements and Thomas Hall both crossed with James Guy going over for Dale.

But tries from Simon Perry, Connor Murphy and James Davies in the second half put the Hawks in control and secured them the win.

Cinderford 9-16 Loughborugh Students

Before the weekend began these two sides were the bottom clubs in the division, but two straight wins for Loughborough Students has seen them rise to 11^th. The Students commanded the first half thanks to a try from Yiannis Loizias – who scored at Twickenham for Loughborough in last year’s BUCS final – and eight points from the boot of William Edwards.

It was a much more even contest in the second period as Edwards exchanged penalties with Callum Sheedy, but the hosts couldn’t find that all important try.