National Two North Review: Round 10

National Two North Round Up: Ampthill and Hull Ionians match each other once again, Chester make it six of the best, Sedgley end winless run and Stockport are finally off the mark.

It was another superb weekend of National Two North Rugby on Saturday and yet again the top two are still only separated by point’s difference.

Ampthill grabbed their ninth win of the season and maintained their 100 per cent record at home as they beat Stourbridge 44-12, but that doesn’t tell the full story. The visitors lead 7-12 at the break in filthy conditions, but Ampthill showed why they are league leaders as they controlled proceedings in the second period to claim the win in the first ever meeting at 1st XV level between the sides. Stourbridge stay in tenth.
Post-Match Reaction
Ampthill Head Coach Paul Turner: "After a difficult first half in monsoon conditions I thought we had the game won going in just 5 points down, the team executed the plan discussed at half time with clinical and precise play, all in all a good performance"
Stourbridge DoR Neil Mitchell:"After a competitive first half in which we had control in the set piece we took our collective foot of the throttle in the second half and allowed Ampthill's experience to take the game away from us."

Hull Ionians continued their remarkable record in this division at Brantingham Park as they beat Leicester Lions 38-0. The hosts have won their last 22 National League Two matches on home turf and this weekend was no different. Once again, the weather conditions were atrocious and the I’s forwards played their part in this victory. This was the first time the Lions haven’t picked up points this season, but still lie in midtable.

Chester continued their scintillating form as they put on a professional display to beat Preston Grasshoppers 0-29 in Lancashire. Chester have now won their last six and are still hunting down Ampthill and Hull Ionians. Chester host Hull Ionians next Saturday in arguably the game of the weekend. As for Preston, they have now won only one of their last six and sit in a 11th.
Post-Match Reaction
Preston Grasshoppers Coach Garth Dew: “We are ten games in now and people need to take responsibility as we can’t keep saying we’re a young team. We’ve played the top three teams and been well beaten but we played well and deserved more at Sedgley and smashed Leicester Lions but we need to start picking up some points as there are some winnable fixtures coming up.”

It was joy for Sedgley Park this week as they returned to winning ways after three games without the taste of victory. They hit back in style as they beat Luctonians 49-12 thanks to an inspired performance by fly-half Steve Collins. Sedgley needed this win to stay in touch with the top four after slipping down the table in recent weeks. The Luctonians have now lost their last two and have only picked up three wins this season, but sit in 12th place thanks to eight bonus points from 10 games.

If you think it was relief for Sedgley Park to get a win on the board this weekend, it was pure elation for Stockport as the bottom club finally got their first win of the season as they beat Huddersfield 27-18 at Headlands Road. First half tries from Ben Marsland, George Smith and Joe Cantwell were backed up by the 100 per cent kicking performance from Mark Edwards. Huddersfield mounted a fight back in the second half, but Port held on for the win. Stockport remain bottom and Huddersfield stay ninth.
Post-Match Reaction
The first half was excellent,” said the pleased Stockport Coach Matthew Bebbington. “I thought in the second half we got caught trying to protect the lead rather than going out to extend it. We got a bit predictable but it’s certainly nice to be speaking under different circumstances this week.

Another one of the bottom sides who had a pleasing afternoon was Birmingham and Solihull who grabbed a share of the points at Portway against Harrogate. The game ended 20-20. This was Harrogate’s third draw of the season and it was almost another victory, but for a last ditch try from Chris Goddard in the ninth minute of injury time. In terms of the bigger picture, 6th placed Harrogate have only lost one of their last nine games and are only three points behind fourth placed Otley. Birmingham alongside Stockport were the only sides in the bottom half to pick up points over the weekend.

Speaking of Otley, they certainly handled the pressure well with Sedgley Park and Harrogate breathing down their necks as they comprehensively beat Hull 30-0 in this Yorkshire derby. Harry Hudson ran in a hat-trick on his 50th appearance for the club to help the hosts to their second clean sheet in as many games against Hull. Hull remain in 13th and have won once in their last five.

Finally Caldy made it two wins on the spin as they edged out Broadsheet 14-12 at Paton Fields. Broadstreet have only played three of their 10 matches at home all season, but gained a well-deserved bonus point. Caldy put on a gritty and determined performance to move into the top half of the table.