One step closer for Richmond

Round 27 in National One was all about teams closing in on promotion or fending off relegation for another week and the situation remains the same after this series of fixtures.

The state of play at the top of this division is as you were with Richmond 10 points clear. Richmond now know that just one more victory would see them win the league title and gain promotion to the Championship.

Hartpury College just about made sure that the title race would roll on for another week as they edged out Rosslyn Park in a pulsating encounter.

As for the other end of the spectrum, Cinderford and Wharfedale continue to battle against the drop, but time is running out for those two sides.

Richmond 29-12 Loughborough Students

As the pressure and nerves mount, once again Richmond kept their cool as they saw off Loughborough Students at home, but they did have to come for behind to get over this latest hurdle.

Students were ahead at the break thanks to tries from William Edwards and Jack Pons after a disjointed first period from the league leaders.

However, they ironed out their mistakes after half-time and took control of this encounter with tries coming from Henry Cheeseman and Charles Broughton while Robert Kirby landed two penalties to ultimately seal the win for Richmond.

Richmond’s next fixture is a trip to second placed Hartpury College in what is set to be a cracking match this coming Saturday. The equation is simple for Richmond; a win over College in four days’ time will see them secure the league title.

Hartpury College 31-27 Rosslyn Park

Hartpury College will have Gareth Thompson to thank for their narrow and crucial victory over Rosslyn Park on Saturday as he kicked eight penalties and a conversion to keep College in the title race for another week.

Amazingly, another hat-trick for Rosslyn Park’s Hugo Ellis wasn’t the headline from this sensational National One encounter as full-back Thompson capitalised on Park’s ill-discipline to land 26 points and that clearly cost the away side the game.

College now need a win next week over Richmond to really reignite this title race otherwise the crown will be heading to the Athletic Ground.

Hull Ionians 34-36 Ampthill and District

Like last year’s encounter in National Two North, it was another edgy contest at Brantingham Park, but this time it was Ampthill who came away victorious as they picked up their fourth win in their last five games.

Despite the defeat, this result was encouraging for Hull Ionians as tries from Stephen Slingsby, Laurence Cowen, Joseph Makin and Edward Falkingham helped confirm two vital bonus points which leaves them 11 points clear of the relegation zone.

The I’s travel to relegation rivals Wharfedale this weekend and a win would be enough to secure their place in National One next season.

Fylde 30-45 Blackheath

Braces from David Allen and Andres Nilson helped Blackheath maintain fourth place in the National One table after this victory away at Fylde.

Allen scored his double inside the first 10 minutes with Nilson dotting down his first shortly after to put the away side in complete control.

Fylde fought back before half-time as Oliver Brennand, Connor Wilkinson and Benjamin Vernon all crossed to cut Blackheath’s lead to 15 points.

Both sides secured their try bonus points early on in the second half with Nilson grabbing his second try to seal the extra point for Blackheath.

Gareth Rawlings then crossed for Fylde but that was quickly cancelled out by a Jack Lloyd try for Blackheath.

Rawlings crossed for his second in the final play of the game, but the day belonged to Blackheath and their back-row.

Plymouth Albion 30-10 Wharfedale

After a heavy defeat against Ampthill last week, Plymouth Albion returned to winning ways with victory over relegation threatened Wharfedale.

Albion announced a couple of weeks ago that they have had to put their club up for sale which could lead to a possible points reduction, but the home side put their off the field troubles to one side on Saturday to secure this win.

Matthew Shepard was on song with the boot as he kicked 15 points while Chris Judge, Thomas Putt and Thomas Bedford all crossed for Albion who sit fifth in the table.

This defeat for Wharfedale now leaves them 11 points from safety with a must win game against Hull Ionians coming in four days’ time. If they fail to win that one, then it will be curtains for the Skipton based club.

Esher 52-7 Henley Hawks

Any hopes Henley Hawks may have had of finishing the season on a high were dented as they conceded eight tries against Esher as the hosts heaped more misery on the already relegated side.

Andrew Garner, Joseph Brown, Harrison Collins and Thomas James all crossed in the first-half to bag a try bonus point before the break. Esher were also awarded a Penalty Try in that first 40 minutes.

James went over again for Esher after the interval before Andrew Wright and Paul Roberts rounded off proceedings for the home side that are now up to sixth on the table.

Coventry 27-10 Darlington Mowden Park

The reason Esher are up to sixth in the league is because Darlington Mowden Park suffered a surprise defeat away at Coventry who have now won their last three matches.

The home side were ahead at half-time thanks to a Penalty Try, a score from Ryan Hough and seven points from the boot of Ryan Caolan.

Caolan was accurate from the tee again after the break before Hough added his second try on the hour to seal a well-deserved victory for the home side who are now up to ninth in the table while DMP drop to seventh.

Blaydon 45-25 Cinderford

Blaydon secured their safety in National One with a bonus point win over relegation threatened Cinderford who went into this clash having won three of their last four matches.

The away side were blown away in the first half as a brace from William Witty, a score from Brett Connon and a Penalty Try saw Blaydon carry a 24-10 lead into half-time.

Cinderford then got within a try of Blaydon after the break as Nigel Baker touched down and Chris Eden slotted a penalty, but the hosts once again showed their ruthless streak as Thomas Rock, Chris Wearmouth and Trevor Davison made sure their place in National One next season was confirmed.

As for Cinderford, they are now 12 points from safety and they now know a defeat away at Rosslyn Park this coming Saturday will end their time in the third tier of English rugby.