Richmond’s title charge takes slight setback after draw with Ampthill

Richmond drew only their second game of the season which saw their lead over Hartpury College reduced to 10 points with five games remaining while rivals Blackheath now look out of the race.

All of the bottom six sides lost, but it was another tough weekend for bottom club Henley Hawks who are now on the verge of an immediate return to National Two South.

Richmond 19-19 Ampthill & District

Ampthill and District came back from 19-0 down to snatch a draw away at Richmond as the league leaders suffered a setback on their quest for the National One title.

The hosts knew they were in for a tough encounter against an impressive Ampthill side, but Richmond found themselves 19 points ahead at half-time thanks to tries from Ross Grimstone, Jack Allcock and Mateo Zambruno Marino.

The visitors then hit back after the break and deservedly earned a draw as a brace from Elliot Clements-Hill and a score from Aleki Lutui snatched two points for the A’s.

Hartpury College 54-29 Wharfedale

That draw for Richmond has given Hartpury College some hope that this promotion race is far from over and they got their job done on Saturday with a bonus point win over relegation threatened Wharfedale.

Highly rated winger Jonas Mikalcius scored four tries in a free flowing game which saw ‘Dale also secure a try bonus point which prove vital come the end of the season.

The side from Skipton currently sit in the bottom three and are 10 points from safety so any points they can achieve between now and the end of April will only help improve their survival chances.

Plymouth Albion 20-19 Blackheath

Blackheath’s promotion chances are all but over as this narrow defeat to Plymouth Albion now leaves them 16 points behind leaders Richmond.

Club have fallen to recent defeats against Richmond as well as Hartpury College, Darlington Mowden Park and Wharfedale which has hampered their Championship dream.

Albion led this tight contest throughout with Nile Decres and Daniel Collier going over for the hosts with Matthew Sheppard kicking 10 points, but they had to hold their breath at the end as Blackheath missed a late gasp penalty.

Plymouth are now up to third in the table after a run of just one defeat in their last 14 matches and have really come on strong in the second half of this season. As for Blackheath, they are now down to fifth in the table.

Esher 42-29 Blaydon

Esher secured a bonus point win against a Blaydon side who are currently digging themselves away from danger.

The hosts were in complete control throughout with Alastair Chisholm and Andrew Wright both scoring braces, but Blaydon continued to fight until the end of this contest and secured a try bonus point thanks to a hat-trick from flanker Jason Smithson. Blaydon remain 11 points clear of the drop with five games left to play.

Hull Ionians 20-22 Darlington Mowden Park

Hull Ionians once again were unable to hold on to a lead as a late Warren Seals penalty secured Darlington Mowden Park’s 14^th win from their last 16 matches.

The hosts led this thrilling encounter 20-19 at Brantingham Park with two minutes remaining, but after landing three penalties throughout the afternoon, Seales delivered the fatal blow to Hull Ionians by nudging over his fourth in the final play of the game.

The I’s are now 10 points ahead of the relegation zone and will know they  must start to see out games with five matches left of the season, otherwise they could be facing a return to National Two North.

Loughborough Students 32-37 Rosslyn Park

A first half hat-trick from Number 8 Hugo Ellis was the difference as Rosslyn Park picked up their sixth win in their last eight games after victory against Loughborough Students.

Students did score two late tries through Andrew Boyce and Jake Armstong to pick up two bonus points as they sit 12 points clear of the drop. The Midlands side are beginning to look safe after another gutsy performance and will hope to see out the last five games of the season without too much trouble.

Fylde 35-21 Henley Hawks

Fylde picked up their sixth home win of the season as they brushed aside bottom club Henley Hawks at Woodlands.

The hosts had secured their bonus-point by half-time as tries from Paul Arnold, Chris Johnson, Oliver Brennand and Chris Briers gave Fylde a 28-7 lead.

The tempo of the second-half was much slower, but did see Brennand grab his second score while Henley could only manage two late tries from Connor Murphy and Simon Perry. This loss for the Hawks virtually seals their fate and they know that if they are to lose to Coventry in 11 days’ time and Hull Ionians and Blaydon both picked up victories’ on the road, they will be relegated.

Coventry 33-27 Cinderford

Cinderford are battling relegation from National One and put up a spirited fight against Coventry on Saturday, but ultimately fell to defeat at the Butts Park Arena.

This win for Coventry ended a four games losing streak and it started well for them as winger Dominic Lespierre scored a first-half hat-trick to give The Blues a 20-12 half-time lead.

Cinderford then kept plugging away after the break and were rewarded when Michael Wilcox and Nigel Baker both crossed to secure a try bonus point before Callum Sheedy slotted a late penalty as Cinderford took two losing bonus points back down the M5.

Cinderford remain 15^th in the table and are 14 points adrift of safety. It would take something special for them to avoid relegation between now and the end of April, but you never know.