Bristol keep the pressure on Worcester in the Championship

Gavin Henson made a try-scoring debut for Bristol Rugby in Round 15, while Bedford against Worcester is the pick of the Round 16 fixtures.

Talking Rugby Union previews what is sure to be an engaging weekend of Championship rugby as well as a review of all the best action from last weekends games, which includes a Jonah Holmes hat-trick for Yorkshire Carnegie.

Review of Round 15

Worcester 49-10 Rotherham Titans

Fly-Half Ryan Mills put in a man of the match performance as Worcester demolished Rotherham Titans. The former England Under 20 put in the perfect performance as he engineered a number of tries in the first half before crossing the whitewash himself after the break. The hosts other scores came from Ben Howard, Max Stelling, Dean Hammond, Tom Biggs and GJ van Velze all crossed the whitewash for Warriors, along with a penalty try and seven out of seven conversions for Andy Symons.

Star Man: Ryan Mills

Attendance: 5,893

Referee: Ian Tempest

Jersey 17-3 Bedford

Jersey ground out a robust win against Bedford to extend their undefeated run to four matches, and simultaneously leapfrog their opponents in the Championship table. Bedford back James Pritchard broke the deadlock halfway through the first half with a penalty, but Drew Locke's try put the Islanders ahead at the break. Second-row Pierce Phillips crashed over the line soon after the restart to extend Jersey's lead. Aaron Penberthy's penalty completed the win to move Jersey into the top half.

Star Man: Drew Locke

Attendance: 1,848

Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys

Bristol 52-24 Moseley

Former Wales international Gavin Henson made his Bristol debut as the league-leaders put over fifty points past Moseley. The hosts overcame a first-half wobble, during which they were pegged back from 19-0 to 19-19 to eventually record an emphatic eight-try win over Moseley at Ashton Gate. Bristol got off the mark with a penalty try, they added further scores from George Watkins (x2), Charlie Amesbury, Gareth Maule, Olly Robinson, Craig Hampson and debutant Henson.

Star Man: George Watkins

Attendance: 7,568

Referee: A.Jackson

Cornish Pirates 13-30 Doncaster

Doncaster Knights gave their hopes of avoiding relegation from the Championship a massive boost with a backs-to-the-wall victory against Cornish Pirates at the Mennaye Field. The Knights were down o 14 men for 56 minutes after centre Bevon Armitage was sent off after two yellow cards in the space of 14 minutes for what were deemed deliberate knock-ons by referee Dean Richards.

Star Man: Dougie Flockhart

Attendance: 1,256

Referee: Dean Richards

Plymouth Albion 12-12 London Scottish

London Scottish and Plymouth Albion could not be separated, playing out a turgid 12-12 draw at Brickfields. First half tries from Mark Bright and Miles Mantella and a Peter Lydon conversion were annulled by four Declan Cusack penalties in a game that neither side overall deserved to win.

Star Man: Declan Cusack

Attendance: 1,175

Referee: Matt Carley

Yorkshire Carnegie 43-14 Nottingham

Jonah Holmes was a hat-trick hero for Yorkshire Carnegie as they produced their finest performance of the season with a six try demolition of promotion-chasing Nottingham. Carnegie are now just nine points adrift of fourth place as they believe to dream once again of reaching the Play-Offs.

Star Man: Jonah Holmes

Attendance: 1,145

Referee: Greg MaCdonald

 

Preview of Round 16

Friday

Nottingham vs. Cornish Pirates

The Cornish Pirates will be hoping to get back to winning ways following Sunday’s unexpected home defeat to Doncaster Knights at the first time of asking when they take on Nottingham on Friday night. It is the first game to be played under the lights at their new home at the Lady Bay Sports Ground in West Bridgford, following their move from Notts County's Meadow Lane. Nottingham have lost their last three games, including a 43-14 defeat at Yorkshire Carnegie on Sunday, but remain fourth in the table, while the Pirates, who have lost two in a row since that superb win over Bristol, are lingering down in ninth.

League Positions: Nottingham- 4^th, 40pts; Cornish Pirates- 9^th, 30pts

Form: Nottingham- WWLLL; Cornish Pirates- LLWLL

Key Men: Nottingham-Dan Mugford; Cornish Pirates- Kieran Hallett

Last Meeting: Cornish Pirates 13-28 Nottingham

Prediction: Nottingham by 5

 

Saturday

Bedford vs. Worcester

Top of the pile Worcester will be confident of continuing their incredible 21-game winning streak when they travel to Bedford this weekend. The Blues had been pushing for a play-off place but after just one win in their last four outings have drifted out into mid-table. The Warriors recorded a 42-12 win against Bedford in November’s fixture at Sixways but this time in front of an intimidating crowd at Goldington Road the Warriors will be looking to demonstrate their promotion credentials and improve their excellent away record, which has seen them win seven of their eight games on their travels.

League Positions: Bedford-7^th, 31pts; Worcester-1^st, 70pts

Form: Bedford- WLLWL; Worcester- WWWWW

Key Men:  Bedford- Dean Adamson; Worcester- Ryan Mills

Last Meeting: Worcester 42-12 Bedford

Prediction: Worcester by 15

Doncaster vs. Bristol

Centre Bevon Armitage will miss Doncaster Knights’ eagerly awaited Championship clash against big-spending Bristol at Castle Park on Saturday. Armitage’s red card after just 27 minutes of Sunday’s game at Cornish Pirates took some of the gloss off Knights’ magnificent 30-13 win. The victory means Doncaster are looking over their shoulder towards rejuvenated Plymouth a little less and can play with a bit more freedom against the hard-hitting Bristol this weekend. The visitors will be confident after their victory last week, in which debutant Gavin Henson touched down, and will be hopeful of demonstrating their promotion credentials ahead of the play-offs at the close of the season.

League Positions: Doncaster-10^th, 25pts; Bristol-2^nd, 69pts

Form: Doncaster-LLLWW; Bristol- WWLWW

Key Men: Doncaster- Douglas Flockhart; Bristol- Gavin Henson

Last Meeting: Bristol 24-12 Doncaster

Prediction: Bristol by 10

London Scottish vs. Moseley

London Scottish will be looking to get back to winning ways when they welcome Moseley, who sit second from bottom, to the Athletic Ground. And in Mark Bright Scottish have a match winner, he has touched down eighteen tries this season including one in last weekends disappointing draw against Plymouth, which makes him the division’s clear top-scorer by a difference of six. Visiting Moseley have just one win in their last five and just two away wins all season while the hosts have won six of their eight home games.

League Positions: London Scottish- 3^rd, 48pts; Moseley- 11^th, 23pts

Form: London Scottish- WWWLD; Moseley- LLLWL

Key Men: London Scottish- Mark Bright; Moseley- Sam Oliver

Last Meeting: Moseley 16-9 London Scottish

Prediction: London Scottish by 15

Plymouth Albion vs. Jersey

In three home matches this year, Plymouth Albion have beaten Moseley and Rotherham and drawn with LondonScottish to give their chances of survival a boost. Thiss sets this weekends clash with Jersey, who are four unbeaten, as must win for the Albion, as they remain nine points from safety. Jersey's impressive recent form has seen them climb into the top half but they have struggled away from home with just two away wins in eight attempts.

League Positions: Plymouth- 12^th, 16pts; Jersey- 6^th, 32pts

Form: Plymouth-W LWLD; Jersey- LWWDW

Key Men: Plymouth-Larence Raynor; Jersey- Nick Haining

Last Meeting: Jersey 19-0 Plymouth

Prediction: Plymouth by 6

 Rotherham Titans vs. Yorkshire Carnegie

Having suffered two heavy league defeats by Worcester, one of the clear favourites to return to the Premiership, Rotherham will be pleased to have a more winnable contest when they come up against Yorkshire Carnegie at Clifton Lane on Saturday. So far this season the Titans have found it tough at home, winning just three of their seven home games, while their visitors, despite losing five have recorded three away victories. Last time these two met it ended 6-0 to Yorkshire, and all fans will be hoping the game can supply a greater deal of action this time around.

League Positions: Rotherham- 5^th, 34pts; Yorkshire- 8^th, 31pts

Form: Rotherham-LWLDL; Yorkshire- LLWLW

Key Men: Rotherham- James McKinney; Yorkshire- Harry Leonard

Last Meeting: Yorkshire 6-0 Rotherham

Prediction: Yorkshire by 12