Fylde, Rosslyn Park and Esher come out on top

In our preview, we mentioned that six of the bottom sides in National One were going head-to-head in Round Eight and even at this early stage of the season, victories for Fylde, Rosslyn Park and Esher could prove vital.

All three sides triumphed on Saturday as Fylde beat Hull Ionians, Rosslyn Park produced an excellent second-half display to see off Macclesfield and Esher demolished Blaydon.

Elsewhere in National One, Coventry left it late to beat Plymouth Albion in a sensational game at the Butts Park Arena. Will Maisey’s last-gasp penalty earned another home win for Rowland Winter’s side.

That winning feeling continued for Hartpury College who made it eight bonus-point victories from eight as they stay top of National One while Birmingham Moseley, Blackheath and Loughborough Students also maintained their recent good form.

Hartpury College 49-14 Ampthill and District

Hartpury College made it eight bonus-point wins from eight with an emphatic victory over promotion rivals Ampthill and District.

College, who are seven points clear at the top of National One, led 27-7 through Jonas Mikalcius, George Boulton and a Penalty Try.

The highly rated paring of Mikalcius and Harry Randall put the result beyond doubt with a try apiece only after Brett Sturgess had barged his way over from close range at the beginning of the second period for Amphtill.

Mikalcius added the gloss for Hartpury as he completed his hat-trick with a late try.

Birmingham Moseley 56-33 Old Albanian

After year out due to injury, Ed Sheldon scored a hat-trick on his return to the Birmingham Moseley side as they beat the Old Albanian at Billesley Common.

Sheldon damaged his ACL during pre-season last year, but was back in action on Saturday and he, like his side, were in fine form.

Moseley ran in six first-half tries to take a 42-7 half-time lead.

Mike Penn, Alex Grove (2), Jake Farmworth, Tim Molenaar and Sheldon all touched down with Craig Dowsett scoring for the OA’s.

Sheldon completed his hat-trick after the break with James Williams slotting over a club record eighth conversion from eight, but that was all Moseley could muster up in the second-half as the away side continued to battle hard.

They were rewarded as tries from Matt Miles, Ross Hamilton, George Elliot and Nick Foster kept the score respectable, but it was a dominant first-half display from Kevin Maggs’ men that keeps them second in National One.

Blackheath 34-24 Cambridge

Blackheath made it seven wins in a row as they beat a battling Cambridge side at Well Hall.

Club, who have not lost since their opening day defeat to Hartpury College, were 20-12 ahead at half-time despite making a slow start.

Leo Fielding, Tom Chapman and the in-form Dan George all crossed while Matt Hema and Tom Nutley deservedly kept Cambridge in this contest at half-time after a strong first 40 from the visitors.

Terry Read and Lawrence Hutchinson exchanged tries at the beginning of the second half as the gap stayed at eight points before Chapman went over on 67 minutes for the decisive score as Cambridge failed to capitalise on a period of pressure.

The Blood and Sand did snatch a try bonus point though as Chris Leatham dotted down late on, but it was Blackheath who continue their excellent run of results.

Coventry 34-33 Plymouth Albion

A late Will Maisey penalty gave Coventry a narrow win against Plymouth Albion in a thrilling National One contest.

Cov looked to be coasting at half-time as they took control with a ruthless attacking display which saw Maisey landed four penalties and Wasps dual registered player Owain James score a try.

But an excellent start to the second half gave Albion hope that they could get a result in the Midlands.

Tries from Dan Williams and Setareki Raumakita brought the score to 26-19, but Cov importantly scored next as James claimed his second try of the afternoon.

However, their cushion was reduced once again as Sam Holmes powered over on 65 minutes. Albion then looked like they were in the ascendency and with one minute remaining Rupert Freestone drove over to turn this game completely around.

Dan Parkes’ side looked like they had stolen victory, but the home side were not finished and won a penalty deep into injury time which Maisey nudged over effortlessly to see his side home.

Loughborough Students 29-14 Darlington Mowden Park

Loughborough Students extended their unbeaten run to three matches as they earned a bonus-point win against Darlington Mowden Park.

A quick start from Loughborough saw the in-form Josh Sharp land an early penalty and Austin Beckett cross to give the home side a 10-0 lead, before scores from Gair Currie and Will Edwards put them further in control.

James Fitzpatrick stepped over to get DMP on the board just after half-time and he crossed again 10 minutes later, before Students sealed the game.

Man of the match Currie dived over for his second try of the game, nine minutes from time,  to clinch the win for Loughborough who are now up to fifth in National One.

Esher 71-24 Blaydon

Esher made it two home wins on the bounce as they thrashed bottom club Blaydon, who are now the only side across the National Leagues without a win to their name.

The Surrey-based club were almost out of sight by half-time, Tom Furey and Joe Brown scoring two tries each while Gabriel Ibotoye, Spencer Sutherland and Tom Yellowtrees also crossed.

Tries by Tom Small and Jack Beckwith had given Blaydon something to cheer about in the first half, but it continued to get worse for the north-east side after the break.

Brown completed an excellent hat-trick and Ollie Marriott, Andrew Garner and Tom James also went over.

Dan Marshall and Brett Connon did both dot down for Blaydon in the second period for a bonus-point, but the problems continue to mount for the division’s bottom club.

Fylde 38-17 Hull Ionians

Fylde put in an excellent performance to beat Hull Ionians to clinch their third win of the season at Woodlands.

The hosts led 28-10 at the break thanks to three tries in the first 14 minutes scored by Scott Armstrong (2) and Jack Turley before Chris Briers dotted down on the stroke of half-time.

Hull Ionians’ unconverted scores had come via Ali Thomson and Greg Lound and they were back in this contest when they were rewarded a Penalty Try shortly after the interval as Greg Smith impeded Aquile Smith with the former being shown a yellow-card.

Smith then returned to the field and was on hand land a penalty and slot over a conversion late on as Armstrong completed his hat-trick and the win for Fylde.

Macclesfield 18-36 Rosslyn Park

An impressive second-half performances saw Rosslyn Park pick up a much needed victory over Macclesfield at Priory Park.

Despite leading twice in the first-half, Rosslyn Park found themselves behind at the break as tries from Sam Broster and Elliot Brierley as well as eight points from the boot of Tom Morton gave Macclesfield an 18-14 lead.

Park’s tries had come via David Vincent and James Inglis, but their frustrating first 40 would soon be forgotten as they scored 22 unanswered points in the second period to clinch victory.

Immediately from the restart, Park were on the front foot but it took them until the hour mark for them to make a break through as Henry Robinson darted over.  Their bonus-point was wrapped up three minutes later as Andrew Henderson crossed to put them 24-14 ahead.

Park continued to dominate as Harry Leonard slotted over a penalty before Andy Reay rounded-off an excellent second half for the visitors with their fifth try of the afternoon.