Good times continue for Hartpury College

As the clocks went back on the weekend, Hartpury College continued to move forward in National One as they secured their ninth bonus-point win in a row.

College are slowly becoming the runaway leaders in this division as they now have an eight-point gap at the summit as we head into the third month of the season.

Their 54-32 win over Cambridge is another hurdle completed for John Barnes’ men who look unstoppable as things stand, but Birmingham Moseley are doing all they can to hunt them down.

Kevin Maggs’ side grinded out a win away at Darlington Mowden Park to stay second, but they did fail to pick up a bonus-point.

At the other end of the table, Rosslyn Park’s season continues to get better as they stunned Blackheath to pick up their second win on the bounce. Elsewhere, Blaydon secured their maiden victory of the campaign with victory over Fylde which lifts them off the foot of the division.

Cambridge 32-54 Hartpury College

Wales U20 international Mat Protheroe scored 29 points to help Hartpury College secure their ninth straight bonus-point win of the season.

Protheroe scored a try in either half as well as five conversions and three penalties to keep Hartpury clear at the top of National One.

College were 22-13 ahead at the break thank to Protheroe’s first try of the afternoon as well as scores from Jake Polledri and Harry Randall only after Cambridge had initially taken the lead through Dan Lewis try and a Jack Green penalty.

Hartpury never surrendered their advantage in the second period and that was highlighted straight after the interval as Jonas Mikalcius scored a quick-fire brace.

Cambridge continued to battle against the league leaders and they were rewarded for their endeavour as Tom Nutley and Jake McCloud both crossed to pull the scoreline back to 37-27.

Protheroe kicked his third penalty of the afternoon to restore a cushion for Hartpury before scoring his second try of the day on 70 minutes. College then reached the half-century when Mat Gilbert barged his way over.

Cambridge did have the final say when replacement Tom Trotter secured a try-bonus point for the hosts in the dying embers of this match, but the league leaders deserved their victory as they run rolls on.

Darlington Mowden Park 7-15 Birmingham Moseley

Birmingham Moseley secured a hard-fought victory against Darlington Mowden Park to stay second in the table, but they did fail to pick up a bonus-point in the north-east.

Moseley opened the scoring with their first real attack of the contest as Sam Pailor touched down. It wasn’t long until DMP hit back as Will Murray ghosted past the Moseley defence to dot down with Caolan Ryan adding the extras to give the home side the lead.

DMP then looked in control of this game but just before half-time, some pressure from the away side eventually saw a Penalty Try awarded giving Moseley a 12-7 lead at the break.

After the interval, the game was tight and cagey with James Williams only adding to the scoreboard from the tee to seal Moseley’s eighth win of the season as they continue to hunt down Hartpury.

Rosslyn Park 28-3 Blackheath

Rosslyn Park secured back to back victories and did so in style as they ended Blackheath’s seven game winning run.

Following last week’s win over Macclesfield, this was a superb performance by Park who have now moved out of the bottom three.

Harry Robinson’s try in the corner as well as penalties from Scott Sneddon (2) and Harry Leonard gave the home side a 14-0 lead at the break.

Leo Fielding got Blackheath’s first points of the day from the tee on 53 minutes, but that was as good as it got for ‘Club’ as Park took control of proceedings.

Joshua Ovens and Adam Frampton both touched down to seal the win for Park who have now lost just one of their last four matches.

Plymouth Albion 53-15 Loughborough Students

Following Blackheath’s defeat, Plymouth Albion secured a bonus-point win over Loughborough Students to narrow the gap on the top three.

Fourth-placed Plymouth, who are now two points behind Blackheath, were 27-3 ahead at half-time, with Robin Wedlake-Millecam scoring a hat-trick while Dan Williams also crossed.

A try from Nile Darces extended Albion’s lead to 31 points before Loughborough hit the hosts with a superb try rounded off by Gair Currie and converted by Josh Sharp.

Matt Shepherd then responded for the home side with their sixth try of the afternoon and score number seven came soon after as George Mills powered his way over a minute from the end.

There was still time for two more tries as Williams grabbed his second for Albion before a length of the field score from Harry Simmonds completed proceedings at Brickfields.

Ampthill and District 29-24 Esher

Ben Gulliver scored a late try to give Ampthill and District a hard-earned victory over Esher at Dillingham Park.

First-half tries from Rob Bell and Joe Tarrant gave the home side a slender lead at the break with Cameron Gentles and five points from the boot of James Lang being the response from Esher.

Sam Baker grabbed Ampthill’s third try shortly after half-time but Andrew Garner and Lang touched down with Lang kicking both conversions to give Esher the lead with 12 minutes to go.

However, Ampthill responded with a fine try from Gulliver on 75 minutes and the home side were then able to see the game out despite this valiant effort from an improving Esher outfit.

Hull Ionians 21-40 Coventry

Coventry ran in four first-half tries to set them on their way to their first away victory of the season against Hull Ionians.

Owain James (2) and Pete White (2) both touched down to give the Midlands side a 26-7 lead at the break with Ali Thompson getting Hull Ionians off the mark.

The I’s responded immediately after half-time with forward Laurence Cowen going over, but that was as good as it got for the majority of the second period for the hosts as Coventry regained control.

A first-try for Coventry for Tom Wheatcroft as well as a score by Tom Howe ultimately completed the win for Coventry with Sam Wilson going over for a late consolation try for Hull Ionians.

Old Albanian 49-15 Macclesfield

The Old Albanian ended a torrid October with a much needed victory over Macclesfield at Woolams.

The OA’s headed into this fixture on the back of four straight defeats, but they ran in seven tries to thrash a struggling Macc side.

Jimmy Speirs, Andrew Daish and Ben Palmer grabbed tries in the first half for the OA’s, but the visitors were well in this game at the break thanks to five points via the boot of Tom Morton and a try from Sam Broster.

Matt Bradley was then yellow-carded for Macc just after the restart and the home side punished them as Morgan Thompson scored twice in three minutes to put the game beyond the Blues.

Ali Gliksten scored try number six for the OA’s only after Lewis Winterbottom’s consolation score for Macc, but the home side deservedly had the final say as Nick Foster touched down.

Blaydon 30-24 Fylde

Blaydon secured their first victory of the season as they edged out Fylde at Crow Trees.

Tries from Tom Grimes, Nathan Horsfall and Matt Thompson put Blaydon 17-7 up at the break, with Matt Lamprey replying after Grimes was yellow-carded.

Fylde reduced the deficit seven minutes into the second half as Evan Stewart forced his way over from close range to bring them back into this contest.

However, Blaydon retaliated as England Counties No 8 Gavin Jones barged his way over to extend the home sides lead to 12 points.

The pendulum then swung back in Fylde’s favour as Chris Briers sniped his way through the Blaydon defence to touchdown.

But, it was one step forward and two steps back for Paul Arnold’s men as they then had to play the remaining quarter of the contest with 14 men. Prop Jake Pope had gone off injured early on and his replacement Sam Simpson also picked up a knock and had to leave the field midway through the second-half.

Blaydon used this to their advantage as Brett Connon landed two late penalties to ultimately clinch the win before Fylde hit back to secure a second bonus-point as Anthony Bingham raced over.