Loughborough dominate Round Three in National One

Week Three in National One certainly delivered on the entertainment front with some cracking games across the league.

In previous weeks, our focus has been on league leaders Hartpury and once again they maintained their perfect start to the season, but arguably the game of the weekend was in the North East where Blaydon faced Loughborough

The game included 104 points, 15 tries and five yellow cards with the visitors eventually prevailing in an enthralling contest.

Elsewhere in the league, Birmingham Moseley kept their unbeaten start going but Ampthill and District suffered their first defeat of the season at home to Darlington Mowden Park.

Coventry responded in style following defeat last week while the Old Albanian, Plymouth Albion and Blackheath all picked up narrow victories.

Esher 13-32 Hartpury College

Hartpury College maintained their perfect start to the season as they handed a second defeat to Esher, with College also earning a bonus point.

Tries from George Boulton and Harry Cochrane put Hartpury 18-6 up after a first half which was dominated by the visitors.

Jacob Perry, who was standing in for Adam Hastings, kicked eight points in the opening 40 minutes and added to his tally after the break with a try and a conversion to give Hartpury ample breathing space in this match.

A Penalty Try to Esher just after the hour gave them something to smile about, but Hartpury had the final say as Matt Gilbert touched down nine minutes from time to make it three wins from three for College.

Hull Ionians 22-24 Birmingham Moseley

Birmingham Moseley scored two tries in the final 10 minutes to snatch victory against Hull Ionians on Saturday.

Tries from Issac Green and Daniel Tai Sen Choy helped the I’s into 17-7 half-time advantage.

However, Birmingham hit back after the break through Adam Canes’ score but Tai Sen Choy’s second made it 19-14 on 64 minutes.

But Kevin Magg’s side refused to be beaten as Drew Cheshire and Greg King’s tries gave Moseley an unlikely victory at Brantingham Park.

Coventry 61-14 Macclesfield

A sensational first half performance saw a rampant Coventry side power past Macclesfield at the Butts Park Arena on Saturday.

Scott Tolmie scored a brace as Coventry opened up a 54-7 half-time lead after running in eight tries in the first period.

Eoghan Grace, Brett Daynes, Cory Hircock, Darrell Dyer and Rob Knox as well as a Penalty Try gave the Sky Blues a huge lead heading into the second 40.

Full-back James Stokes scored the pick of the tries as Coventry went over for try number nine just after the hour while Ryan Parkinson added to Sam Moss’ first-half try for Macclesfield as the Cheshire side left the Midlands on the end of a thumping.

Cambridge 34-36 Old Albanian

The Old Albanian bounced back from their narrow defeat against Ampthill and District to edge out newly-promoted Cambridge at Volac Park.

Harry Bate (2), George Elliot and Billy Johnson’s first half tries put the OA’s in control.

James Ayrton kept Cambridge in touch and scores from Ricky Reeves and Cameron Ruddock reduced the deficit.

A try from Hayden King tightened the OA’s grip on this match following waves of pressure from Cambridge which they were unable to convert even after James Shanahan and Johnson were yellow-carded.

Scores from Cambridge’s Matt Hema and Mike Ayrton set up a grandstand finish, but the away side held on for the win.

Ampthill and District 20-39 Darlington Mowden Park

Darlington Mowden Park recovered from a stuttering start to inflict the first defeat of the season on Ampthill & District as they made it back to back wins.

Ampthill started the brighter and were 13-7 ahead at the break thanks to a try from Sam Baker and eight points from the boot of Joe Tarrant.

DMP responded through a Seb Freydell try just before half-time but the visitors then went ahead in this contest thanks to four tries in 19 second half minutes. Caolyn Ryan scored a brace before Joe Craggs and Chris Auld both crossed to make it 33-13.

The A’s captain Maama Molitka crashed over on 69 minutes, but two penalties from Ryan was enough to seal a great win for Darlington Mowden Park.

Blaydon 38-66 Loughborough Students

Loughborough Students made it two wins on the spin thanks to this impressive victory away at Blaydon where they ran in nine tries.

Loughborough’s first half tries from Ricci Brugniiara, Jordan Ofalowoa and Issac Miller helped them to a 20-19 halftime lead with Chris Wearmouth and Jack Beckwith (2) keeping Blaydon firmly in this contest thanks to their scores.

Loughborough began the second period with 13 men while Blaydon started with 14 players as both sides were shown yellow-cards in what was a frantic half and the game was to continue in the same fashion.

Blaydon captain Keith Laughlin gave the north-east side an early lead in the second half before Miller grabbed his second for the hosts to restore their one point advantage.

Harry Simmons then stretched Loughborough’s lead with their fifth try of the afternoon, but Blaydon were back to within a point as Trevor Davison capitalised on some poor defending from the home side. Blaydon then went in front once again through Gavin Jones to give themselves a 38-32 to lead, but 34 unanswered points gave Loughborough the win as they controlled the rest of this pulsating contest.

Plymouth Albion 26-20 Rosslyn Park

Plymouth Albion edged a thriller against Rosslyn Park at Brickfields as they picked up their second win of the season.

Robin Wedlake pounced on a late mistake from a Rosslyn Park line-out to run in the decisive try in the closing eight minutes of this match.

Albion led this contest 19-17 at half-time thanks to a Penalty Try and scores from Kieran Hallett and Rupert Cooper, but Park ended the period strongly thanks to a brace from Todd Gleave and two conversions from Harry Leonard.

Park continued to be on the offensive after the break, but with just under 10 minutes to go Albion delivered them a serve setback as Wedlake ghosted home to give them a nine point lead.

Leonard was on target from the tee again for Park shortly after, but Albion held on for back to back wins.

Fylde 24-25 Blackheath

Blackheath secured their second win in as many games thanks to this narrow victory over Fylde at Woodlands.

The away side led 10-7 at half-time after Chris Knight’s try and five points from the boot of Leo Fielding wiped out Greg Smith’s early score.

Club’s Tom Baldwin stretched his sides lead to 13 points with a score just after the restart, but quick fire tries from Anthony Bingham and David Fairbrother gave Fylde hope.

However, Markus Burcham touched down to settle the nerves for Blackheath 10 minutes from the end and ultimately seal the win before Scott Armstrong dotted down right at the death to secure two bonus points for Paul Arnold’s men.