Mowden Park extend unbeaten run to dent Hartpury’s promotion challenge
Hartpury College lost ground in the title race as Darlington Mowden Park continue their run
©Andrew Beacham
Round 22 belonged to Darlington Mowden Park as they made it 12 victories in a row and in the process, added another twist in the race for promotion from National One.
Leaders Richmond increased their lead to 10 points while Blaydon were the only side to profit in the bottom six this weekend after their comfortable win over Hull Ionians.
Henley Hawks 0-36 Richmond
Table toppers Richmond eased past 15th placed Henley Hawks at Dry Leas to stretch their advantage at the top of National One.
After a comfortable first half which saw the away side lead 0-10 at the break, tries from Mateo Zambruno Marino, Chris Davies, Tim Walford and James Small-Edwards in the second 40 wrapped up a clinical display by the league leaders.
Richmond now lead the way by 10 points ahead of Blackheath – who still have a game in hand – while it is looking bleak for the Hawks as they sit nine points from safety.
Blackheath 39-12 Loughborough Students
Blackheath moved back to second place after their bonus point win over a spirited Loughborough Students side.
Club were only 11-9 ahead at the break, but tries from Kieron Scutt, Thomas Baldwin, Freddie Gabbitass and Samuel Eydmann highlighted Blackheath’s control in the second period as they brushed Students aside.
It was the perfect response by Blackheath their defeat to Wharfedale last weekend, while the loss for the away team leaves them just two points outside the relegation zone after three straight defeats.
Darlington Mowden Park 36-27 Hartpury College
It was billed as the game of the weekend in National One and it certainly delivered as an enthralling game in the north-east saw Darlington Mowden Park prevail over Hartpury College to secure their 12th straight win in a row.
The hosts set-up a good platform for victory before half-time as tries from Simon Uzokwe and Santiago Socino helped DMP into a 17-10 lead at the break.
Uzokwe added his second shortly after the interval before Gareth Nesbit and Jacob Woodhouse ultimately sealed the win for the home side on 62 minutes.
Two late tries from Nathan Taylor and Jonas Mikalcius gave College a losing bonus point, but this defeat moves them down to third and they are now 10 points off the top. As for DMP, their sensational run continues and they are now just four points off fourth placed Plymouth Albion.
Cinderford 22-34 Plymouth Albion
Plymouth Albion’s first half performance against Cinderford was enough for them to seal their 10th win from their last 11 games.
Albion raced into a 10-27 half-time lead thanks to a Penalty Try and scores from Michael Stupple and Samuel Holmes with 12 points coming from the boot of Matthew Sheppard.
Cinderford were much better after the break as Thomas Bozzard scored a brace, only after Billy Searle had secured the bonus point for Plymouth which keeps them fourth in the table. As for Cinderford, they are now 14 points from safety, but this was another showing of fighting spirit from the divisions bottom club.
Esher 26-24 Fylde
An enthralling battle in Surrey ended with Esher coming out on top against Fylde as the home side slotted a penalty right at the death to clinch the win.
The game was in the balance throughout after Fylde led 13-12 at the break thanks to a Penalty Try and a score from Oliver Brennard, but Esher’s Alastair Chisholm slotted over a penalty late on to win this contest.
Chris Johnson, who had dominated the scoring for Fylde during this game – including three successful drop-goal attempts - had a chance to snatch the victory for the visitors from the tee, but his kick sailed just wide. Esher are sixth in the table after this win while Fylde stay in ninth.
Ampthill and District 35-29 Wharfedale
Another tight encounter saw sixth placed Ampthill & District take on a Wharfedale side determined to move away from the relegation zone.
The A’s led 28-12 at half-time thanks to tries from George Elliot, Elliot Clements-Hill, Kennet O’Neil and Maama Molitika but Dale hit back in the second half.
Scores from Ricardo Cano, Robert Baldwin and George Hedgley gave them two bonus points and once again, they showed the same spirit and desire as we saw in their victory over Blackheath last weekend. If Wharefdale are to stay up, they need to keep performing like this.
Currently, ‘Dale are two points clear of the drop while Ampthill remain three points behind Plymouth Albion.
Rosslyn Park 22-16 Coventry
Coventry’s injury problems are quite clearly affecting them, but Rosslyn Park showed the Blues no mercy on Saturday as the hosts secured their 13th win of the season.
Park led 22-6 just after the hour thanks to tries form Samuel Shires, Hugo Ellis and Mark Kohler before Coventry ended the game with a flurry as Dominic Lespierre crossed and Clifford Hodgson nailed his third penalty of the afternoon.
Rosslyn stay eighth in the table after this win while Coventry are now 10 points behind Park in 10th place.
Blaydon 37-5 Hull Ionians
Blaydon took a huge step towards safety as they comfortably beat Hull Ionians at home on Saturday. A brace from Fraser Wilson along with tries from Trevor Davison, James Smithson and Newcastle Falcons’ starlet Zach Kilbrige saw Blaydon ease to their sixth win of the season.
The win brings them within two points of safety, while Hull Ionians are just five points above the relegation zone after just one win in their last 12 matches.
