National Two South Update: Round 20 & 21

This was a big weekend for Henley Hawks. With them just about beating Cambridge, they heard that Dorking only managed a draw against the Cornish All Blacks, putting the Hawks in the driving seat for the title.

Worthing Raiders' great form sees them move into the top four and there were big wins for Canterbury and Southend towards the wrong end of the table. TRU takes a look at all the action from Round 20 and we preview Round 21 of the season.

Cambridge 27-32 Henley Hawks
After last week’s narrow win against the Cornish All Blacks, it was another inconsistent winning performance from Henley Hawks. This was the Hawks' first win in four meetings against Cambridge. Once again with Henley, the game was right in the balance until the full-time whistle with the Hawks holding on to a slender five point margin. The league leaders started slowly and found themselves 13-5 down after 11 minutes. Cambridge continued to lead the game into the second half, but relentless pressure from Henley saw them go in front thanks to a Dave Manning try. They then had a 32-20 lead, but the hosts continued to battle back, but Henley managed to see the game out.

Cornish All Blacks 17-17 Dorking
Henley’s lead at the top of the table is now eight points as Dorking failed to win at the Cornish All Blacks. The All Blacks are now unbeaten in their last six home games after this draw and sit 10th in the league. This was the only the second time Dorking have dropped points away from home this season and that could prove costly in their title ambitions, but they do have a game in hand which will be played at the end of February.

Taunton 22-17 Bishop's Stortford
The battle between third and fourth was won by a rejuvenated Taunton side who are now only five points behind Dorking with this win. They captalised on a poor start from Stortford which was enough for them to secure the points. Despite the lackluster start, the visitors took the lead and looked in control when Taunton were shown a yellow card. However, the opposite occurred as the hosts went on to score two tries of their own. Taunton deserved the 15-12 lead at the break, but it could have been more. Both sides spurned golden opportunities to add points to the board, but the turning point came on 68 minutes when Stortford were hammering on the Taunton line via their forwards, but were penalised for holding onto the ball at a tackle only feet from the line. The hosts then turned the screw which was enough for victory. As for Stortford it was another bonus point to add to their impressive total.

Worthing Raiders 59-5 Lyndey
With Stortford slipping up, Worthing took their chance to go into the top four with a stunning nine try victory against Lyndey. This was arguably one of the best performances of the season from the home side as they dominated from the word go against Lyndey who have lost all 10 of their away matches this season. Worthing conquered the pack and played with flair producing some incredible handling and offloads across the park. The only negative for the Raiders is, why have they produced this sort of rugby so late in the season? Things could have been much different. Lyndey remain in the drop zone and with wins for Southend and Canterbury, they are now seven points from safety.

Southend Saxons 18-14 Chinnor
It was delight for Southend who secured a vital victory against Chinnor on Saturday. Southend missed out on 80 minutes of rugby against Dorking last week due to the weather, but built on their win against Henley two weeks ago. It was another excellent display against one of the big teams in this division as they scrummaged, tackled and fought for the whole eighty minutes. It was a tightly fought game with the score at 15-14 with 13 minutes to go, but a penalty from Brad Burr sealed the win for Southend. Although the Saxons remain 13th in the table, other results went their way and they are starting to move away from the drop zone.

Old Elthamians 23-3 Shelford
The Old Elthamians returned to winning ways after three straight defeats with this win at home to Shelford. The visitors came into this game second from bottom, but the home side produced a professional first half display and backed that up in the second period with a commanding performance. Their tight five were superb and this was a much needed boost for the Old E's. For Shelford, it’s another week where they must dust themselves down and go again as they fight for their survival.

Clifton 49-10 Dings Crusaders
Clifton picked up their third win on the bounce as they beat bottom side Dings Crusaders on Saturday. This was their sixth home win of the season and condemned the bottom club Dings to their seventh straight defeat. Clifton are now ninth with this win and just one point outside the top half. As for the Crusaders, they remain rock bottom of the table and are now 16 points from safety. It seems mission impossible for them.

Canterbury 28-23 Redruth
This was a massive win for the hosts who continued their impressive start to the New Year to make it three wins in a row in a game which included some brilliant tries and a red card. Canterbury’s Ricky Mackintosh was shown red so the hosts had to face the onslaught from Redruth for 50 minutes. It showed great character once again from Canterbury, who also came from behind to win this game. Martyn Beaumont was superb in the backs for the home side and his two tries tipped the game in his sides favour. Ashley Hosking’s penalty earned Redruth a bouns point on another frustrating away trip for them.
Reaction
Redruth Coach Steve Larkins: “It was well within our grasp, it was very winnable at half time, we had a bit of wind they had the slope so I think it was evens when it came to conditions in the second half.?Little things make big differences, two points down, we miss touch with a penalty they kick back, we leave the ball bounce and they go 80 meters to score the winning try. It is a long way to travel but we have got to concentrate for the full 80 minutes which we did not do today we got a way back into the game at 10 – 17 and looked in domination and control but let things slip so it was four points lost rather than a bonus point gained.”

Round 21 Preview
Henley Hawks v Clifton
Henley Hawks will be looking to stretch their lead at the top of the division when they host Clifton on Saturday. The Hawks have won three of their last five matches and are the only side to have a 100 per cent win record at home this season. They will be hoping to make it 10 wins from 10 this weekend.
As for Clifton, their win against the Dings Crusaders extended their winning run to three matches and they go into this game with the league leaders in better form than them. Clifton have won just three times away from home this season and haven’t won back to back away games since October of this season. Clifton lost 7-20  in this fixture earlier in the season.

Dorking v Cambridge
Dorking may see this game as a must win after slipping up last weekend against the Cornish All Blacks. They are eight points behind Henley, but do have a game in hand and if they fail to get a result on Saturday it could well be curtains on their title ambitions. Dorking have won just twice in their last five matches, but have won seven of their nine game at home this season.
In terms of Cambridge, they gave it everything against Henley last weekend and will want to learn from that experience and take it into this Saturday’s match. The visitors have won three of their last five games, but have tasted victory on just three occasions away from home this season. Cambridge lost the reverse fixture 14-28.  

Redruth v Taunton
Taunton travel to Redruth in excellent form and are putting this great run of results together at the perfect time. The Titans have won five of their last six matches and have won five times on the road this season. They may have one eye on potentially catching Dorking and perhaps finish in the top two, but for now they are going about their business nicely.
As for Redruth, they have had an inconsistent start to 2015 which has seen them pick up two wins in their last five matches. Their home form this season has been very impressive as they have won seven of their nine matches and haven’t lost at home since the end of November.  Taunton won this fixture 24-17 back in October.

Bishop’s Stortford v Worthing Raiders
The big games are coming thick and fast for Stortford and if they harbor any aspirations of finishing in the top three then this is a game they really need to win. Last week’s defeat to Taunton was a setback, but they have won six games at home this season and haven’t lost at Silver Leys since the middle of November. Without their 20 bonus points this season, Stortford would be 12th.
In terms of Worthing, they have won five out of their last six games which has seen them rocket up to fourth in the table.  They have Taunton in their sights so if they are able to pick up their fifth away win of the campaign they might be third come Saturday evening.  
These sides have the most bonus points between them this season and it was Worthing who narrowly won 24-22 in the reverse fixture this season.

Chinnor v Cornish All Blacks
Chinnor’s top four goal was dented massively by their defeat to Southend last week, but they will be looking to fight back this weekend when they host the Cornish All Blacks. Chinnor have won five of their last seven matches and they haven’t lost at home since September.
It will be a tough task for the All Blacks on Saturday considering Chinnor have lost just twice at home all season, but the All Blacks will be in a buoyant mood after their superb draw against Dorking. The All Blacks have won two of their last five games and have won just three times away from home this season. They do look as if they will be in this division next season after a tough start to this campaign.
Chinnor have won four of the last five meetings with the Cornish All Blacks including the 22-26 win earlier in the season.

Dings Crusaders v Old Elthamians
It was a much needed win for the Old E’s last weekend and they will be hopeful of following it up away at bottom side Dings Crusaders this Saturday. The Old E’s have only won four of their last 13 matches and haven’t won away since the middle of October when they beat Shelford.
The Crusaders might wish that was them who had won just four of their last 13 games as they sit bottom of the table with just three wins to their name all season. Two of those wins have come at home, but they haven’t won since the end of November. The OE’s won 38-29 in the reverse fixture.

Shelford v Canterbury
Canterbury’s third win in a row gives them a bit of breathing space between themselves and the bottom three. They are 10 points clear of the relegation zone which has been helped by their superb start to 2015. However, they have won just once away from home this season, but they might fancy their chances of backing up their last away win against Bishop’s Stortford, this weekend.
As for Shelford, they have won just twice since the start of October and won just five times this season. At home they have won on three occasions and they are now 12 points from safety. They also did lose to Canterbury 37-22 earlier in the season.

Lyndey v Southend Saxons
Southend have performed superbly over the last three weeks. Their last two wins have come against Henley and Chinnor, but they will certainly be thinking they must back it up this Saturday away to Lyndey. Southend have won just twice on the road this season, but that won’t affect them due to the form which they are in.
In terms of Lyndey, it was another heavy defeat on Saturday and with just one win in their last eight matches and just six wins all season, they occupy the last relegation place. They are only seven points from safety and do have a game in hand which could prove vital in their fight for survival. Lyndey have won all six of their games at home this season with Southend winning this fixture 50-13 earlier in the campaign.