No change at the top but Wharfedale jump out of bottom three
Round 19 in National One saw Richmond, Blackheath and Hartpury College all pick up victories and consolidate their positions in this title race as we approach the final third of the season.
Down at the bottom, defeats for Cinderford and Henley Hawks leaves them in trouble but a win for Wharfedale means they are now out of the bottom three. Blaydon slipped into the relegation zone after their heavy defeat to Hartpury, but the north-east side do have two games in hand over ‘Dale.
Richmond 33-19 Esher
League leaders Richmond looked unfazed on their way to victory over Esher has they bounced back from their draw against Coventry with this bonus-point win.
The league’s leading try scorer Chris Davies set Richmond on their way before scores from Cameron Mitchell and Rory Damant gave the home side a 21-7 half-time lead.
The second 40 was more even as both sides exchanged two tries each, but Richmond saw out this contest to seal their 15th win of the season.
Notably for Richmond though, is that their lead is now six points at the top and even if Blackheath pick up a BP win from their game in hand, Richmond will still be sitting at the summit of National One
As for Esher, they are 13 points off Richmond and their hopes of promotion are now looking very faint.
Blackheath 20-7 Rosslyn Park
The reason Richmond’s lead is now six points rather than five is because Blackheath didn’t achieve a bonus-point win against Rosslyn Park, but nevertheless, this was a hard-fought victory for Club.
Once again, the home side had the talented Freddie Gabbitass to thank as he scored five penalties to help his side to victory while Geoff Griffths got the sole try for Blackheath,
The hosts did have to come from behind though as a Penalty Try had given Park an early lead, but Club then took control. The defeat for Park moves them down to eighth in the table.
Hartpury College 71-12 Blaydon
Without a doubt this was the highest league win of the season so far as Hartpury College ran in 11 tries on their way to thrashing Bladyon.
Blaydon had no answer all afternoon as Hartpury ran riot with Ben Vellacott and Jonas Mikalcuis both scoring four tries.
This is the heaviest defeat for Blaydon in their history and this loss meant they dropped back into the final relegation place while Hartpury are now only one point behind Blackheath after this remarkable win.
Darlington Mowden Park 45-29 Ampthill and District
Despite having last weekend off due to their game being postponed, Darlington Mowden Park’s momentum was not affected as they made it nine wins in a row with this bonus point victory over Ampthill.
The away side couldn’t contain DMP as the hosts secured the bonus point inside 22 minutes thanks to tries from Robert Conquest, James Barnard, Simon Uzokwe and Sebastian Ferreria.
The A’s then launched a comeback either side of half-time as tries from Maxwell Wilkins and Joseph Tarrant along with a brace from flanker Kennet O’Neil saw the visitors back to within four points of DMP on 53 minutes.
In the end, DMP took control once again as scores from Oliver Hodgson and Joseph Craggs sealed the win for Darlington which moves them up to seventh in the table while Ampthill stay fifth after their five match winning run came to an end.
Plymouth Albion 29-18 Coventry
Coventry made the long journey down to Plymouth with an injury hit squad, but their hosts Plymouth Albion showed no mercy as they made it seven wins from their last eight matches with this bonus-point victory.
A double from Captain Jake Murphy and a score from Matthew Shepherd gave Albion a 19-6 half-time lead.
Coventry then mounted a second half fightback as Matthew Price and Danny Wright both touched down either side of Murphy’s hat-trick to take the Blues to within six points of their hosts.
However, a late try from centre Marc Koteczky, who scored the previous week against Fylde, wrapped up another home triumph for Plymouth. Coventry drop down to 10th after this defeat while Plymouth are now just four points off Esher.
Hull Ionians 26-36 Fylde
A red card shown to Alistair Thomson after just 26 minutes allowed Fylde to come away from Brantingham Park with a bonus point victory.
Thomson was dismissed with the scores level at 7-7 and Fylde took full advantage of the extra man as they scored a Penalty Try before Scott Rawlings crossed and Chris Johnson landed a penalty.
Ralph Dowds extended the Lancashire sides lead on 54 minutes, before the I’s ran in three tries of their own to save a try bonus point on a difficult afternoon for the hosts.
Fylde are now up to ninth in the table after another excellent away win while Hull Ionians are 11th and only nine points above the bottom three.
Wharfedale 26-17 Henley Hawks
In the latest installement of the relegation battles, Wharfedale met Henley Hawks and it was the home side that picked up the vital points on this occasions.
They were made to work hard for it though as Thomas Bliss and Thomas Hall scored two well worked tries for Henley to give them a half-time lead.
The hosts came back stronger in the second half as three James Guy penalties and a try from Cameron Hudson was enough to turn the game around and move Wharfedale out of the bottom three. ‘Dale are now one point ahead of the relegation zone while Henley are six points from safety.
Loughborough Students 43-12 Cinderford
Loughborough Students eased any relegation worries they may have been having with this bonus point win over bottom club Cinderford.
Tries from George De Cothi, Thomas James, Blair Hutchinson and a brace from George Eastwood gave the Students a commanding half-time lead and the bonus point.
Eastwood completed his hat-trick after the break as the home side ran out easy winners and this victory leaves them seven points ahead of the relegation zone while Cinderford are seven points from safety and their need for results is getting greater.
