Richmond in pole position for promotion while Cinderford give themselves hope
This weekend in National One seemingly belonged to Richmond as their win over Blackheath and a defeat for Hartpury College now leaves the league leaders 13 points clear at the top with just six games left.
Down at the bottom, Cinderford and Henley Hawks swapped places in the relegation zone after Cinderford made it back to backs wins to keep their thin survival hopes alive, but they will feel frustrated as three of the other bottom six sides also won.
Blackheath 6-8 Richmond
It would take something catastrophic for Richmond not to gain promotion to the Championship. Their win over title rivals Blackheath on Saturday means they are now 15 points clear of Club after their narrow win away from home.
The game was won by the table toppers in the final quarter as Jack Allcock’s try and a penalty from Robert Kirby was enough for their 20th win of the season after Freddie Gabbitass had given Blackheath a 6-0 lead from the tee in the first half.
Ampthill and District 24-18 Hartpury College
After Blackheath’s defeat, Richmond’s closest rivals are most certainly Hartpury College, but defeat for them away to fourth placed Ampthill and District leaves College with a lot of work to do if they are to wrestle top spot off Richmond.
Their first half display cost them as tries from William Goodge, Darrell Dyer and Alex Lutui gave Ampthill a 24-3 half-time lead.
College then seemed to spark into life in the final quarter of the contest as Harry Cochrane, Daniel Thomas and James Stephenson all crossed to earn a losing bonus point, but that will be a mere consolation for Hartpury whose title challenge is now on the ropes.
Darlington Mowden Park 17-24 Plymouth Albion
Both of these sides headed into this encounter in great form, so something had to give in the north-east and it did as Plymouth Albion made it 11 wins from their last 12 games to move to within three points of second place.
Albion were actually behind at the break thanks to tries from Warren Seats and Simon Uzokwe but a brace in the second half from Michael Stupple, to complete his hat-trick, gave the visitors the win and now we are starting to see what this Plymouth side is all about.
Rosslyn Park 29-17 Esher
The sole game on Friday night this week was a London derby which saw the home side secure a bonus point win. Esher’s decline from a promotion chase has occurred once again this year and results like this one against Park have certainly hampered their chances this campaign.
Tries from Samuel Shires, Michael McFarlane, Jack Gash and Hugo Elllis had put Park 29-3 ahead by the hour mark, but a late flurry from Esher made it a more respectable score line for the away side who are now sixth in the table.
Cinderford 24-21 Fylde
Cinderford have now moved off the foot of the National One table after a performance of sheer determination against Fylde who stay ninth after this narrow defeat.
The hosts did lead 15-7 at half-time thanks to tries via Jack Adams and Callum Sheedy before Chris Eden guided them to victory from the tee as he slotted three penalties in the second half with this third, snatching the points. The win still leaves Cinderford 12 points from safety.
Blaydon 26-8 Coventry
Bladyon’s revival continued on the weekend as they comfortably beat Coventry in the north-east to leave them nine points clear of the relegation zone.
First half tries from Zack Kibrige and a double from Jason Smithson helped Blaydon into a 19-8 half-time lead before a Penalty Try 15 minutes from the end secured a bonus point win for the hosts.
Blaydon also do have a game in hand to come this weekend against Loughborough Students and if they were to win that, then survival would look all but confirmed.
Henley Hawks 24-31 Hull Ionians
Just one win in their last 10 matches has seen Henley Hawks fall to the bottom of National One and this defeat to a struggling Hull Ionians would’ve further rubbed salt into the wounds of the Hawks.
The home side were 14-12 ahead at the break thanks to tries from Ben Palmer and Thomas Hall, with Alex Crockett and Stephen Slingsby replying for the I’s.
Palmer nudged over a penalty just after half-time before the away side took the lead as Issac Green darted over.
Their advantage lasted just five minutes as Basil Strang put Henley back in front before tries from Michael Bateman and Laurence Cowen was enough for Hull Ionians to seal a welcome victory – their first for 14 matches. The victory leaves them 10 points clear of danger while Henley are now 15 from safety and an immediate return to National Two South now looks likely.
Wharfedale 21-30 Loughborough Students
Loughborough Students eased their relegation fears as they saw off rivals Wharefdale away from home to move six points clear of the drop.
Dale had led 21-17 at the break thanks to scores from Josh Burridge and Robert Baldwin, but that lead was overturned by tries from Paolo Odogwu and George Davies for Students in the final 13 minutes of this encounter.
Wharfedale are now six points from safety and after some very good performances over the last month, this loss will be tough to take for the Skipton based side.
