The EEEs are in seventh heaven in National Two East while the outcome of Round 13 means we are set for a cracking final weekend in National One before the Christmas break. (Photo Credit: John Watkins)

National One

Two tries in the final 12 minutes saw Cinderford come back to claim a much-needed 40-31 victory over Taunton Titans.

A score from Will Baldwin followed by a penalty try ensured Paul Morris’ troops arrested a run of four successive losses.

The home side had led 26-19 at the break thanks to efforts from Will Hendy (2), Matt Jones and Nathan Taylor while Taunton responded through Charlie Wright and Noah Fenton after scrum-half Connor Banks had opened their account.

Wright and Bristol Bears loanee Deago Bailey added to the visitors’ tally to move Taunton five points in front, but Cinderford mustered up a reaction which was enough for them to record a welcome triumph.


The win leaves the Forest of Dean club one point clear of the relegation places after Sale FC (12th) clinched a third win on the spin as they edged out Bishop’s Stortford 8-7 at Heywood Road while Darlington Mowden Park pushed themselves five points clear of the bottom three following a commanding 29-3 success against Leicester Lions.

At the summit, there was no mistake from the leading pair as Rams RFC (1st) and Chinnor (2nd) both picked up maximums to leave things beautifully poised heading into their mouthwatering top-of-the-table clash on Friday night at Kingsey Road.

League leaders Rams were involved in a 13-try epic away at Richmond and despite being reduced to 13 men for the final portion of the contest, they managed to hold out for a 47-40 win while Chinnor came back from 21-5 down to record a 27-24 victory over Birmingham Moseley, with fly-half George Worboys landing a late penalty to seal it for the hosts.

Elsewhere, Plymouth Albion maintained their perfect home record as they made it six wins from six at Brickfields after beating Sedgley Park 22-3 while Rosslyn Park are up to fourth as they continued their impressive recent form with a comfortable 15-0 win at Blackheath.

National Two North

Otley improved their position in National Two North as they snatched a dramatic 39-34 victory away from Hull Ionians.

The I’s had built up a 34-27 lead with James Sanderson, Alex Forth, Sam Pocklington, Ben Stephenson and Josh Britton all crossing.

Otley had kept things tight in the first half with George Bowen and Louis Martin going over while Joe Rowntree kicked 10 points.

Eddie Crossland converted his own try to briefly put Otley 27-20 in front, but after Hull Ionians had seemingly put themselves in a position to see out the game with 11 minutes to go, the visitors pulled off a remarkable rescue act with Martin scoring his second on 78 minutes before Ben Dinsdale completed the fightback with the clock in the red.

A second away success of the season for Otley has moved them seven points clear of danger with Hull Ionians still one point from safety after Billingham recovered from 17-0 down to earn a 25-25 draw with Lymm.

Preston Grasshoppers remain hovering above the relegation places after Rotherham Titans came away from Lightfoot Green with a 34-7 win. The second-placed side were able to collect all five points from their trip to Lancashire to cut the gap to league leaders Leeds Tykes to six points.

Also across National Two North, bottom-of-the-table Huddersfield are still searching for their second victory of the season as third-placed Wharfedale departed Lockwood Park with a 28-12 win while elsewhere, the away day joy continued with Sheffield winning 33-15 at Hull to stretch their unbeaten run to five matches and an in-form Tynedale left Sheffield Tigers with a 10-0 success.

Leeds Tykes’ Round 13 fixture v Fylde was played on October 21st, with Leeds securing a 30-17 triumph.

National Two East

Esher have moved to the top of National Two East as three tries in a nine-minute window helped them to a 38-19 victory over title rivals Dorking.

In a highly-anticipated encounter, Peter Winterbottom’s men ran in five tries to secure a seventh win on the bounce which now leaves them three points clear at the summit.

Dorking – who entered Round 13 in top spot – led 14-7 after 14 minutes following tries from Fraser Mosley and Tom Howe, either side of Hugh Sloan’s touchdown for Esher.

But a blitz from the EEEs turned this contest in their favour as wingers Ben Robbins and the classy James Botterill (2) gave the away side a 28-14 advantage.

After the interval, Esher extended their lead with Pierre Thompson finishing off an excellent move while fly-half Sam Morley took his individual tally to 13 for the afternoon following a fifth successful conversion and a penalty.

Dorking did score late on via Joe Andresen but Esher had done enough to claim the victory and they also denied their hosts any points.

Third-placed Barnes put a stop to successive defeats as two Ben Cook penalties helped them see off Tonbridge Juddians 16-12 while Henley Hawks (4th) blew Canterbury away in the first half at The Marine Travel Ground to record a 44-33 win and extend their unbeaten run to five matches.

Bury St Edmunds (5th) are now seven games without a defeat as they coasted to a 40-10 victory away at Guernsey Raiders on Friday night and Old Albanian were back in the winners’ lounge after racking up a 35-8 success against North Walsham.

Elsewhere, Westcombe Park held off a late revival from Sevenoaks to triumph 22-20 while Worthing collected a seven-try 51-33 win against Wimbledon to move themselves five points clear of the bottom two.

National Two West

Hinckley stunted the progress of league leaders Luctonians as they stretched their unbeaten run to six matches following a 12-7 win at Mortimer Park.

Chris Campbell’s side became the first team to beat the table-toppers away from home as the Midlands outfit continued their excellent recent form.

Iwan Burgwin’s try, converted by Rory Vowles, was matched by Owien Harriott-Davis’ effort in the first half.

Full-back Jamie Dutton got the only try of the second period and it proved to be enough to seal the win for Hinckley and also halt the momentum of Luctonians.

This was just a second defeat of the campaign for Ryan Watkins’ men and their lead at the summit is now down to six points after Dings Crusaders (2nd) recorded an eighth win in a row by beating Redruth 26-5 at the Recreation Ground.

Camborne are up to third as they eased to a 40-19 victory away at Newport (Salop) and they swapped positions with Clifton who lost 29-24 at Exeter University.

Old Redcliffians (7th) produced a second-half resurgence to deny bottom-of-the-table Dudley Kingswinford a first away success of the campaign as the men from Scotland Lane clinched a 45-29 victory while elsewhere, Loughborough Students capitalised on four yellow cards shown to Chester to seal a 54-26 win and Bournville picked up a precious 24-12 bonus-point success at home to Hornets to move further away from the relegation zone.

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