Plus, Lymm lead the way in National Two North after another eye-catching result in opening month of the season. Photo Credit: (Jonathan Knight)

‘One of those days’ for Sale FC as Rams flex muscles

The narrative leading into National One’s early top-of-the-table clash between Rams and Sale FC was positive for the latter.

Jonathan Keep’s men boarded their bus to Berkshire safe in the knowledge that they had won their last six meetings against Rams and after excellent victories over Plymouth Albion and Sedgley Park to begin this campaign, ‘The Dogs’ had seemingly rediscovered their bark and bite that was absent for a large portion of 2023/24.

However, Saturday quickly turned into a day to forget for FC. A fire on their coach down to Old Bath Road obviously disrupted their pre-match preparations (and delayed kick-off by an hour) but when the action got underway, the rugby didn’t improve their spirits.

Despite Tom Walsh’s yellow card in the opening 40, Sale were only 7-0 down but after the interval, the hosts showed their class in abundance.

Rams flicked the switch and ensured the scoreline was a convincing one with tries from Tomasz Pozniak, Zach Clow, Max Hayman and Robbie Stapley while FC had Ciaran Parker and Nick Gray in the sin-bin during the second half.

The day didn’t get much better for Sale as on their way home, they appeared to be stuck on the M40 for a lengthy period of time so they will be more than happy to discard Round Three and focus on bouncing back against Rotherham Titans.

As for Rams, take nothing away from this result. This was an impressive and clinical display, and Seb Reynolds’ charges are now the only team in the third tier to collect 15 points from 15.

Plymouth respond to Lamb’s call

It was perhaps not in the bracket of  ‘must-win’ for Plymouth Albion but after a passionate message to supporters following back-to-back losses to begin the campaign, a 27-22 victory over Leicester Lions was the ideal tonic for head coach Ryan Lamb.

The Plymouth boss had called on Albion’s fans to get behind the team as much as possible and in front of 1,320 at Brickfields, his side repaid the faith of the home crowd.

After a tight opening half, Plymouth led 10-5 – thanks to a Tom Putt penalty and a score from Shea Cornish – before the hosts doubled their tally. Putt was on target with another three points and Rhys Williams dotted down before a penalty try left Albion in control.

But any hopes of a comfortable final quarter were quashed by the Lions as Joe Brock and Isaac Thompson both touched down while a penalty from Luke Bouchier made things nervy in Devon.

However, Plymouth were able to see out the victory and will head to Bishop’s Stortford in Round Four in better spirits.

Heartbreaking to heartbreakers for Hoppers

If you had been a fly on the wall in the Preston Grasshoppers dressing room over the last couple of weeks, you may well have witnessed downcast and crestfallen emotions painted on the faces of Dan Orwin’s side.

Greg Smith’s missed, late conversion in matchday one against Chester saw Hoppers fall to a 32-30 loss while a try from Jordan Dorrington clinched a 22-20 victory for Fylde in Round Two’s Lancashire derby.

But in Round Three, it was Preston’s turn to be on the right end of a tight contest.

 

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Cameron Wilkinson’s 77th-minute try was backed up by a conversion from Smith as Hoppers snatched a 27-26 success against Sheffield Tigers.

The respective fly-halves, Smith and Mark Ireland, are two of the shrewdest operators in the division and 21 points from the boot of the latter looked to have guided the Tigers to their first victory of the season.

However, it was Smith who would be the hero as Preston opened their account for 2024/25.

Lethal Lymm beginning to turn heads

It was a far more comfortable afternoon in National Two North for Lymm as another relentless display from Adam Fletcher and Andy Davies’ troops saw them swat Fylde aside 49-14 at Crouchley Lane.

A third win on the spin for the North-West outfit – who finished 10th in 2023/24 – leaves them as the early frontrunners and after last week’s scintillating display away at Chester, there was more attacking ambition from Lymm mixed in with the ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Many of the Lymm side who were beaten 50-28 by Fylde in this corresponding fixture back in January were involved on Saturday and after tries from Nathan Beesley and Rob Makin were responded to by Fylde’s Mike Walton, the hosts decided to put their foot down.

Patrick Jennings, Beesley, Isaac Millachip and Nick Rigby all went over while Tom Shard pinged over 19 points with the boot. Leeds Tykes and Wharfedale are the other two sides in the division who have picked up 15 points from 15.

Potent Priddey and Accurate Archer

The new season is only three weeks old but we have already seen some dazzling rugby and sensational scores. National Two East’s leading pair – Canterbury and Tonbridge Juddians – have certainly entertained their supporters and National Two West’s Camborne certainly sit under that umbrella.

Saturday’s thumping 10-try 58-25 victory over Taunton made it three wins from three for Steve Larkins’ side, with the imperious Josh Matavesi underscoring another dominant first-half display from the Cherry and Whites.

Their glut of well-worked tries were combined with the old-fashioned catch-and-drive which set the platform for last year’s top try scorer, Ben Priddey, to profit. The hooker scooped up four tries from close range and over in National Two East, a fellow No.2 matched also that feat.

After last week’s narrow loss to Dorking, Barnes responded with a 36-20 victory over a resilient Colchester outfit and this win for Jack Heald’s men was underpinned by their power up front, led by Josh Archer.

Two scores in either half from the hooker helped Barnes to their 10th straight home success – a run which stretches back to November last year. For the expansive rugby we have seen this term, there is still very much a place for the truck and trailer try.

Results

National One: Blackheath 32-24 Rosslyn Park, Richmond 48-7 Darlington Mowden Park, Rotherham 48-19 Esher, Rams 33-0 Sale FC, Sedgley Park 11-20 Dings Crusaders, Plymouth Albion 27-22 Leicester Lions, Birmingham Moseley 28-14 Bishop’s Stortford.

National Two North: Billingham 19-17 Otley, Hull Ionians 30-19 Chester, Leeds Tykes 49-16 Hull, Lymm 49-14 Fylde, Preston Grasshoppers 27-26 Sheffield Tigers, Sheffield 57-19 Harrogate, Wharfedale 34-28 Tynedale.

National Two East: Barnes 36-20 Colchester, Bury St Edmunds 61-33 Oxford Harlequins, Canterbury 49-21 Worthing, Havant 20-39 Guernsey, Old Albanian 28-43 Dorking, Tonbridge Juddians 50-10 Sevenoaks, Westcombe Park 32-29 Henley.

National Two West: Bournville 34-22 Redruth, Camborne 58-25 Taunton, Exeter University 43-24 Macclesfield, Hinckley 17-19 Cinderford, Hornets 20-32 Loughborough Students, Luctonians 39-15 Clifton, Old Redcliffians 43-5 Devonport Services.

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