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Huge crowd snatch it at see Hayes the death

■By DAVID BEDDOWS Rotherham T ...22pts Tries: Barling 34, Penalty 49, Valentine 65 Conversion: Shaw 65 Drop goal: Hayes 80 Plymouth A ......19pts Try: Broadhurst 29 Conversion: Jenkins 29 Penalties: Jenkins 16, 23, 55, 60 LLOYD HAYES hit a Jonny Wilkinsonesque drop goal, at the death, to keep Rotherham Titans top of the table, and […] The post Huge crowd snatch it at see Hayes the death appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Tykes hold the fort in a 14-try thriller

■By BEN CROPPER Leeds Tykes ..........53 Tonbridge J ...........48 LEEDS TYKES edged a 14-try encounter, seeing off the spirited efforts of Tonbridge Juddians. Sebi Krippner opened the scoring with a simple catch out wide, as Eddie Crossland converted. TJs hit back through Vince Everitt’s effort but the conversion was missed. Leeds lunged back in front […] The post Tykes hold the fort in a 14-try thriller appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Rogers insists Stort will not be fodder after win in ‘tennis match’

News ■By BEN JAYCOCK BISHOP’S Stortford captain Will Rogers admits it has been a mixed season but recent form shows they are finishing the National One campaign with real momentum. The Australian No.8 has helped lead Stortford to five consecutive wins heading into this weekend, lifting them into mid-table after a difficult start to the […] The post Rogers insists Stort will not be fodder after win in ‘tennis match’ appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Michael’s a star to get Rams cooking

■By RICHARD ASHTON Rams ........................ 71 Leicester Lions ....38 RAMS returned to winning ways, with Michael Cooke leading a spectacular home win against Leicester Lions. The hosts started in red-hot fashion, as Morgan MacRae bagged a brace, before Axel Kalling-Smith and Cooke crossed inside the opening 15-minutes, with the latter adding four conversions for a […] The post Michael’s a star to get Rams cooking appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Varo rules with rapid two-score hit proving decisive

By RICHARD GORE Hull..................... 31 Darlington MP.36 JOELI VARO’s two-try return saw Darlington Mowden Park climb back to defeat at Hull. A late Park change saw Sam Waught drafted in at full-back, and he opened the scoring after only three minutes. Only two later, Liam Checksfield raced over near the posts for a second unconverted […] The post Varo rules with rapid two-score hit proving decisive appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Billingham too good for Scunny

By MIKE BROWN Billingham.............. 31 Scunthorpe............. 17 HOSTS BILLINGHAM produced a dominant second-half display to secure a convincing win over Scunthorpe. The contest was finely balanced at the break, after an evenly fought opening period saw Billingham hold a narrow 12-10 lead. Laurence Pearce’s opening try was quickly cancelled out by Lachlan Hill’s response, as […] The post Billingham too good for Scunny appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Free-man Sam is Hoppers’ rescuer

By LOUIS JEFFERSON Preston G.................39. Sheffield Tigers....37 SAM FREEMAN’s late heroics snatched the victory for Preston Grasshoppers, in a back-and-forth affair with Sheffield Tigers. Hoppers started fast, with Harry Holden crossing from a line-out, but the visitors replied through Ben Crowe’s effort, converted by Jamie Rudd. It quickly became three tries in the first ten […] The post Free-man Sam is Hoppers’ rescuer appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Posa sets Sheff the stage for fine finish

By ANDREW SMITH Sheffield............31pts Tynedale...........21pts SHEFFIELD’s head coach Anthony Posa poured praise on his “special group” as they put a nervy first-half behind them to stay on course for a historic first league title. Going in at the break with a narrow four-point advantage, Posa’s side emerged to dominate the second period. Tries from Jack […] The post Posa sets Sheff the stage for fine finish appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Dorrington duo guide Fylde to a

By WILL JUDD Fylde.........................43. Otley..........................26 SECOND-HALF tries from brothers Ben and Jacob Dorrington, as well as David Fairbrother, saw Fylde record a third successive win. Otley opened the scoring after five minutes, through Josh Law’s effort, but the coastal wind quickly got away from the visiting party. Fylde’s Will Hunt snatched the lead, with a […] The post Dorrington duo guide Fylde to a appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Fairbrother end

His effort, however, was cancelled out, on the hour-mark, after an Otley scrum was drove over by Scott Irvine. In a decisive final ten minutes, Dorrington’s FYLDE: second - on the back of his first-half try - gave Fylde further success, as Fairbrother’s final effort secured only a second win at the Woodlands, this year. […] The post Fairbrother end appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Rogers boots up to buckle Ionians

■By BRIAN NORMAN Hull Ionians ...........29 Rossendale ............38 FINLAY ROGERS’ fine goal-kicking helped his Rossendale side claim a valuable victory over Hull Ionians. A penalty line-out saw Ionians strike first, with Adam Brankley driven over in the corner. After constant kicking for territory, Rossendale then spent a spell of ten-minutes without breaking the home side’s […] The post Rogers boots up to buckle Ionians appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Gleeing Macc pack stand up to Wharfe

■By TOM BARRY Macclesfield .........52 Wharfedale ............ 31 GLEE was felt on the sun-baked Macclesfield fields, after the third-placed outfit ran out winners over defiant visitors Wharfedale. Despite a phase of opening territory, Macc faced issues with finding an early foothold, as only Oliver Longmore’s ninth-minute score was posted to the scoreboard. Wharfedale resisted well, […] The post Gleeing Macc pack stand up to Wharfe appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Renouf has seen enough from Hull for tougher run

■By BEN JAYCOCK Big man: Alec Renouf in action for Hull HULL lock Alec Renouf insists his side have shown enough quality this season to believe they can retain their National Two North status but admits consistency and defensive discipline have cost them. Sitting bottom of the table heading into this weekend, Hull face a […] The post Renouf has seen enough from Hull for tougher run appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Debutant Carter is hero of the hour

■By GARY HOUSE O Redcliffians..57pts Exeter Uni......... 47pts WITH the sun beating down at Topsham to provide some spring warmth, the crowd were treated to a thrilling, frantic, non-stop game of rugby right from the kick-off. From the start, Redcliffians piled on the pressure. Within ten minutes they were two converted tries to the good, […] The post Debutant Carter is hero of the hour appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Craven heroics are not enough

Hinckley..................36 Chester.....................33 ■By MO SHER FOR those in attendance at Leicester Road, money’s worth was certainly had as the two teams traded 12 tries in a pulsating afternoon of National League rugby. The fact there was only three points between them at the final whistle was testimony to how closely-matched they were, with visitors Chester […] The post Craven heroics are not enough appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Students top of class in a thriller

■By JACK TOZER Loughborough S....57 Cinderford...............50 THE Students emerged victorious in a 100-point thriller. It took just two minutes for the scoring to begin as Seb Rodriguez-Davies dotted down. Ben Webb converted. The hosts replied instantly, with Reilly Scriven crossing for Jack Condliffe to convert. Loughborough regained their lead with tries from Elis James and […] The post Students top of class in a thriller appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Alex puts Borne back in business

■By HUW GRIFFIN Camborne................54 Barnstaple..............24 LEADERS Camborne bounced back from back-to-back defeats by thrashing Barnstaple. This was a head-to-head where Barnstaple had held a slight upper hand during previous meetings, but a sensational four tries from Camborne wing Alexander Ducker meant that trend was thoroughly reversed. The visitors got off to the perfect start as […] The post Alex puts Borne back in business appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Magical Monty try is huge highlight for Lucs

■BY GEOFF VICKRESS Redruth............... 7 Luctonians.......58 LUCTONIANS had a real spring in their step as they treated Redruth to a real rugby try fest. The hosts took the lead after six minutes through James Mear, and Tom Jones added the conversion. Brad Smith was next to be driven over, before yellow cards for foul play […] The post Magical Monty try is huge highlight for Lucs appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

for the visitors

over the line, while Tom Addison also found his range from the tee, converting all those second period scores. Chester took home two points to show for their efforts, which were gallant, with Kyle Joseph, Conner Scrivens and Ben Ivory, added to by eight points from Sam Rogers, taking them close – but not quite […] The post for the visitors appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Davis leads way for deadly Hornets

■By COILIN DUFFY Syston .....................22 Hornets ....................54 HORNETS delivered a clinical attacking display to overcome Syston in an entertaining clash. The home side made a fast start, racing into an early lead through tries from Corey Baker and a brace from Arthur Davis, with Jack Gapper adding early accuracy from the tee. Joshua Sheppard’s score […] The post Davis leads way for deadly Hornets appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Titans leave it too late to deny Lymm

■By MIKE JAMOS Lymm .......................29 Taunton Titans ....28 LYMM just did enough to hold off a late Taunton rally . They took the lead with a try by Rhys Lilly, which Thomas Shard converted, before scoring unconverted tries through Patrick Jennings and Matthew Hand. It was not until Scott Gibson exploited a gap at the […] The post Titans leave it too late to deny Lymm appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Ratu relishing Titanic tussles ahead for an upbeat Taunton

■By BEN JAYCOCK TAUNTON Titans are targeting a top-three finish in National Two West after a statement victory over promotion-chasing Camborne reignited belief heading into the final weeks of the season. The Somerset side produced one of their standout performances of the campaign last weekend, claiming a huge away win at the table toppers in […] The post Ratu relishing Titanic tussles ahead for an upbeat Taunton appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Maddison backing his girls to find a big finish

NEWS EXTRA ■By BEN JAYCOCK TRAILFINDERS boss Barney Maddison says his side are embracing the pressure of the PWR playoff race as their victory over Harlequins on Friday night pushed them up to fourth in the table. Before that win, Maddison’s side were sixth in the table, three points off the top four. The top […] The post Maddison backing his girls to find a big finish appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Hamilton makes all the difference

Oundle......................43 Esher.........................38 ■By BEN JAYCOCK OUNDLE outscored Esher in a thrilling try-fest, as Oundle edged home by five points. Starting smartly, the home side led inside 12 minutes, through Rian Hamilton’s try. Yet in a contest that would ebb and flow throughout, Esher pegged Oundle back with tries from Pierre Thompson and Owen Waters putting […] The post Hamilton makes all the difference appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Armstrong blitz is too hot to handle

Guernsey.................62 L Welsh.....................29 ■■By RORY MORROW GUERNSEY bulldozed London Welsh aside, with Anthony Armstrong scoring four tries. Rhydian George opened the scoring for the visitors, but that lead was soon wiped out. Joe Wrafter wriggled in for a try, converted by Charlie Simmonds, before Armstrong grabbed an eight-minute brace. Surged on by their momentum, Guernsey […] The post Armstrong blitz is too hot to handle appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Matt puts the gloss on top Bury win

By MICHAEL WHITFIELD Strong men: Bury’s George Bretag-Norris breaks through the gain line and, below, Barnes loose forward Angus Farquhar breaks clear of the yellow jerseys PICTURES: Martin Conway Barnes............... 24pts Bury St Ed’s.......50pts BURY proved to be more physical and robust in attack and defence than the home team and ran away deserved winners, […] The post Matt puts the gloss on top Bury win appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

penalty seals it

ing line-out. five minutes in, Penfold the league Dorking.....................43 Westcombe Park..40 Hardwick is the hero as last-kick By KEVIN BEAL DELIGHTED Dorking survived an early Westcombe Park onslaught to grind out a win in this end-to-end game where both teams ran in six tries. In fact, the winning score came from an 80th-minute penalty initially […] The post penalty seals it appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Hawks’ survival bid gets big boost

Henley Hawks ......49 Havant .....................38 ■By ALISTAIR BEYNON HENLEY Hawks secured a vital five-point victory over Havant in their bid to retain their National 2 East league status, with an excellent seven-try performance. The Hawks took an early lead when Max Brown smashed his way over the whitewash. However, Havant hit back when Will Perry […] The post Hawks’ survival bid gets big boost appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Adams helps plot huge win for Oaks

Old Albanians .......33 Sevenoaks .............39 ■By GEORGE DAVIS THIRTEENTH-PLACED Sevenoaks upset top-of-the-table chasers Old Albanians at Woollam’s Playing Field. An early score from Barney Stone put Sevenoaks ahead within a minute, with the visitors getting a second less than a minute later through Joshua Livett. However, the hosts soon responded through hooker Charlie Felckney in […] The post Adams helps plot huge win for Oaks appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Tales of the unexpected are wake-up call for Webb

■By BEN JAYCOCK Catch this: Henley scrum-half Leo Webb HENLEY scrum-half Leo Webb admits their campaign hasn’t gone to plan but insists the belief within the squad has never wavered as they battle to secure their National Two East status. The Hawks came into this weekend in 12th – having initially targeted a top-half finish […] The post Tales of the unexpected are wake-up call for Webb appeared first on The Rugby Paper.