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Tigers claw onto bonus point as hosts triumph

■By JON MEADOWS B Moseley ..............22 Sedgley Park ........20 SEDGLEY survived a frantic ending to hold onto a bonus point and by doing so prevented Birmingham Moseley securing a try bonus point, both may prove vital come the end of the season. The home side opened the scoring with Freddie Painter on hand to run […] The post Tigers claw onto bonus point as hosts triumph appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Albion run riot as showdown looms

■By PADDY MARSH Plymouth Albion ..60 Rams ........................26 PLYMOUTH Albion moved to within one point of Rotherham at the top with a comprehensive victory over Rams in front of a huge Brickfields crowd. Next weekend’s clash between the two will go a long way to deciding the National One title. Rams were first on the […] The post Albion run riot as showdown looms appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Marfo’s milestone day capped by win

■By CHARLIE WHITE Rosslyn Park .........43 Clifton ......................40 ROSSLYN Park secured a thrilling victory over Clifton to stay within reach of the top four, in a match that also marked Benjio Marfo’s 150th game for the club. Clifton started strongly and took the lead when Oliver Stirling dived over from close range, with Tom Quinlan […] The post Marfo’s milestone day capped by win appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Digby balances teaching dream with Park’s bid for the top three

■By CHRIS COLLYER ROSSLYN Park back-row forward Jack Digby says National One is reminiscent of his time in the Australian club scene. Despite currently studying to become a teacher after dropping out of a full-time environment in 2024, rugby is still very much Digby’s passion. The 29-year-old spent three seasons with Doncaster Knights and Ealing […] The post Digby balances teaching dream with Park’s bid for the top three appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Ollie at double to lead Dale to win in a thriller

By SIMON RAVENS Wharfedale.... 43 Hull..................... 31 Wharfedale dominated the early exchanges, with prop Jake Armstrong going over after 13 minutes. ON a perfect day for running rugby, Wharefdale and Hull duly delivered a high-scoring encounter. Ollie Cicognini, who was a running threat all afternoon, added a second try ten minutes later. Both were converted […] The post Ollie at double to lead Dale to win in a thriller appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

DMP left stunned by Fylde try blitz

■By IAN MORRIS Darlington MP.......38 Fylde.........................52 FYLDE went one better than the draw in the first meeting with a handsome win at Darlington Mowden Park. Despite an opening period of dominance by DMP, it was Fylde who opened the scoring through a fine breakaway by Sam Parker, converted by Will Hunt. Mowden were unable to […] The post DMP left stunned by Fylde try blitz appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Hoppers’ hopes of safety boosted

Otley...........................11 Preston G.................29 ■By NICK DOYLE PRESTON Grasshoppers took a big leap towards avoiding relegation with a bonus point win against Otley. Otley started well when they nicked the ball on their try-line and got up to the opposition 22, where Joe Rowntree hit a successful penalty. But Otley were giving away too many penalties, […] The post Hoppers’ hopes of safety boosted appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Hooker Haigh is hero with hat-trick

■By BRIAN TILLEY Tynedale...........36pts Macclesfield....14pts AN excellent performance in gusty conditions saw Tynedale outgun Macclesfield to put themselves in the driving seat for a promotion play-off place. Three first-half tries from hooker Ben Haigh paved the way for a hard-earned win which thrilled Tynedale director of rugby Peter Southern. He said: “I was delighted with […] The post Hooker Haigh is hero with hat-trick appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Quick start enough to give Dale a winning edge

■By AVUYILE SAWULA Rossendale............ 29 Billingham..............24 A STRONG first-half performance saw Rossendale clinch victory against Billingham in Rawtenstall. The home side were clinical early on and opened the scoring in the eighth minute when George Stephens barged over. His try was converted by Finn Rogers. Both sides were dealt a massive blow after that as […] The post Quick start enough to give Dale a winning edge appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Hooper’s treble leads try-fest win

■By RORY MORROW Scunthorpe ............ 31 Sheffield .................55 SHEFFIELD overcame Scunthorpe in a try-fest with Christian Hooper helping himself to a hat-trick for the free-flowing visitors. They set the pace early on, scoring through Hooper and Felix Crapper to establish an early 14-point lead, with Callum Posa converting. Scunthorpe retaliated with a quickfire one-two of […] The post Hooper’s treble leads try-fest win appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Smith sinks Tigers right at the death

■By ANDREW SMITH Sheffield Tigers ...23 Hull Ionians ...........24 A LAST-GASP Ben Smith penalty gave Hull Ionians the narrowest of victories in a thrilling finale. The late score ended an impressive unbeaten home run for the Tigers which stretched back to mid-October. The visitors made an instant impactas wing Will Wood found space to cross […] The post Smith sinks Tigers right at the death appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

It’s 400 up – no ordinary Joe keeps it in the family

■By BEN JAYCOCK 400 not out: Brothers Pete and Joe Evans BILLINGHAM No.8 Joe Evans feels reaching 400 appearances for the club was a proud moment for the entire Evans family after celebrating the milestone alongside brother Peter last month. The long-serving forward brought up the landmark in front of friends and relatives at Greenwood […] The post It’s 400 up – no ordinary Joe keeps it in the family appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Students succeed but Marks drops in a hard test

nBy FYNLEE HATELEY L’ghboro S....... 54 Barnstaple.......40 LOUGHBOROUGH won to earn a much-needed win, despite an Arthur Marks-inspired effort from Barnstaple. Visitors Barnstaple began intently, forging a 14-point lead in a minute less, with tries from Marks and George Snell. Loughborough winger George Worthington then opened his side’s scoring, with a deft, 16h-minute finish. The […] The post Students succeed but Marks drops in a hard test appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Patient Hornets go Pointon to Patten

By WILLIAM HEAVER Old Redcliffians....27 Hinckley..................33 SECOND-half scores from George Patten and Ben Pointon secured Hinckley an away win, despite Old Redcliffians’ persistent pressing. Hinckley were off to a flyer, as winger Travis Bennett-Alcock dived over with only 60 seconds on the clock. The home side responded rapidly, though, with reliable full-back Finn Murphy grounding […] The post Patient Hornets go Pointon to Patten appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Vickery’s trickery nicks Horn victory

By ADAM CLEARY Lymm........................26 Hornets.....................32 HORNETS recorded an impressive bonus-point comeback, finished by Connor Vickery’s stylish winning-try. The hosts made a fast start and took the lead after just six minutes, when winger Patrick Jennings crossed. Thomas Shard’s conversion was successful, as Lymm held an early 7-0 lead. Lymm’s fast start continued and they got […] The post Vickery’s trickery nicks Horn victory appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Table-toppers Vakalutukali isopened as Titans’ key

By BILL HOOPER Camborne..........31pts Taunton T..........38pts Held: Camborne’s Alex Ducker is tackled by Freddy Elliott and, right, Ratu Vakalutukali on the attack for Taunton Titans PICTURES: Simon Bryant TAUNTON Titans put a sizeable spanner in Camborne’s hopes of promotion, with Ratu Vakalutukali’s late try capping an impressive display. The Titans, who completed a season’s double-win […] The post Table-toppers Vakalutukali isopened as Titans’ key appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Lucs don’t look back in relentlesstry-scoring rally

By DESMOND HICKIE Chester.....................28 Luctonians..............55 LUCTONIANS railed to stretch a one-point lead to a comfortable final score-line at beaten-hosts Chester. Connor Scrivens’ sin-binning, on the hour mark, proved to be a turning point, as he left the field with Lucs a single point ahead. The visitors had started the stronger, but Chester emerged into an […] The post Lucs don’t look back in relentlesstry-scoring rally appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Reds hit back as Rovery takes over

■By JOSH THOMAS Redruth ................... 31 Cinderford .............. 19 CHRIS Rovery helped his Redruth side return to winning ways, with two tries in a bonus-point victory over visitors Cinderford. The Gloucestershire outfit, buoyant from their triumph over Chester two weeks ago, had stunned the hosts early on. They took advantage of Luke Barnes’ early yellow […] The post Reds hit back as Rovery takes over appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Woodman works to craft slick finish

■By ANDY WARD Syston .....................14 Exeter Uni ...............22 HARRY Woodman’s history-making try gave Exeter University the win, in their first ever visit to Syston. Exeter hit first on the scoreboard, having moved the ball from side-to-side and seeing Josh Golden Clark dot down after 16 minutes. A free-kick at the scrum then saw Syston marched […] The post Woodman works to craft slick finish appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Reds’ Edd is dead keen to lock in on his redemption

■By BEN JAYCOCK Positive thinker: Redruth lock Edd Pascoe REDRUTH lock Edd Pascoe stresses the Cornish side are determined to end their National Two West season strongly despite enduring a campaign that has not gone to plan. Redruth entered this weekend in 10th, but Pascoe believes there have still been positives to take from a […] The post Reds’ Edd is dead keen to lock in on his redemption appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Raiders unbraced for pace of dogged Wolfpack

By ANDREW HERLIHY Bury St Eds.......69 Guernsey..........14 BURY St Edmunds produced a clinical, ruthless and all-round thrilling performance, to consign Guernsey to a heavy away defeat. Bury hit like lightning, with 11 tries, and were equally robust in defence. Patrick Robinson marked his return from a long injury lay-off with a third-minute try, before Euan […] The post Raiders unbraced for pace of dogged Wolfpack appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Howe and Webb play to the whistle

By JOHN VALLELY Westcombe P......... 19 Henley Hawks.......25 LEO Webb’s individual brilliance and Toby Howe’s kicking both helped Henley Hawks to a much-needed away win at Westcombe Park. In a scrappy opening-phase, Combe hit first after a third successive line-out drive was finished by Nick Cook. Howe sent the conversion wide but, when Combe were […] The post Howe and Webb play to the whistle appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Pedlar’s on the gas in last-gasp score

By HECTOR VICKERS Esher.........................41 Old Albanians........34 ANTHONY Pedlar’s late try saw Old Albanians suffer a huge blow to their title bid, with grateful hosts Esher sealing the win. Owen Waters took a while to get firing after missing both kicks from Jacob Morris and James Botterill’s tries. He couldn’t miss the third, after Pierre Thompson’s […] The post Pedlar’s on the gas in last-gasp score appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Jack and Joel climb up the hill and home

By DOUG MILLER Havant............... 48pts Barnes................38pts HAVANT clawed back from 21 points down, to inflict defeat on Barnes and lift themselves to eighth in the table. Joel Knight, with a faultless kicking display and Star Player Jack Colbourne, full of vigour and drive, led the fightback from the front. Barnes took territorial control early on […] The post Jack and Joel climb up the hill and home appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Breeze has cool hands as Exiles

By JONATHAN SHANKLAND London Welsh........22 Canterbury.............. 21 LONDON Welsh earned a nail-biting home win over Canterbury, with Harry Breeze’s 79thminute try. Welsh looked lively from the off but were thwarted by organised Canterbury’s defence. An even opening ended with James Walker sneaking over, before Frank Reynolds coolly converted. Welsh soon found scrum-dominance, and lofted a […] The post Breeze has cool hands as Exiles appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

storm to victory

The visitors took the lead in the 71st minute, with Charlie McGovern’s try, as the rolling maul again came to the fore. Rapturous Canterbury celebrations seemed inevitable. Cometh the hour, however, cometh the man for Welsh. With only a minute left, Breeze dashed in from close-range – teeing up Hodgson to coolly convert – snatching […] The post storm to victory appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Ound worth rises with Ox changed

By PETER CROOT Oundle ..................... 71 Oxford H .................. 21 OUNDLE kept up the pace on the table’s top two, with a thumping home display and half-century defeat of Oxford Harlequins. Harlequins hit first, as Ben Vernede chased a loose ball to score, before Ollie Brian added the extras. Oundle struck back quickly with Rian […] The post Ound worth rises with Ox changed appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Trouble King joins Coyle with double

By COILIN DUFFY Sevenoaks .............14 Dorking ................... 44 momentum. BRACES both for Jasper King and Max Coyle earned Dorking a convincing 30-point victory over Sevenoaks. The hosts hit Knole Paddock hard, intent on further pushing into the table’s top-half, and soon imposed themselves on the field’s top-half as well. King struck inside two minutes and […] The post Trouble King joins Coyle with double appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

Heroic fly-half Reynolds bets keen Canter to a marvel finish

News By BEN JAYCOCK CANTERBURY fly-half Frank Reynolds is aiming for a big finish to the National Two East season with his side rediscovering their form in the second half of the campaign. They came into this weekend fifth, a position Reynolds admits did not look likely after an inconsistent start to the season. A […] The post Heroic fly-half Reynolds bets keen Canter to a marvel finish appeared first on The Rugby Paper.

YOUNG GUNS

GEORGENEWMAN POSITION AND TEAM Exeter Chiefs and England U20s scrum-half George Newman possesses devastating speed – a trait that has quickly marked him out as one of the most exciting young nines coming through the English pathway. The 19-year-old has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign making his debuts for club and country with his first Exeter […] The post YOUNG GUNS appeared first on The Rugby Paper.