Stourbridge 29(Tries: Freeman 2 (38, 44), Bressington (62), Sturdy (80). Cons: Bressington 3. Pen: Bressington (9).
Wharfedale 24 (Tries: Malherbe (6), Horsfall (20), Verity (75), A Baggett (79). Cons: Bedworth, A Baggett.
Wharfedale were first on the scoreboard with a 6th minute try from centre Chris Malherbe and his fellow centre Mark Bedworth added the extras. Three minutes later and Stourbridge were off the mark with an Ali Bressington penalty goal.
Wharfedale got a second try from left wing Simon Horsfall and led 12-3. Late in the half winger Martin Freeman went over for the home side and they trailed 12-8 at half time.
Four minutes into the second half and Freeman completed a double and Bressington converted and they led 15-12. On 62 minutes they went further ahead with Bressington going over and adding the conversion to make it 22-12.
Back came the Yorkshire side and flanker Hedley Verity, after a spell in the sin bin, went over on 75 minutes and when fly half Andrew Baggett went over and converted his own try they led 24-22 in injury time.
Stourbridge were not finished and nine minutes into injury time got a winning score from prop Adam Sturdy and Bressington added the extras.
Halifax 20 (Tries: Emmerson (18), Greenwood (48). Cons: Knowles 2. Pens: Knowles 2 (16, 68).
Redruth 39 (Tries: R Thirlby (5, 44, 80), Bright (71), P Thirlby (77). Cons: Hook 4. Pens: Hook 2 (31, 57).
Redruth took the lead when right wing Rob Thirlby went over for a 5th minute try and Michael Hook converted. Halifax were next to score with Joe Knowles putting over a penalty goal on 16 minutes. Two minutes later he converted a try from right wing Craig Emmerson and they led 10-7.
Just after the half hour mark Hook put over a penalty goal for the visitors and the sides went in level at the break.
Four minutes into the second half and Thirlby got his second try and Hook converted for 17-10. Four minutes later and Halifax were level again with the other wing Will Greenwood going over and Knowles converting.
Hook and Knowles exchanged penalty goal and after 69 minutes it was 20 all.
Three tries in the final 10 minutes turned the game as Redruth ended up 19 point winners. No 8 Mark Bright went over on 71 minutes the other Thirlby, Paul, went over two minutes later and Hook converted to make it 32-20. Rob Thirlby rounded off the win in injury time as he completed his hat trick and Hook again converted.
Manchester 30 (Tries: Bramhall (4), Rouse (13), Keep (17), Wainwright (27), Coulbeck (72). Con: S Rawlings. Pen: S Rawlings (75).
Nuneaton 19 (Tries: Peacock (21), Cull (26), Meek (78). Cons 2.
Manchester were in front after four minutes with scrum half James Bramhall going over and Scott Rawlings converting. Tries on 13 and 17 minutes from the back row pair of Dan Rouse and Jonathan Keep saw Manchester go 17-0 ahead.
Four minutes later and Nuneaton were off the mark with centre Jody Peacock going over and Gareth Cull added the extras. Five minutes later Cull went over for a try and they trailed by just five points. But a minute later they trailed by ten as fly half Richard Wainwright went over and it was the way it stayed till half time.
In the second half it took till the 72nd minute for the next score as Manchester went further ahead with full back Ben Coulbeck going over for 27-12. Rawlings missed the conversion but three minutes later put over a penalty goal.
Nuneaton did manage the final score of the game with new recruit Stephen Meek, right wing, going over on 78 minutes and Cull adding the conversion.
Esher 28 (Tries: Cormack (50), Hallett (62), Armitage (68). Cons: Hallett 2. Pens: Hallett 3 (1, 59, 72).
Henley Hawks 13 (Try: T Burns (21). Con: Burton. DG: Burton 2 (11, 40).
Report courtesy of Esher (David Page).
Esher opened the scoring after only one minute through a Neil Hallett penalty that sent him past the leagues points scoring record. It was though Henley who had everything to play for that produced 13 unanswered points that gave them some hope of staying in the promotion race. The points 2 drop goals by Mitch Burton a try by Tom Burns and converted by Burton. The drop goals signalled how desperate Henley were to get some points on the board. Esher played their part in the half but scorned several opportunities as the line beckoned.
On several occasions in the half it was hard to distinguish who was who as the shirts worn by both sets of players blended in to one and other. When a Henley forward was seen standing in our backline unnoticed by referee Gareth Copsey it was time to come up with plan ‘B’.
In the second half Esher changed to Red Shirts much to the delight of the massive crowd who could now at least spot the difference! Shirts or not Esher came out firing and put in a performance that gave Henley no hope what so ever. Territorially Esher had 80%, possession 65% as they put in a Champions performance in front of RFU President Mr Bob Rogers and the Worshipful Mayor of Elmbridge Councillor Victor Eldridge. Quite simply Esher were magnificent. An 18 minute spell blew Henley away. Firstly on 50 minutes Esher scored the first of three tries, from a trade mark line out and drive the Esher pack went into overdrive and smashed the Henley forwards away as the momentum took Esher over the line, skipper Duncan Cormack coming up with the ball. Hallett converted and Esher were now back in the game. Esher went for the jugular and on 59 minutes took the three point penalty with a Hallett kick. Three minutes later Hallett was on the try scorers list as he went over after some fine work by the Esher backs. Esher now led 18-13. The Esher backs for now playing for fun and on 68 minutes set up Esher’s third try. Bevon Armitage the find of the season swerved and danced his way over the try line, Hallett securing the conversion. The conversion put him one behind Jon Gregory’s record of 78 conversions in a season. Esher now led 25 points to 13 and Henley’s hopes were disappearing fast especially as the result from Launceston in Cornwall has the Cornish All Blacks well on top against Cambridge.
On 72 minutes Neil Hallett had the final word with a penalty that took his points tally for the season up to 382 and now just 22 behind the all time best of 404.
On the final whistle Esher’s largest crowd of the season went into frenzy mode. The Czech National Anthem sounded in honour of Ladi Vondrasek who was playing his last home game for Esher before he moves to Switzerland.
The trophy presentation then took place as the champagne corks popped and the league winner’s trophy was presented to Esher captain Duncan Cormack by the RFU President. The party began. Esher travel to Wharfedale next week for what will be their final game in National League Two as they go onto a journey into the unknown next season and National League One.
Harrogate 15 (Tries: Collins (48), Lancaster (72), Grey (75).
Blackheath 49 (Tries: Vaughan (4), Kellard (20), Neale 3 (35, 38, 67), Koberidge (57), Corker (64). Cons: Neale 7.
Comfortable away win for Blackheath at Harrogate running in seven converted tries with the home side replying with three of their own including two late on.
They were 28-0 ahead at the break with four first half tries including a brace for Full Back Frankie Neale.
Hooker Shane Collins pulled one back for Harrogate early in the second half but the visitors then ran in three more tries to pull even further ahead at 49-5. Neale converted all seven of the Blackheath tries.
In the final 10 minutes the home side did manage to cross the line a couple of times.
Bradford & Bingley 42 (Tries: Dixon (13), Hughes 2 (39, 69), Fakatou (58), Kirkby (78). Cons: Chalmers 4. Pens: Chalmers 3 (3, 46, 73).
Barking 30 (Tries: Rudgeley (22), De Klerk (29), Scott (52). Cons: De Klerk 3. Pens: De Klerk 3 (20, 43, 49).
Bradford & Bingley completed the double over Barking with this five try display with a late flourish after trailing 30-20 after 52 minutes.
Alistair Chalmers gave the home side a 3-0 lead with a 3rd minute penalty goal. 10 minutes later they were 10-0 ahead after centre Stuart Dixon went over and Chalmers converted.
Barking Full Back Tobias De Klerk got his side on the scoreboard with a 20th minute penalty goal and when he converted a try from Fly half Ian Rudgeley two minutes later it was all square.
Just before the half hour mark and Barking were in front as De Klerk went in for a try and converted to make it 17-10. Late in the half the home side got their second try and Richard Hughes playing Openside and Chalmers converted to level it up.
Two De Klerk penalty goals saw the visitors go 23-20 ahead with Chalmers putting g one over for the home side.
On 52 minutes Barking went 30-20 ahead after a try from left wing Tim Scott and De Klerk added the extras to make it six kicks form seven attempts during the afternoon.
Just before the hour mark The Bees were right back in it when No 8 Hesesia Fakatou went over for an unconverted try. They went ahead on 69 minutes when Hughes completed a double, Chalmers converted and then put over a penalty goal to make it 35-30. They wrapped up the game on 78 minutes when left wing Mark Kirkby went over and Chalmers converted to make it seven successful kicks from nine attempts on the day.
Cornish All Blacks 38 (Tries: Burnett (22), Lord (42), Birkett (72), Dibble (77), Clark (80). Cons: Young 2. Pens: Young 3 (10, 16, 52).
Cambridge 6 (Pens: Lewis 2 (5, 25).
The Cornish All Blacks secured promotion into National One after their win here and Esher beating Henley Hawks and denying them a bonus point.
It was a tight first half with the home side just edging it 11-6. Dafydd Lewis put over a couple of penalty goals for the visitors and Sam Young did the same for the All Blacks wit the difference a try from No 8 Nick Burnett.
Two minutes into the second half and the home side went 16-6 ahead with flanker Josh Lord going over. Young added a third penalty goal to make it 19-6. The rest of the tries did not come till late on as they made sure of second place by claiming the try bonus point. Full back Andy Birkett got the third try on 72 minutes and five minutes later Marc Dibble got the all important fourth to claim the bonus point. They wrapped up the win in injury time when replacement hooker Neil Clarke went over and with the news from Esher the home side could celebrate. |
