Check out all the action from the weekend.
Sutton & Epsom 12 (Tries: Newman, Devonport. Con: Frost.)
Havant 9 (Pens: Claffey 3.)
What a difference a week makes as Sutton overturn a 68-0 loss at Havant with a narrow three point success.
Report courtesy of Roger Boydell. (Havant).
After a convincing performance against the same opponents last weekend, Hav turned in a lacklustre performance, failing to score a try for only the second time this season.
It was dry and bright with a breeze blowing from right to left when viewed from the small stand.
Hav had to make changes in the backs with Anton Petzer being injured last weekend, Nick Cooper moved to full-back and Owen Jones came in to the centre. Captain Jon Barfoot returned to open-side after missing two weeks through injury and Nick Allica returned to the second row after his visit 'down under'.
Sutton kicked off with the breeze and it was obvious from the outset that this wasn't going to be a repeat of last week's one-sided contest! The Hav pack, which formed the platform for last week's success, were immediately put under pressure in their own 22 and after only 5 minutes found themselves driven back over the line for an S&E try which was converted to make it 0-7. Surely this should have been a 'wake-up call', but it wasn't! Hav struggled to find a rhythm and although they can't be accused of not competing they were being given as good as they got from a side that was more 'up for it'. Thanks to some good line kicking from Sid Claffey, Hav did manage to find their way into the S&E 22 and won a penalty following the line-out as S&E were caught coming in from the side as Hav drove forward. Sid Claffey converted the kick from just inside the 22, and left of the posts, to make it 3-7 and 21 minutes gone. Scrum half Liam Davenport had been struggling for a while with an eye injury and on 24 minutes he had to leave the field. Dave Jones moved to Scrum Half and Leighton Davies came on into the centre. There wasn't really much more to write about in the first half as neither side put any real co-ordinated phases together and the referee seemed to have forgotten about 'advantage'. However just before half-time, Hav were able to close the gap as Sid converted a penalty given for offside to make it 6-7.
Surely the half-time team talk would galvanise Hav into the team that had won its last eleven league games, were driving for promotion, and were now to play with the breeze? All we had to do was play it tight, cut-out the errors and make sure that tackles count! So what happened? After only 5 minutes of the new half, Hav win the ball on half way, give it away to the S&E left wing who ran through some ineffective tackles and over the line to make it 6-12, as an easy conversion was missed. 3 minutes later Hav closed the gap again as Sid kicked over his third penalty to make it 9-12. Despite not playing well, Hav were still in touch, and surely there was time for the team to start playing! But the Hav faithful who made the trip were to be disappointed. There were no further scores! S&E came closest to scoring another try as their forwards drove for the line from a 5 metre scrum on 35 minutes, but Hav held out. Sid did have a couple of attempts to level the score with long distance penalties, both of which fell just short; the last being in the dying minutes of the game from 45 metres.
Old Albanians 35 (Tries: Panting 3, Reid, Burger. Cons: Turner 2. Pens: Turner 2.)
Staines 8 (Try: Hurst. Pen: Davies.)
Much needed home success for Old Albanians but a result that leaves Staines needing to record some wins in their last three matches to get away from the relegation zone.
Staines went ahead in the 6th minute when scrum half Tony Hurst went over for a try but a brace of tries from home wing Ed Panting saw his side take control and by half time they were 20-8 ahead. Panting went over in the 17th and 25th minutes whilst in injury time at the end of the half Phil Reid went over for the third home try. The scoring was not finished in the half as seven minutes into injury time Roland Davies kicked a penalty for Staines.
Five minutes into the second half and Panting completed his hat trick as the home side pulled away for a comfortable home win.
The match saw six players receive yellow cards, three from each side.
Worthing 10 (Try: Firkin. Con: Firkin. DG: Firkin.)
Bishops’s Stortford 5 (Try: Lotter.)
Low scoring match, which the home side won and moved up a place in the Powergen London One league table.
The first half ended scoreless and we had to wait till the 51st minute before the first score of the match. It went to the visitors with hooker Jacques Lotter going over for an unconverted try. The home side were in front 10 minutes later when John Firkin went over for a try and added the conversion for a narrow 7-5 lead. Firkin had the final say when he dropped a 68th minute goal.
Canterbury 13 (Try: Harris. Con: Pilcher. Pens: Pilcher 2.)
London Nigerian 28 (Tries: Grant 2, Paget. Cons: Kydd 2. Pens: Kydd 3.)
Good away win for London Nigerian against a Canterbury side who slip to a fourth home defeat.
The home side went 6-0 ahead with Sean Pilcher slotting over a couple of penalty goals in the opening 27 minutes.
In the second half the visitors took control with No 8 Simon Paget getting over the home line after just two minutes. They took the lead four minutes later when Jason Kydd slotted over a penalty goal for an 8-6 lead. The game changed when flanker Michael Grant went over for two tries in five minutes and with Kydd converting both they were 22-6 ahead after 65 minutes.
Kydd kept the scoreboard ticking over with a penalty and a drop goal before Canterbury had the final score of the match.
It came from centre Andy Harris in the 78th minute but the game was out of their reach by then and the visitors took the points.
Thanet Wanderers 18 (Tries: McArdle, Roby. Con: Roby. Pens: Roby 2.)
Hertford 54 (Tries: Church 2, Justice 2, Hesketh 2, Igolen-Robinson, West. Cons: Barella 4. Pens: Barella 2.)
Champions in waiting Hertford were comfortable winners after a tight first half, which saw the visitors just 15-13 ahead.
Thanet went into a 13-0 lead with Neil Roby slotting over a couple of early penalty goals and then centre Matt McArdle going over for a try on 18 minutes which Roby converted.
Hertford then got into their game and on 25 minutes flanker Dave Hesketh got a try, which Neil Barella converted, and then Barella added a penalty goal. Just before half time they went ahead with winger Richard Justice getting his 13th try of the season.
In the second half it was one-way traffic as the visitors took control running in six tries to pass the 50 point mark and go a step closer to National League rugby.
Camberley 56 (.)
Harlow 15 (.)
No information available yet.
|
