National One round-up

Tom Little’s review of the rest of last weekend’s National League One action

Birmingham Moseley                16        20         Plymouth Albion         attendance               475

Cambridge                                     6        15         Caldy                                                                390

Darlington Mowden Park           0        42          Coventry Rugby                   highest           1879

Hull Ionians                                 27        26           Rosslyn Park                         lowest            127

THERE were only four catch-up fixtures last Saturday, but they included two results impacting heavily on both ends of the table. Leaders Coventry Rugby increased their advantage at the top to 26 points with a comprehensive defeat of their nearest challengers Darlington Mowden Park, who saw their lead over third-placed P[ymouth Albion cut to six points. Hull Ionians moved out of the bottom three with a late winner against Rosslyn Park.

In a closely-fought encounter, Plymouth Albion travelled to Birmingham Moseley and came away with a narrow victory after trailing 11-5 at half-time. Moseley were leading 16-5 until two late tries by Exeter dual registered centre Tom Hendrickson gave Albion the steal. The win was enough to move Albion above Ampthill into third place, six points behind DMP with a game in hand.

Another team to come from behind and win was Caldy ,who travelled to Cambridge and came away  with a narrow victory. Plenty of possession in the first half saw the home side with only a narrow six-point lead due to a combination of poor finishing and good Caldy defence. Caldy’s confidence grew in the second half despite an early flurry by Cambridge, and the visitors sealed the win with a late try. The win moves Caldy 15 points away from the danger zone and they are now surely safe, whilst Cambridge drop down to 12th but are still 11 points from the relegation places.

Perhaps the most dramatic saw Hull Ionians gain a crucial home victory over Rosslyn Park. With both sides trying to escape the prospect of relegation, it was always going to be a tight and nervous affair. The game, and indeed scores, ebbed and flowed throughout with Park having a narrow half-time advantage of 12-10. The second half saw a continuation with Park having the late advantage until two minutes from time when home pressure produced the winning drop goal from Greg Lound. After many months the win moves Hull Ionians out of the relegation zone, just one place and two points above Loughborough Students, who have a game in hand. With Park getting two bonus points they move up two to tenth place, now ten points clear of the bottom three.