National League 2 North review
SEP
Birmingham & Solihull produced the result of the day – and the only away win of the weekend in the division – with a thumping 45-3 victory at Leicester Lions. Stung into action by an opening day defeat against Stourbridge, Bees ran in six tries – two of them to wing Rob Brown – to record an impressive bonus-point victory.
Home advantage held sway, though, in the remaining seven fixtures, including north-east derby wins for Hull Ionians – against city rivals Hull – and Darlington Mowden Park against Westoe. Each side picked up the bonus point for scoring four tries or more.
Ionians are one of five sides who boast a perfect 10-point start to the season after the first two rounds of action. Sitting top of the pile is Stourbridge who have only conceded 15 points to date. West Midlands rivals Dudley managed to post 10 against them on Saturday after scoring two tries, but the Saxons replied with six of their own in the first competitive meeting between the sides for 12 years which was watched by a 1,200-strong crowd.
Luctonians, Caldy and Otley all made it two wins from two with respective victories over Bromsgrove, Stockport and Huddersfield. Otley’s attacking intent was there for all to see at Cross Green on Saturday, with six tries and 45 points scored at home to ‘Field. Otley have now accrued 79 points – the best in the division – to indicate last season’s struggles are firmly behind them.
Drew Cheshire and Paul Hulland ran in two tries apiece for Luctonians against Bromsgrove, while Caldy withstood a second half fightback from Stockport to prevail.
Sheffield Tigers came back from 17-0 down after 25 minutes to beat Preston Grasshoppers 23-20 at Dore Moor. Tom Outram’s 13 points proved decisive for the hosts.
Round 2 results
Caldy 35 – 29 Stockport
Darlington Mowden Park 38 – 24 Westoe
Hull Ionians 27 – 22 Hull
Leicester Lions 3 – 45 Birmingham & Solihull
Luctonians 31 – 7 Bromsgrove
Otley 45 – 27 Huddersfield
Sheffield 23 – 20 Preston Grasshoppers
Stourbridge 44 – 10 Dudley Kingswinford
Round 3 fixtures
Birmingham & Solihull v Darlington Mowden Park
Stockport v Otley
Westoe v Sheffield Tigers
Preston Grasshoppers v Hull Ionians
Bromsgrove v Caldy
Dudley Kingswinford v Leicester Lions
Huddersfueld v Stourbridge
Hull v Luctonians
