National League 2 review from South & North
MAR
Only two games apiece were possible in SSE National League Two South and North as last weekend’s arctic weather played havoc with the fixture list.
Thankfully Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash at the Northern Echo Arena between third-placed Darlington Mowden Park and leaders Stourbridge got the go-ahead, with a healthy crowd of over 600 spectators braving the freezing conditions. They were rewarded with a 14-9 victory for the home side who became the first side this season to keep Stourbridge try-less.
Ralph Appleby’s converted try to two penalties from goal-kicking winger James Hearn gave DMP a 7-6 interval lead. After a scoreless third quarter, Grant Connon converted his own try to make it 14-6 to the hosts before a third penalty from Hearn, right at the death, saw the Saxons leave the north east with the consolation of a losing bonus point. Stourbridge now hold an eight-point lead over Hull Ionians who have a game in hand.
At the other end of the table Westoe gave their survival chances a boost with a 19-17 home win over Bromsgrove. Tries from back-row duo, Joe McKenzie and Scott Powell, and one from prop and captain Gareth Nesbit plus Matthew Mellish’s two conversions saw the Shieldsmen to a victory that sees them lie seven points adrift of Dudley Kingswinford and safety.
Mark Woodrow rescued Dings Crusaders from defeat, with his 79th-minute penalty earning the Bristol outfit a 16-14 success over Redruth. Dings were in command at 13-0 up thanks to a try from Matt Hudd and two penalties and a conversion from the diminutive playmaker, but a 30th-minute try from scrum-half Greg Goodfellow, converted by Paul Thirlby, closed the gap to just six points at the break. The game swung in the visitors’ favour when Dings lost hooker Dave Wheeler to the sin-bin, Reds winger Dean Bonds taking advantage of the extra space to score a try in the corner that Thirlby again improved. However Dings battled until the bitter end and their efforts were rewarded with Woodrow’s late kick.
Fourteen points from the boot of full-back Rob Kirby and a try from centre Chris Vaughan earned Southend a 19-11 win at home to Canterbury. A four-game winning run has seen the Essex side move seven points clear of the two-team relegation zone with eight games to go.
National League 2 North
Round 26 Results
Darlington Mowden Park 14 - 9 Stourbridge
Westoe 19 - 17 Bromsgrove
Round 27 Fixtures
Leicester Lions Vs. Darlington Mowden Park 14:00
Stockport Vs. Dudley Kingswinford 14:00
Luctonians Vs. Westoe 14:15
Bromsgrove Vs. Birmingham & Solihull 15:00
Caldy Vs. Preston Grasshoppers 15:00
Hull Vs. Huddersfield 15:00
Otley Vs. Hull Ionians 15:00
Stourbridge Vs. Sheffield Tigers 15:00
National League 2 South
Round 26 Results
Southend 19 - 11 Canterbury
Dings Crusaders 16 - 14 Redruth
Round 27 Fixtures
Launceston Vs. Bournemouth
Chinnor Vs. Henley 14:30
Hartpury College Vs. Dings Crusaders 14:30
Barking Vs. Taunton Titans 15:00
Canterbury Vs. Clifton 15:00
Redruth Vs. Shelford 15:00
Worthing Vs. Southend 15:00
