Championship Weekend Review
A look back at the weekend's action in The Championship.
The weekend’s four re-arranged fixtures delivered late drama and points-a-plenty as we head into the business end of a tightly contested Championship season. Here’s a look back at how the action unfolded, as well as some of the key reaction from around the grounds. [photo credit: Dante K Photography].
Nottingham 31-41 Jersey Reds
Nottingham and Jersey Reds kicked off the weekend’s action on Friday evening, playing out a 12-try thriller that saw Jersey take a bonus point win at Lady Bay to briefly claim the top spot in the Championship table. The Reds started at lightning speed, with Ryan Olowofela and Steven Longwell both scoring tries within the first five minutes to give the visitors a 12-point lead. Nottingham responded swiftly, as Callum Allen finished off a stellar attacking sequence from the Archers. The two sides traded tries within minutes of each other. Hooker Harry Doolan, who became the first Jersey-born player to start a league game for the Reds in seven years, hit his man at the lineout and reclaimed the ball at the back of an unstoppable rolling maul. Minutes later, Nottingham flyer Harry Graham cut into the Reds’ 10-point lead with a sublime counter-attacking effort, breaking free down the wing with blazing pace. A last-ditch tap tackle from Reds fullback Brendan Owen brought Graham down and seemingly scuppered his try, but the Archers winger jumped up to his feet and scuttled over the line. Not long after the second half began, Doolan grabbed his second try off the back of another rolling maul. With 15 minutes to go, Jersey had a 10-point lead and emptied their subs bench looking to close the game. Two Nottingham tries in 13 minutes closed the gap to 31-34 with five minutes to play, but Reds’ replacement back-rower Wesley White crossed the line with the last play of the game to end a pulsating evening of rugby.
Richmond 24-24 Cornish Pirates
A hugely entertaining and nail-bitingly close game saw Richmond and Cornish Pirates come away with two points each at the RAG. The visitors dominated the first quarter, taking an early lead through Shae Tucker after Callum Sirker’s electric 60m sprint gave Pirates pack an excellent attacking platform. Pirates’ bruising forwards dominated once more, Tom Duncan driving over the line to double their lead. While the early momentum sat with the visitors a moment of brilliance saw Richmond centre James Kane break the steady Pirates defence, engineering a simple two on one before feeding James Lennon for an easy score. Minutes later, Richmond had the equaliser when back-rower Huw Worthington powered over. Richmond’s tails were up, and a yellow card to Pirates 6 Matt Bolwell further galvanised the hosts. They got their third try with a minute left in the first half as Championship top scorer Mark Bright finished off a mighty drive from the home side. Cornish were fired up after wasting an early advantage and responded with a score six minutes into the second half when Tom Duncan barrelled over for his second. In windy conditions Harry Bazalgette hit the post on a vital conversion and Pirates trailed by just two points. Richmond’s only points of the second half came from the boot of Kane, adding three to their lead. With less than 10 to go, Bolwell ruthlessly carried over the line to equalise, Bazalgette incredibly hit the post again to set up a suspenseful finish. More drama was in store for fans at the RAG when Richmond’s Kane attempted a monster 55m penalty, narrowly missing and ensuring both sides shared the points.
Doncaster Knights 24-0 Bedford Blues
Doncaster Knights recorded their sixth straight win in The Championship with a ruthless second half display against Bedford Blues. The two sides tussled in a quiet first half, trading possession and each side struggling to get the upper hand. Handling errors and breakdown infringements hindered both teams, with referee Nick Wood penalising each team for numerous transgressions at the scrum. With almost 30 minutes gone, Doncaster got their first of three tries. The Knights made good ground with a powerful rolling maul, as hooker George Roberts popped the ball to fly-half Billy McBryde who dove over the try line.
A yellow card for Maliq Holden five minutes from halftime gave Bedford an opportunity to level the score before the break, but the Knights’ defence stood their ground and ensured their side kept the lead. As Holden returned from his yellow, the Blues received one of their own as Joey Conway was shown to the sin-bin. Alex Dolly extended Doncaster’s lead to 10 with a penalty. Joe Margetts stretched the gap five minutes later, his centre partner Conor Edwards popping the ball inside for a simple run in after a fizzing pass from McBryde missed out two players. With the win seemingly sealed for Doncaster, Dolly rushed out of the defensive line and intercepted a Bedford pass, feeding McBryde who ran in for his second score to secure a decisive victory at Castle Park.
Hartpury University 14-33 Ealing Trailfinders
League leaders Ealing continued their winning run, beating a Hartpury side who came into the match with a six-game unbeaten run of their own. The West Londoners started hard and fast, winning an early penalty and kicking for touch and a lineout in Hartpury’s 22. Ealing’s pack drove for the line repeatedly, until Rayn Smid powered over to open the scoring. Minutes later, another penalty from Hartpury gave Trailfinders ample possession in the home side’s 22. It was Bobby de Wee who punished Hartpury this time, and with less than 10 minutes gone Ealing had a comfortable 14-point lead. A third try came almost instantly, as Angus Kernohan sprinted through a gap in the Hartpury defence, offloading to Lewis Thiede to stroll over the try line unopposed. The opening exchanges echoed the reverse fixture on the first weekend of the season when Ealing posted a 54-20 win against Hartpury. However, determined not to replicate that scoreline, the visitors hit back at Ealing and hammered their line and earning multiple penalties, but lacked efficiency and couldn’t turn possession into points. The home side’s first score finally came from Harry Short, who converted a well-won lineout into five points, making it 7-28 at the break. In a back and forth second-half, Hartpury played with intent and spent more time in Ealing’s 22, with little to show for it, however. Ealing’s defence contained the West Country side, and finally put the icing on the cake after 68 minutes; Max Northcote-Green scoring after the Trailfinders pack muscled their way towards the line off a lineout, sealing the victory and their spot at the top of The Championship.