Old Scouts extended their winning run to six as they hung on for a deserved 13-12 win against Market Harborough.
Although playing the better rugby throughout, Scouts did not take the lead until just 15 minutes from the end. Their set-piece and composure in defence allowed them to stay in control.
It was the visitors who eventually took the lead midway through the first half, after a puzzling penalty decision given against Scouts under their own posts.
Then for the next 20minutes the game just happened with both sides waiting for each other to do something to spark life into it.
However, right on half-time, Harborough kicked their second penalty to take a slender 6-0 lead into the interval.
Scouts re-grouped at half-time as Richard Bussey and Jordan Dolman began to take charge up front and get behind the opposition carrying the ball well, allowing Scouts to start building phases.
An Adam Frost penalty on 10 minutes got them onto the scoreboard, only to be cancelled out with another penalty kick for the visitors.
Then again, another Frost penalty followed by another quick reply for Harborough made it 12-6.
However, as Scouts felt comfortable getting on top of the game, a cross kick from Frost was well gathered by Tony Morrison and although out wide, Frost slotted the extras to push Scouts into the lead for the first time.
As Scouts worked hard in defence, they kept out a spirited final onslaught from Harborough and took away a well deserved league.
Daventry up to sixth as Heath hat-trick sinks Mens Own
James Heath scored a hat-trick of tries as Daventry beat Mens Own 38-19 to move up to sixth in the Midlands Division Three East (South) table.
It was the All Blacks’ fourth league win in a row, with further tries coming from Jason Mills (2) and Ricky Haynes, and Heath kicking four of six conversions to finish the match with an impressive 21 points.
But Daventry were made to work for their win.
Own started the day strongly and were in control of the game for the opening 20 minutes, but last-ditch errors saw them with no points on the board and it was Daventry who made them pay with two converted tries inside the space of 10 minutes from Mills and Heath.
Own hit back with a try of their own from Stuart Brown, converted by Brace as Daventry led 14-7 at half-time.
Daventry coach Toby Johnson shuffled things around at the break.
Antony Baker came off for Lee Cresswell in the second row which bolstered the scrummage, and Chris Appleby was brought on in the centre, with Haynes switching to fly-half .
This move was intended to sharpen the All Blacks attack, and it worked as the home side scored four tries in the second half.
There were two more from Heath, another from Mills and one from Haynes, who ran from deep and broke two tackles to score.
Prop Shannon Thomson also had a try disallowed, while a Heath penalty hit the crossbar.
Own responded with second-half tries from Alex Cairns and Steve Driver, the latter converted by Brace.
It was a poor performance fron Own, who made a lot of mistakes and they will look to make amends at Stockwood Park on Saturday.
Daventry are also in league action when they entertain Rushden & Higham.
Second-half slump so costly for BBOB
A desperately poor second half performance condemned bb to a 19-7 home defeat against bottom club Biggleswade. BB led 7-0 at the break thanks to a 15th-minute try that saw BB put a penalty in the corner and rumble the lineout over. Tighthead Colin Gardner was given the score and Olly James converted. Biggleswade started the second half well and eventually went into a 12-7 lead thanks to four penalties. Biggleswade sealed it with a last-minute try, kicking the conversion from the touchline.
Super Symonds leads Tows to comfortable win
George Symonds led Towcestrians’ try onslaught as they won 43-7 at struggling Loughborough. Tows scored five first-half tries, with one from Symonds and the others from full-back Matt Yuill, Aaron Goodman, Dave Stocks and Nicky Blackham. Symonds crossed for his second early in the second half, while Sam Sturley scored the team’s seventh in the closing stages to top a commanding performance.
Heathens produce best showing of season to beat Olney
Heathens produced their best performance of the season as they beat Olney IIIs 29-19.
Olney opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a converted try.
This was matched on 20 minutes when number eight Pete Evans drove over from the base of a five metre scrum with scrum-half Gavin Cottrell adding the extras.
The Artizan-based Heathens then increased their lead on 26 minutes when stand off and skipper Dan Stonehouse crossed for a try following some good forward driving play.
The hosts were not to be outdone and added a second converted try to retake the lead with the last play of the half and five minutes of injury time having elapsed to leave the score at 14-12 in Olney’s favour at the break.
The second half continued with Heathens defence proving to be more effective this game than earlier in the season which restricted Olney’s attacking ambitions.
Heathens second row Ash Brown then retook the lead on 56 minutes with an unconverted score.
The lead was further increased on 61 minutes when a heel against the head saw the moved down the line for winger Wayne Stride for a try that went unconverted.
The result was then put in doubt when Olney secured an unconverted try on 65 minutes that narrowed the gap to three points.
This was a signal for the Heathens forwards to increase the pressure in the scrummages that allowed them to close on the Olney try line.
Wayne Stride was put over only for the score to be rightly disallowed however the pressure was maintained and in the second minute of added time centre Andy Ingate crossed for a score that Cottrell duly converted and saw Heathens run out 29-19 victors.
It’s easy for ONs as they book place in last four
The ONs moved into the semi-final of the Alliance Cup beating Mens Own under the NSB lights.
ONs scored 14 tries, with four coming from Kieran O’Connor. With the score at 99-5 and the consent of both captains, the referee stopped the game 20 minutes from time.
 |  |