Mens Own boosted their chances of avoiding the drop as they picked up a well-earned bonus point in a 24-17 defeat to Rushden & Higham.
Own were denied the option of selection of six of the first team squad due to unavailability but the 17-man squad that was selected produced a gutsy performance.
With 2 props unavailable captain Craig Wilson had to move over to prop and coach Ben Briddon came in at hooker, Ben’s first game back after breaking his arm several weeks ago.
Joe Huckerby played in the second row and put in a good performance. The backs had to be shuffled around which saw Harry Hill on the wing, Jamie Stiff at centre and Sam Bucknall at full-back.
Own were up to the game from the off but a bit of slack tackling on 12min saw Rushden get a converted try for a 7-0 lead.
With the pack putting in a powerful performance after several drives for the Rushden line it was scrum-half John Wootton who crossed the line on 18 minutes to make it 7-5.
Nigel Jones replaced the injured Sam Bucknall on 38 minutes and the first half ended 7-5.
The second half started badly for Own with Rushden scoring an unconverted try after two minutes.
The score was locked at 12-5 for the next 20 minutes with Own battling hard particularly in the forwards.
This was rewarded with a Ben Briddon try converted by Matt Brace to level the score at 12-12.
Rushden took the lead on 70 minutes with a try to make it 19-12.But Own hit back minutes later and Nick Brown went over to make it 19-17 and ensure an exciting finish.
Both sides battled hard in the closing stages but it was Rushden who got the last points of the day with a try to seal victory.
Tows pip Peterborough in thriller
Towcestrians came out on top of a thrilling Midlands One East encounter as they pipped Peterborough 39-33 at Greens Norton Road.
Tows were quickly into their stride as Harry Hopewell crossed to open the scoring.
Celebrations did not last however as Tows’ charismatic captain Liam Wilkinson was rushed to hospital for not the first time this season, this time with a broken cheek bone.
It was now Peterborough’s chance to make their mark in the game. They scored a try from centre Vernon Horne, successfully converted by Joe Andre Sen.
Tows then got back in charge through a Nicky Blackman break who then released Gus Hopewell to score.
Quickly after this Tows forwards squeezed out a Penalty try from a scrum. Both of these tries were converted by James Falvey.
Peterborough again fought back as there battle with relegation pushed forwards, full-back Sen speeding down the wing to neatly release borough hooker Dewi Pierce to score a try just before the half-time whistle.
Borough had a two-point lead going into the break.
The second half started with Tows very much in control of the game, a Marc Yeates try created by David Williams putting Tows back ahead.
The Tows lead was short lived however due to another try from Peterborough centre Horne, the conversion putting the visitors back into the lead.
Tows where then awarded a penalty to get ahead, however the penalty agonizingly hit the bare.
Tows luck then turned in their favour as Chrissie George pounced on a loose ball and Joyfully ran in.
A penalty from Falvey then put Tows seven points clear at 32-25.
Borough fought back to level the scores, this was created by a break from fly-half Ben Chan, who ghosted through the Tows defence to score.
With the final whistle looming Tows had one more chance to win the game.
This was taken by Matt Yuill as Tows saw the game through with a converted try.
Tows IIs went down to only their third loss of the season at the hands of Kettering, losing 20-19.
There was better news for Tows IIIs, who beat Vauxhall 22-15 while the colts lost 42-15 to Bedford Blues colts.
Dan’s the man for ONs
Man-of-the-match Dan Napier scored two tries as Old Northamptonians secured a 24-12 Midlands One East win at Market Rasen & Louth.
The ONs kicked off in almost perfect conditions and had much the better of the early exchanges.
Alex Rose slid a penalty narrowly wide,a chance was wasted when the throw into a lineout close to the Rasen line was not straight and after a strong run by Matt Love, his pass found Jake Spencer but he was held up over the line.
A harsh yellow card reduced the ONs to 14 and with their first meaningful attack the home side took the lead.
A well-executed backs move saw full-back Matt Sutton go over close to the posts and he converted before the ONs immediately hit back.
A rolling maul marched Rasen back fully 20 metres and when the ball was released Spencer powered in and Rose added the two points to bring the scores level.
As half-time approached Richard Blank broke through the middle, the attack was continued by Spencer and Tom Holliday and the defence was further stretched as the ball was moved to the right and then back across field with Napier finishing and Rose again converting to take the score to 14-7.
The third try quickly followed the restart. Holliday and Sam Howes combined to make initial inroads and Rose’s astute kick forced a lineout close to the Market Rasen line.
Matt Mills was injured at the ensuing throw in to be replaced by Chris McKee and when the ONs earned a free kick, the ball was moved wide and Napier crossed for his second.
Rasen came back with a try from winger Nick Harvey to again move to within seven points and had a chance to further reduce the deficit but Sutton’s kick drifted just wide.
With 15 minutes to play the result was still in the balance and Rasen mounted a series of attacks close to the opposition line.
However the defence held firm and after the ball was cleared to half way, a typical forceful run from Jordan Brew took the ONs deep into Rasen territory to set up the bonus point try.
Drive after drive was repelled by resilient tackling but eventually the pressure told and Rose went through the narrowest of gaps to ensure the ONs’ victory and the five points.
Brackley’s unbeaten run is over
Brackley’s run of 19 unbeaten matches came to a disappointing end on the road to St Ives as they were beaten 15-13.
Where Brackley were hesitant, St Ives were assured, captain Jim Robinson leading from the front to score all of his team’s points in overcoming the visitors by two tries, one conversion and a penalty against one try, one conversion and two penalties.
Scouts swept aside by leaders
Old Scouts were well beaten 40-8 by Midlands Two East (South) leaders Huntingdon & District.
Scouts’ second string were also beaten by their Huntingdon counterparts, going down 71-7.
An individual moment by Sam French saw him scoring and converting the Scouts’ only points of the game late in the second half.
Heathens pip Podington
Heathens recorded a narrow 10-8 win over Podington at the Racecourse.
Heathens’ tries came from Pete Evans and Ash Brown.
This Saturday Heathens are in Merit Table action when they travel to Leighton Buzzard to take on their third XV in the Courage Best League.