ONs endured a nervous final few minutes as they held on to beat Loughborough 32-25.
The game was barely one minute old when the ONs found themselves under their own posts after Loughborough had gone 80 metres to score in the top corner.
The conversion was missed and the ONs then proceeded to completely dominate the first half territory wise with Loughborough only visiting the ONs half a handful of times.
ONs’ first points of the game came on 11 minutes when Jack Bradbury won a penalty right in front of the posts and Alex Rose added the points. Three minutes later it was 10-5 to the visitors when, after Lewis Bodily had cleared up some scrappy possession from a lineout, Bradbury took advantage of the absent defenders at the side of a ruck to score under the posts.
On 19 minutes the ONs had their second try through Sam Howes. Rose converted for a 17-5 lead.
A minute later and the ONs found themselves in an identical position with a penalty eight metres out in front of the posts.
Captain Rhys Hughes this time decided for a kick at goal with Rose adding the three points.
The half-time whistle went with maybe slight concerns that the slope and wind were potentially worth more than the 20 points that the visitors had scored.
Loughborough closed the gap to 10 points before the ONs managed to find some fluency to get into the Boro 22.
ONs were awarded a penalty try after some dominance in the scrum. Rose converted to put them 27-10 ahead.
Boro kicked a penalty before Zach Draper was then driven over from close range for the bonus point try and a 32-13 lead with 11 minutes to play. The game looked over.
But a frenetic finish followed. Matt Mills went to the sin bin, then Boro scored two tries to seal a deserved two losing bonus points.
Disciplined late defending ensured ONs claimed the win.
Old Scouts 19 BBOB 13
Old Scouts had to work hard to earn the bragging rights with a closely-fought 19-13 win over local rivals BBOB at Rushmere Road.
The early attacks from the home side resulted in fly-half Adam Frost opening the scoring with a penalty after three minutes.
BB responded well and took advantage of a scrum against the head to exploit a gap wide out on the left to score in the corner.
Their lead was increased midway through the half when BB opted for a lineout from a penalty and successfully drove over Scouts line.
Scouts’ newly formed back line were in action soon after. A penalty was drilled to the right touchline and from the resulting lineout the ball was spun quickly to the left and from the midfield maul the ball was recycled via centre Ben Cohen to skipper Russell Lynch, who raced in to touch down.
Scouts were now in the ascendancy and Frost put them in the lead after half an hour with a penalty after he had narrowly missed a similar attempt.
With half-time looming Lynch, playing at full-back, was deep in his own half when Scouts recovered the ball in a BB attack and he took off from deep in his own half.
The ball was kicked towards the BB corner and was fielded by their full-back who sent a return straight into Lynch’s welcoming arms. The grateful skipper then drew the defender to put James Blackmore in for his second try in as many appearances to give Scouts a 16-10 lead.
BB were on the attack early in the second half and reduced the arrears with a penalty but an indiscretion under the sticks by BB provided Frost with a simple penalty minutes later.
With the game evenly balanced it was unfortunate that the heavens opened and in effect ruined the last 20 minutes.
BB forwards were making plenty of inroads into the Scouts half but a combination of dropped balls and misplaced passes, plus a resolute Scouts defence well marshalled by Cohen never looked like being beaten.
Scouts thought they had scored another try in the corner but the referee denied them the opportunity to increase their score.
Towcestrians 36 Market Rasen & Louth 12
Matt Yuill scored Towcestrians’ try of the season as they saw off Market Rasen & Louth 36-12.
Tows quickly took the lead, the captain Liam Wilkinson setting an example by dotting over.
This was followed with the try of the campaign, which saw Charlie Barker run from his own posts, the ball travelling excellently through the hands of the support for Yuill to finish.
Consecutive yellows for both sides saw Rasen’s forwards dive over for their first of the afternoon.
On his return to the first team, Sam Sturley ran in Tows’ third try. Falvey’s second conversion made the score 19-5.
Young scrum-half Gus Hopewell’s quick thinking in a penalty situation created a try which was finished by Chrissie George. It was not looking good for Rasen.
However, to the credit of Rasen they forced Tows back. With pressure building rapidly, Tows gave away a hotly-contested penalty try.
Tows’ second half started well after a nicely-worked Yuill try, however their superiority began to slip as they gave away penalty after penalty through the half.
With Barker picking up a yellow card and total possession being with the visitors the game looked as though it would escape Tows’ grasp. Only defensive commitment kept Rasen at Bay.
The game finished with Tows having a rare visit into Resan’s half, Gus Hopewell running in to score.
This weekend Tows go to Spalding (2.15pm).
Tows’ seconds hammered Wellingborough IIs 78-12, while the thirds were easy 56-10 winners at Wellingborough IIIs.
The colts team also won, sweeping aside Aylesbury colts 60-5.
Heathens 24 Sharnbrook & Colworth 33
A five-minute lapse of concentration virtually killed off any chance Heathens had of recording their first merit table win of the season against Sharnbrook & Colworth at the Racecourse.
Heathens started well and scored the first try through hooker Daryl Richards, which was well converted by Gavin Cottrell.
But the bad spell soon followed and weak tackling led to a converted try for Sharnbrook. That was followed by a five-pointer two minutes later and a second converted try on 19 minutes.
Heathens looked to be heading for a humiliating defeat when the visitors secured another converted try, but they stuck to their guns and responded with an unconverted try from flanker Mark Evans. This was followed in injury time by a second touchdown for Richards, converted by Cottrell to close the gap to 26-19 at half-time.
Heathens clawed their way closer to an unlikely comeback when skipper Dan Stonehouse crashed over in the 55th minute.
But despite heavy pressure on the visitors’ try line, Heathens were unable to add to their tall
Sharnbook sealed it with a try where they ran the length of the pitch to make it 33-24.
This Saturday Heathens take on Long Buckby IIs at the Racecourse.
Brackley 95 Wellingborough OGs 5
Brackley produced a devastating display of 15-man rugby as Wellingborough OGs were thrashed 95-5.
Brackley pulled on the Pink Socks to raise awareness of Breast Cancer this weekend and after a relatively quiet first half in which they notched up four tries to one, the home side let rip in the second period, touching down a further 11 times and coming tantalisingly close to a three-figure score.
As they left the field, Brackley might well have thought their haul was sufficient to overturn the points difference that had kept them from the top spot in Midlands Four East South.
However, league leaders St Neots had meanwhile increased the differential with a 98-0 demolition job on Corby, leaving Brackley to occupy second place.
Brackley coach Matt Titchener said: “This result proves we can do it.
“There’s been a huge change in attitude this season with the whole squad now working for each other.
“The players are hungry to score, but at the same time they’re not being selfish. If they can see someone else has a better chance of reaching the line, they’re making the pass, then following up in support, both forwards and backs – it’s great to see.”
Deepings v Mens Own (match abandoned)
Mens Own’s match at Deepings was abandoned after a bad injury to Sam Flanagan.
Flanagan, making his first start for the Mens Own firsts, broke his ankle and the game was called off as a result after 26 minutes. The club wish Sam well and hope he makes a speedy recovery.
During the 26 minutes of play, both sides took turns at scoring, with Deepings scoring three tries, one converted to Own’s two tries from Danny Golden and James Reynolds.
The replay is likely to take place on November 10.
Mens Own’s second string, under the captaincy of Lee Kitchen, secured a fine win, beating Casuals IIs 33-3 at Ashton. The win ended Casuals’ unbeaten run and puts Kitchen’s men top of the league.
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