Loan watch: Rowson bags brace in standout display for Dings

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Photos courtesy of Dings Crusaders.

National Two South
Henley Hawks 33-22 Dings Crusaders

Man of the match, Harry Rowson scored twice and Tom Wilstead touched down on his Dings debut in a losing cause at Henley Hawks on Saturday.

Andrew Turner also impressed for Dings, but a superb second quarter from Henley, coupled with the visitors clocking off in defence at the same time, paved the way for Hawks 33-22 victory at Dry Leas.

The home side set their stall out early on and really looked up for the fight. They were over the Dings tryline inside five-minutes, but, playing up the slope, Dings hit back with a fantastic try from man-of-the-match Harry Rowson. The Bristol Bears youngster set alarm bells ringing every time he touched the ball and gave his opposite number a torrid time in defence during his outstanding display on the wing.

However, the Dings fightback was short lived as Henley took control, adding a further 26 points to rack up the try bonus-point and headed into the changing sheds with a healthy 33-5 advantage. The visitors appeared to be on course for a record defeat at the break but the game completely turned on its head in the second-half - a half that belonged almost entirely to Dings.

Helney's only meaningful attack was managed by the Crusaders' defence early in the half, and from then on it was the home side that spent the majority of the second-half making tackles. But, for the most part, they completed their tackles, whereas Dings fluffed their defensive lines in the first-half which, in the end proved to be the difference.

Another Bristol Bear - fly-half Tom Wilstead - ghosted through the Henley defence on his debut to chip away at the lead - centre Tom Price converted from straight in front. Hooker Tom Anderson burrowed over for a trademark five-pointer from the back of a driving line-out for his eleventh try of the season. But the Henley nerves really began to jangle after Rowson scorched past his would-be marker, stepped the covering defender and dotted down out wide for his second score - a try that gave Dings a bonus-point.

Dings continued to press, but to their credit, Henley held out to take what was, on balance a thoroughly deserved victory.

Dings Crusaders: 15 Luke Arscott; 14 Hugo Harbinson, 13 Matt Smith, 12 Tom Price, 11 Harry Rowson, 10 Tom Wilstead, 9 Tom Knight; 1 Drew Turner, 2 Tom Anderson, 3 Nick English, 4 Olly Bilton, 5 Danny Hodge, 6 Alex Bilton, 7 Josh Wood, 8 Jake Holcombe (capt).
Replacements: 16 Joe Hawksby, 17 Zak Harvey, 18 Lewis Beer, 19 Waylon Gasson, 20 ollie Millner.

Dings tries: Rowson (2), Wilstead, Anderson. Conversion: Price (1).

GKIPA Championship
Ampthill 24-39 Hartpury RFC

Mitch Eadie and James Dun both featured for Hartpury as they ended a run of three straight defeats with a bonus-point win at Ampthill on Saturday.

Hartpury started brightly and from Harry Short's break, Toby Venner was in support and his pace was enough to see him past the cover defence for the first try, converted by James Williams.

A second followed when Mitch Eadie’s popped pass was perfect for Robbie Smith and the centre was able to burst through the tackle for a trademark finish from close to half way - and when Will Crane peeled off and fed the industrious Oli Robinson, the visitors led 19-0.

Ampthill hooker Billy Harding finishing a lineout drive to claw the hosts back into the contest, but Williams landed a 35-metre penalty in the 33^rd minute and minutes later, Cameron Jordan drove over for the bonus point try.

After the break, Hartpury’s goal-line defence could not prevent prop Harry Seward rumbling over - and Amps’ scrum-half Kevin Barrett was the next to benefit minutes later. And when Billy Harding added his second, the Hartpury lead had all but disappeared at 24-29.

Hartpury had given up a big advantage in the corresponding fixture last season and it looked as they were about to do it again but, to their credit, that was the end of the Ampthill scoring.

The tide started to turn as the replacement front row of Conor Maguire, Luke Stratford and Shaun Knight began to assert themselves at the scrummage, but it was a mature performance across the squad to re-establish control.

Replacement James Dun drove inches short after a tapped penalty in the 60^th minute, before Cam Jordan was successful on the next phase, picking up his second try of the day and capping a man-of-the-match performance.

National Two South
Clifton 22-19 Canterbury

Although Clifton looked to be building a comfortable lead this game turned into a more competitive encounter during the second half when Canterbury enjoyed some control in winning turnovers and line outs to deny Clifton possession.

Station Road was besieged by howling winds as the conditions were clearly going to play a factor in the game with Clifton playing against a strong wind in the first half.

Clifton struck early after two minutes when they shunned two opportunities to kick at goal to present Brad Talbot with opportunity to surge over under the posts with Luke Cozens adding the extras. However, Clifton failed to exit well from the restart and the visitors came back almost immediately when fly half Frank Reynolds weaved his way over.

A flowing Clifton move saw Alex Forrester chip ahead with Fin Sharp collecting to go over rand soon after following some slick inter play winger Bentley Halpin used good speed to cross despite the attentions of numerous Canterbury would be defenders.

Shortly before half time a catch and drive released Dwayne Corcoran to score with Kyan Braithwaite converting to narrow the gap before the interval as Clifton went ahead 19-12.

Canterbury began the second half as the livelier team and were dominating proceedings at times but rarely getting into the Clifton 22.

However there was no further score until the final ten minutes when a Cozens penalty extended the Clifton lead following numerous phases of pressure and 3 goal line drop outs from Canterbury. Cozens penalty being the only kick at goal during the game The Kent men were not done and with time running out attacked the Clifton line with Alex Evans going under post with Braithwaite converting, leading to a tense final 3 minutes.

A spirited injury time saw Clifton holding on to claim the four points and a victory they probably deserved in spite of a strong performance from Canterbury in close exchanges.

Tribute South West Premier
Exmouth 0-31 Weston-super-Mare

Macenzzie Duncan enjoyed a try-scoring debut alongside Bears Academy centre Dylan Power, as Weston-super-Mare returned to winning ways by taking maximum points from the Tribute South West Premier game at Exmouth.

The victory sees Weston remain in fourth place but reduced the gap on the Devon side to two points. Duncan marked his debut for the club by scoring one of the two tries before the break at Exmouth. The other touchdown came from Jack Woodland, with James Mackay adding two conversions for a 14-nil lead at half time.

Weston extended their lead with a try from full-back Jack Curtis with Mackay adding the extras and then adding a penalty. Hooker Gary Carpenter crossed for the bonus point try with Mackay again finding the target with the conversion.

Weston-super-mare scorers - tries: Jack Woodland, Macenzzie Duncan, Jack Curtis, Gary Carpenter; cons: James Mackay (4); pen: James Mackay.

Hornets 22-17 Exeter University

Tom Sims featured off the bench for Hornets as they overpowered Exeter University in this top-of-the-table clash to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

The table-toppers outscored the students by four tries to two at The Nest, with Hayden Tuttiet, Charlie Carter, Matt Parker and Ross Cheeseborough touched down for Jon Richardson's high-flyers.