There was a big win for Bedford Blues and a thrilling Ampthill win during another dramatic round of Championship Rugby with all 12 sides in action.
Five-star Adamson earns Blues big win
Dean Adamson’s five tries helped Bedford Blues bounce back from last weekend’s defeat against Doncaster with a comfortable 87-19 win over Nottingham Rugby.
The home side made a fast start when Adamson went over after just 77 seconds with Will Maisey adding the extras.
Bedford continued their early dominance and scored a further four tries in the next 19 minutes as Adamson bagged a second score with Joe Howard crossing over twice and Lucas Titherington dotting down.
Will Maisey added the extras from all five scores to leave the score 35-0 after 20 minutes.
Oisin Heffernan’s huge carry resulted in Bedford’s sixth try just before the half hour mark with Nottingham registering their first points through James Cherry’s try.
Tries seven and eight soon followed for Bedford thanks to Joey Conway and Adamson getting his hat-trick.
The visitors did get their second try late in the first half to make the score 56-14 at the break.
Bedford did not let up in the second half as two more tries from Adamson – drawing him level as Bedford’s greatest ever try scorer – to go alongside scores from captain Alex Day, Luke Frost and Maisey completed the scoring for the hosts. Sam Mercer registered a consolation for Nottingham.
Ampthill comeback stuns Coventry
Coventry Rugby could not put pressure on Ealing Trailfinders at the top of the table as they fell to a last-minute winner at home to Ampthill.
Logan Trotter opened the scoring for Coventry after 10 minutes, but Ampthill drew level four minutes later when Josh Barton crossed over following good work from a line out.
Coventry retook the lead through David Opoku-Fordjour after a wonderful break but once again the visitors responded through Harvey Beaton after 20 minutes.
Sam Maunder and Trotter gave the home side the lead for a third time to push the score to 26-14 at half time.
Valentino Mapapalangi crashed over to bring Ampthill to within one score of parity early in the second half and drew level with nine minutes to go after Oran McNulty found the tryline.
The comeback was complete in dramatic fashion as Brandon Jackon’s last minute try gave Ampthill a 31-26 win.
Hartpury secure comfortable win over Caldy
Hartpury extended their unbeaten run to five matches as they cruised to a 41-10 victory over Caldy.
The visitors seized control of the first half and built a 17-0 lead through Harry Short and Alex Morgan tries with Harry Bazalgette kicking two conversions and a penalty.
Caldy fought back and reduced the deficit to just seven points at half time as Monty Weatherby and Dom Hanson both crossed the whitewash just before the break.
Dale Lemon re-established Hartpury’s 17-point advantage with Bazalgette again converting after slotting another penalty earlier in the half.
Late scores from Will Jeanes and Aristot Benz-Salomon added the shine as Hartpury sealed maximum points.
Doncaster power past Cambridge
Doncaster Knights made it six wins in a row in all competitions as they overcame Cambridge Rugby at Grantchester Road.
The South Yorkshire side only needed three minutes to get their first score of the through a Jordan Olowofela try.
Rhys Tait, Ollie Fox, Morgan Strong all went over for the visitors before half time but Matt Hema and Ewan Baker made sure Cambridge remained in touch with the score 28-12 after the opening 40 minutes.
The away side pressed home their advantage during the second half and increased their lead to 40-12 thanks to Aidan Cross’ diving effort and Fox’s second try of the afternoon.
Pete White added five more points to Cambridge’s total, but Doncaster did not let that halt their momentum.
Cross helped himself to a second try, before Fred Davies rounded off a strong afternoon for the Knights.
Pirates hold off Chinnor fightback
Cornish Pirates held on for an important 33-31 victory away at Chinnor, despite a spirited fightback from the hosts.
Pirates’ Dan Hiscocks got the opening try of the game after a pair of neat dummies allowed him to cross over. Bruce Houston added the extras to make the score 7-0 after seven minutes.
Chinnor’s Alun Walker reduced Pirates’ lead to two after his maul try, but Matt McNab’s incredible four-try haul meant the score was 33-12 at the break, with Nick Smith replying for the hosts.
Callum Pascoe’s score made it 33-19 and when Cam Rafferty crossed over with four minutes to go, Chinnor harboured hopes of a remarkable fightback, but Connor Slevin’s missed conversion made sure the gap was beyond one score.
Chinnor did get a late try to secure a bonus point but fell two points short with the game finishing 33-31 in favour of Pirates.
Ealing’s second-half rally sees off London Scottish
Ealing Trailfinders extended their lead at the top of the Championship table thanks to a fine second-half display against London Scottish.
Bryn Bradley gave London Scottish the lead after a scoreless opening 20 minutes, but Ealing responded through Jordy Reid and Jordan Holgate tries.
Scottish then produced a two-try burst of their own as Harry Shepard and Stephen Kerins’ converted scores made it 19-12, but Ben Harris went over for Ealing on the stroke of half time and Dan Jones’ conversion made it 19-19.
The visitors kicked on in the second half and further tries from Craig Hampson, Harris, Tobi Wilson, Michael Dykes put the game beyond Scottish.
Austin Wallis’ converted try was too little too late as Ealing took the game 41-24.
