It’s been a while since we brought you some local Rugby Union news so let us gloss over the latest ahead of the festive break whilst you put your feet up and sip on a brew.

The second highest ranked side in the county (below Nottingham RFC) Paviors, play out at Burntstump Country Park and are currently eleventh in the fourteen team Midland Premier Division, the side have won four of their fourteen games in English Rugby’s fifth tier this season with a draw and four bonus points taking their tally to 22 points from 14 games, which is the same as Doncaster Phoenix who have played a game less, a place below them in twelfth.

Pavs were beaten 24-7 by Dudley Kingswinford at the weekend with the West Midlander’s hopping above the Nottinghamshire side in the table. The home side were up 21-0 at half time but a strong second forty saw some respectability handed back to the travelling army with a second half victory by seven points to three ensuring some optimism at least, to look back on.

It’s been a tough campaign for Paviors in a keenly fought division which currently has three sides tied for the lead on 51 points, Bridgnorth , Bromsgrove and Newport (Salop) all heading the way.

One of those sides, Bromsgrove, handed Paviors a 49-10 thumping at the start of the month but a 45-33 win over mid-table Burton on Saturday 11^th December was something to cheer about and thanks largely to a six try haul by Will Taylor who was outstanding on the day.

With no games until the new year in the division, next up is a home match against Newport on January 8^th before a trip to second bottom Nuneaton a week later.

In the Midlands One East, Step 6 on the Rugby Union Pyramid, West Bridgford are going strong currently fifth in the table.

Bridgford didn’t play at the weekend but went into December in good form, they beat bottom of the table Towcestrians 20-15 at the start of the month but were beaten a week later by Market Harborough 32-3. Next up for the Stamford Road side is a home match against Belgrave of Leicester on Saturday 8^th January.

In Midlands 2 East (North) both Newark and Southwell Rugby Club are holding their own this season.

Newark are currently fourth in the table whilst Southwell are sixth, the two sides met at the weekend in a cracking local derby with Newark edging their hosts 28-27 to win in dramatic fashion by a point.

Over 300 fans watched the match at Park Lane in rain and mud with the home side up 22-9 only minutes before the break. Newark however came back scoring a try on the stroke of half time before a superb second half performance with a late try by Sean Denning and some great kicking by Alex O’Dell making the difference.

Next up after Christmas and New Year is a trip to mid-table Loughborough for Southwell and another away match for Newark who play bottom of the table Coalville, both matches on January 8^th.

Finally in Midlands 3 East (North), top of the table Mellish are ten from ten with a 100% record.

The Mapperley based side weren’t in action at the weekend with only two games in the division played. Mansfield beat Belper 41-7 to consolidate their position in fifth whilst Nottingham Casuals moved up to third with a 45-10 win over Ashfield who stay second bottom, eight points above East Retford who have lost all of their nine games played.

*Main image @advertisergroup Southwell and Newark played out a thrilling derby at the weekend.