Whilst Nottingham didn’t play last weekend due to their pitch at Lady Bay recovering from flood damage, victories for both Paviors and West Bridgford, in the Regional 2 Midlands North division, keeps them firmly in the top five, with Pavs sitting third, ten points behind leaders Long Eaton, who were beaten at home by the Notts club, 24-19, on Saturday.
West Bridgford meanwhile sit in the fifth, four points behind Paviors, Bridgy winning a local derby, 15-8, away to Newark, whilst Mellish are down in tenth after they suffered a 45-7 loss at home Tamworth.
At Long Eaton, Paviors would claim victory courtesy of the Billam brothers as Doug Billam notched two tries, and George Billam scored one try, three conversions, and a penalty; meanwhile Bridgy saw Robert Bell register a try, and the rest of their points coming from Calum Gunn with a try, a conversion, and a penalty.
Mid-table Notts duo, Mansfield and Southwell, sitting seventh and eighth respectively, both collected victories, the former winning 16-7 at Boston, and the latter seeing off Birstall 37-7 at home, but they, like the rest of the division, are trailing runaway leaders Hinckley IIs, who are presently eighteen clear of second place.
The Nottingham pair of Casuals and Moderns, in the Counties 2 Midlands East (North), fourth and fifth place respectively, collected home wins over Grimsby 31-19, and Belper 35-10, with Ashfield in seventh also winning, 19-5, at home to Ashby, and ninth place Newark IIs lost 47-29 at Derby IIs; as with the Counties 1 division, this also sees runaway leaders with Kesteven holding a sixteen point advantage.
The top of Counties 3 Midlands East (North) sees that of Mosborough and Meden Vale neck-and-neck tied on 57 points apiece, they five points ahead of third place Tupton, Mosborough having a game in hand and put bottom of the table Worksop to the sword in an 83-5 demolition, Vale winning 26-10 at Amber Valley.
Eighth place Ollerton won 31-21 away to Dronfield IIs, and East Retford in ninth were whitewashed, 38-0, at Chesterfield Panthers; Worksop’s loss at the leaders was their fourteenth straight in a poor season and they sit bottom on minus eight.
Keyworth continue to lead the Counties 3 Midlands East (Central), by nine points from second place West Bridgford, they on 63pts and 54pts respectively, the former whitewashing Rolls Royce 53-0, and the latter by one in a local derby, 39-38 over visiting Southwell IIs.
Paviors IIs, in seventh, collected a big win when home to Ashbourne IIs, 71-0, whilst there was away defeats for the bottom two in Mellish IIs and Nottinghamians, on the road to Sleaford (72-5) and North Hykeham (33-5) respectively.
In the women’s rugby scene there was a day to remember over in East Retford as many, many ladies gathered, and Carrie Dean saying afterwards: “So, what did you do today?
“Oh you know, just had the most amazing time with the best company ever.
“Women’s rugby – four teams, two pitches, biggest Barbarians day I’ve ever seen with over 80 women in total and, I might be wrong, but I think six counties?
“Numerous teams and new friendships built, until next time girls.
“Massive thanks to our coaches Paul Barrett, Jonathan Severn, Gareth Pilkington, Bryony Proctor (first aid), and Zoe Sheppard; to East Retford Rugby Union Football Club for hosting us reprobates, Doncaster Women’s Rugby for lending a kit, Lynn Spencer for being an all-round legend, always, as well as to Chelsea Marie Wright for sorting the raffle, Jonathan Matthews for photos and feeding us, Dan Rees for keeping the beer flowing (and Emma, you did great), Charlotte Walker for leading our girls, and to every single person from all around the county that braved the cold to come and watch our club make our own history today.
“If this is the future of women’s rugby? I’m in!”
Playing-wise, in the NC1 East, West Bridgford Ladies were beaten 31-15 away to a Boston Ladies side who have opened a nine-point advantage at the top, with Bridgy Ladies sitting fifth, with four wins and four draws from their eight played.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NottinghamRugby Lady Bay soaked after recent flood damage.