Mid-table Newark fell to defeat when home to promotion-chasing West Bridgford, in the Regional 2 Midlands North, on Saturday afternoon, the visitors easing to a comfortable, 31-8 success, whilst Paviors moved up to eighth in the table following their 43-22 victory at home to Matlock.
West Bridgford, joint-third in the table and with a 5-1-2 record thus far, sit eight adrift of leaders Lichfield, four behind Dronfield, and level with a Melbourne side who, like West, have also lost twice this season.
At local rivals Newark, who made seven changes from their last outing, against Ilkeston, the visitors actually conceded the first points, George Leeson kicking an early penalty, but the response was devastating, and Bridgy led 21-3 at the break.
Jason Heath, Steven Kpaka, and Steven Corban, all ran in tries for the free-scoring high-fliers, Calum Gunn’s boot adding the extras on all three; an early penalty from Gunn extended the lead in the second period whilst the hosts added a late try through Mateusz Dogiel, Euan Murray restoring parity with Bridgy’s fourth try late on and Gunn kicking the extra to complete the scoring.
West are next in action, under the Friday Night Lights, when they welcome Ilkeston on 15 November, Newark travel to second place Dronfield the following day (16 November).
Paviors enjoyed themselves also at the weekend, picking up a 43-22 success when home to Matlock, leapfrogging their visitors as both now hold a 3-0-5 record, whilst there was defeat for Mellish, who are second bottom, losing 36-17 at Lichfield.
Both Southwell and Nottingham Moderns claimed victory in the Counties 1 Midlands East (North) division, the former winning 47-17 at Burton IIs, and the latter picking up a 25-19 home win against Nuneaton Old Edwardians.
Southwell, sitting in fourth and just nine points off leaders Hinckley IIs, ran in seven tries on what was a busy afternoon for them on the road in Burton; Andrew Frettingham helped himself to two of those tries, whilst also added six conversions for good measure.
The victors added further tries through Roman Priestley-Nangle, Connor Shaw, Ben Kilford, Sam Hardwick and Ben Hardwick as they continue to chase a top-three finish.
Southwell (starting XV vs Burton) Sam Garrat, Nicholas Gill, Connor Shaw, James Barker, Samuel Brooks, George Machin, Jacob Hardwick, Alex Morrison, Andrew Frettingham, Ben Kilford, Alex Pearson, Benjamin Hardwick, William Combellack, Kieran Brown, Roman Priestley-Nangle (subs – Liam Brown, Samuel Hardwick, William Jackson)
Nottingham Moderns moved up to seventh place with their home success against Nuneaton, whilst Mansfield, joint second-bottom with Market Rasen & Louth, lost 31-12 at home to second place Belgrave.
Next up sees Southwell hosting sixth-placed Kesteven, and Moderns, looking to gate-crash the top five maybe, away to fourth-bottom Lincoln.
Keyworth (5-2-0) find themselves joint-second in the Counties 2 Midlands East (N) with Ashbourne, and just a point off leaders Ashby, following their 53-14 home win over Ashfield, whilst there was defeat also for Nottingham Casuals, sitting sixth, 27-22 at home to Mosborough, and for Newark IIs, joint-bottom with Ashfield, 48-7 at Gainsborough.
With two points still separating the top four of Ashby (32), Ashbourne (31), Keyworth (31), and Mosborough (30), there’s certainly an interesting few weeks ahead in the division, Nottingham Casuals are just three points off that top four also (Melton Mowbray sandwiched in fifth).
As for the Notts-heavy Counties 3 Midlands East (Central), West Bridgford IIs have a six-point advantage on Southwell, and eight on Bingham, at the top of the table after they put 60+ past visitors Ilkeston IIs, Southwell scored nineteen in their win, and Bingham lost, at Long Eaton IIs.
Hitting double figures on tries, Harry Watts with a brace in the ten scored, Bridgy’s seconds certainly went all out; Harrison Ashby also helped himself to a try, and kicked six conversions, in the rout.
Southwell IIs won 19-0 when home to Nottingham Moderns IIs, Bingham were beaten 36-17 in Long Eaton, whilst Nottinghamians, in sixth, won 64-12 away to third-bottom Mellish IIs; for the Moderns seconds, it was their eighth loss in eight as they prop up the division.
There was also a handful of women’s games played on Sunday, and, with West Bridgford Ladies second in the NC1 Midlands (N) set to faceoff with leaders Lincoln (four points separating) on 24 November, focus was, for now at least, elsewhere.
In the NC2 Midlands (N) division Mansfield are sitting second, just a point off leaders Sheffield Tigers (who had a home walkover win against Mellish), with both currently 4-0-0; Mansfield, they romped to a 67-3 success at Amber Valley Tigers to keep up the pressure at the top.
Ashfield meanwhile are in the bottom two with Mellish after they lost 29-17 at home to Kesteven.
Finally, there was a battle of the two mid-table sides in the NC3 Midlands (N) division, Newark sitting fifth, and Sileby Town sixth, sharing the spoils in an entertaining, 62-point game, the game finishing in a 31-31 tie.
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @Pavsscoreline Paviors are up to eighth after victory over Matlock.
