Knight’s big day as Nuneaton run riot

National League 3 Midlands

FREE-scoring Nuneaton ripped up last weekend’s form book with a 44-3 victory at Old Halesonians.

The hosts had started the day top of the table having racked up more than 100 points in their opening two fixtures but the Nuns, who scraped a 3-3 draw at Towcestrians, ran riot at Wassell Grove.

Hugh Thomas and debutants Jacob Knight and Umran Jadwat registered first-half tries with Rory Vowles adding a couple of conversions and a penalty to put Nuneaton 22-3 up at the interval.

And the one-way traffic continued in the second half with a Vowles penalty and further tries for back-rower Dave Melville, scrum-half Tom Smitham and Knight. Replacement Joe Wilson kicked two conversions. Nuneaton are second to

Derby, who boast the only 100 per cent record in National Three Midlands after clinging on for an 18-12 victory in a topsy-turvy clash at Sheffield.

Ben Marlow’s early try was converted by George Castledine but the hosts got over the line themselves and then benefited from a penalty try to move ahead by five points.

Castledine reduced the arrears with a successful kick and then added the extras after Jim Wigglesworth had put the visitors in front. The close scoreline made for a tense finale during which Sheffield camped on the line with time ticking away but Derby held out to top the embryonic standings.

Joe Jepps and Benny Elliot each bagged a brace as Sandbach soared past

Lichfield 57-24. Dan Stubbs also crossed the whitewash. Birmingham & Solihull tasted defeat for the first time this season, going down 30-11 at Towcestrians. Mitch McGahan gave the visitors the edge with an early penalty but his drop goal was not enough to prevent the Bees going in 15-6 down at the interval.

Alex O’Malley reduced the arrears to four but a penalty, a try and a converted penalty try saw the home side secure a comfortable win.

The other matches saw successes on the road as Broadstreet won 43-11 at

Syston, Longton claimed the honours 34-27 at Peterborough and Bridgnorth overcame basement boys

Bedford Athletic 25-12.