No stopping Derby as they roar again
DERBY remain top of National Three Midlands with a 100 per cent record, but were put through the wringer at struggling Bedford Athletic.
The hosts had lost their opening four fixtures but stormed into a 17-3 lead at Putnoe Woods before a breakthrough try from Josh Tizard reduced the arrears before the interval.
Incessant Derby pressure followed after the restart with Jim Wigglesworth helping himself to a double and George Castledine kicking the away side out of sight.
And in the third minute of added time, the rescue mission was complete as Castledine burst over for Derby’s fourth try of a taxing afternoon which ultimately saw them plunder a 33-17 win and five league points.
Sheffield racked up the division’s biggest score of the day with a 50-29 triumph over Longton. Jonny France ran in the first two of his four tries before the visitors responded through Alifereti Verinosoi and Sam Evans.
Rupert Broadley turned the tide back in the home side’s favour with a try that made it 19-17 at the interval and Sheffield ran riot in the second half. Fergus Wood got two, France completed his haul and Tom Womack brought up the half century.
Evans went on to complete a hat-trick for Longton but to no avail.
Towcestrians grabbed a third win of the campaign with a comfortable 36-13 success over Bridgnorth.
Matt Bodily, Fen Gallagher, Gus Hopewell, Ben Roe, Kieran Frost and Jamie Warr got over the line for the hosts with Callum Meaden grabbing a consolation effort for Bridgnorth.
Max Rodman stood up to the pressure of kicking the points that sealed Birmingham & Solihull’s 22-15 victory over Broadstreet. The visitors nabbed an early try but Rodman converted James Oliver’s effort in response to hand the Bees the edge.
Rodman then landed five successful blows with the boot, rendering academic a kick and a late converted try from Broadstreet.
Elsewhere, Nuneaton remain second after their 16-9 win at Sandbach, Old Halesonians are third following a 19-12 success at Peterborough and Syston beat fellow strugglers Lichfield 23-17 in front of their home fans.