Champions-elect edge closer to trophy

National League 3 South West

OLD REDCLIFFIANS continued their march to the title by running over eight tries during a 46-9 trouncing of Bromsgrove.

The runaway leaders look odds-on favourites to become the smallest club in the higher tier with Henry Bird running over his 20th try of the season on this occasion.

Ethan Doyle and Alex Harvey also crossed for a brace of tries each while single scores came courtesy of Aaron Rice, Ezra Caven and Craig McGrath. Second place Dings Crusaders denied the leaders sealing the championship just yet by taking a 16-10 win over Cleve thanks to tries by Paul Fincken and George Hooper.

But Salisbury’s survival chances were dealt another blow after falling to a hard-fought 21-19 defeat at the hands of Newton Abbot. Three penalties from

Oliver Avery-Wright was the difference with tries for the visitors coming from Aaron Smith and Matt Dowrick.

Bournemouth’s promotion hopes were dealt a blow as a last-gasp try for

Camborne earned them a thrilling 33-33 draw at Chapel Gate.

A brace of tries by Adam Davies and a single score from Gareth Roberts had put the promotion chasers 27-5 ahead at the turnaround before a Camborne fightback, which saw them level up the scores in the dying seconds.

Ivybridge were 34-30 winners at Brixham in an end-to-end encounter from the start.

James Tripcony cancelled out an Adam Thomas try before the visitors stretched their advantage with further scores by Lewis Paterson and Tom Scholes.

Kyle Cane pulled Brixham back to 24-15 at half-time before Drew Ackerman had looked to have put the game out of reach for the hosts with his side 31-15.

However, Brixham tries from Sam and Joe Lovell pulled them back into the tie but it was too little too late. Lydney ran over a series of late tries as they came from two points ahead with five minutes to play against Hornets to eventually win 36-13.

And Bracknell sealed a 20-15 victory over Launceston, showing their experience to power clear in the second half.