Race heats up for promotion chasers

BOURNEMOUTH took a confidence boosting victory as they drew closer in the battle for the top two in the South West Premier.

After losing their last two matches, second placed

Newton Abbot looked to bounce back against their promotion rivals and went ahead through Matt Jess.

However, Sam Hardcastle ran over to draw his side level before Daniel Stewart, Harry Davies, Alexander Bennett, Thomas Napier and Adam Davies all went over as Bournemouth ran out 48-34 victors. Table-topping Dings

Crusaders remain 11 points clear of the chasing pack after a 31-19 victory over Lydney to make it 11 wins from 13.

Marcus Brooker, Matthew Smith, Joe Hawkesby, Tom Knight and Aly Duddell all ran in tries for the leaders while Ben Boisters kicked three conversions.

Maidenhead are the inform side and are positioned just a single point behind third after running in 10 tries during a 70-26 demolition of Weston-super-Mare.

Ed Keohane ran in the first try early on before Sam Hallett before Dave Cole scored a brace as his side ran riot.

Ivybridge climbed away from the lower reaches of the league following a 29-12 victory over Cleve.

Charlie Bryant used his pace to run in his first

before dancing around several players and crashing over for his second.

Forwards Jonathan Morgan and George Wilson added further tries from the pack.

Brixham remain in midtable following a 47-31 victory over Bracknell.

Noah Nash and Koree Britton scored a brace each for Brixham who stormed into a 33-5 half-time lead.

Tom Goodman added a further try at the start of the second half before Joe Lovell finished the scoring.

Exmouth are also in good form following a 45-25 victory over Newbury Blues.

Skipper Sam Richardson opened the scoring after nine minutes before Exmouth were awarded a penalty try and then Richard Bright went under the posts for a third.

Henry Goldson added a fourth before Davy McGregor completed the scoring.

Finally, Camborne recorded a 28-22 victory over Hornets to round off the action.