Warks back to winning ways at long last

Division Two Round-up

WARWICKSHIRE failed to secure a victory in the Bill Beaumont County Championship last season but they started this year in style, securing a bonus point against Somerset.

Somerset were forced to play an hour of the game with 14 men after secondrow Brett Harvey was sent off by referee Jack Le Feuve for illegal use of the head in a minor tussle.

But that did not deter the visitors, who took the lead minutes later with flanker Matt Denton bursting through to touch down beneath the posts.

When the home side had a three-on-one advantage, replacement Liam Munro levelled the scores.

The Bears started the second half the stronger and were rewarded when openside flanker Sam McNulty burrowed over from close range and flyhalf Dan O'Brien added the extras.

The pressure continued with O’Brien putting a grubber kick through for captain Elliott Brown to pick-up the loose ball and finish. O’Brien converted off the upright.

The Bears finished off with two long-range tries, the first a 50-metre dash down the touchline from wing Josh D’Arcy followed by a run of 40 metres from Moses Liwaliwa Sukai after an interception.

Elsewhere, Hampshire got their Championship season off to a winning start, scoring eight tries in a 56-35 win over North Midlands at Gosport and Fareham.

Two tries from Havant’s Joel Knight and one each from Curtis Barnes and replacement Jake Caddy eased the home side into a 32-7 lead after just 27 minutes, coach Mitch McGahan adding one for the visitors.

Hampshire then gifted North two scores but their worries were eased when debutant Joe Davis, outside centre Robbie Searle and lock Harrison Young all crossed to push Hampshire well clear.

Elsewhere, Leicestershire edged to a tight 33-29 win at Staffordshire while Durham eased past Cumbria 64-5.