Quickfire try double fires Bath to top of the table
RESULTS went with form as a full ticket of Wednesday fixtures gave some shape to the table.
Bath went top with an impressive 19-37 win away to Nottingham Trent at Lady Bay.
It was nip and tuck for the opening half hour as Trent led 7-3 through a Jake Farnworth rumble converted by Max Craven. Hugo Stiles had countered with a penalty but it was quickfire scores from Kas Eelman and Will Partington both burnished by the boot of Stiles that turned the game.
Chris Barry, Brandon Bellamin and Beck Cutting made the victory emphatic, before David Williams and Luke Boucher restored some home pride for Trent in the final five minutes with Caetano Branco converting one.
Cardiff picked up a try bonus in defeat at Llanrumney to Exeter 27-35.
Josh Pieterse, Charlie Davies, Olly White, Matt Bursey and Matt Johnson all dotted down for Exeter while Sam Morley didn’t miss a kick.
The game was fiercely contest and remained a tussle to the end as Cameron Lewis, Jesse Outlaw and George Thomas dotted down with Rhod Wall’s 79th minute try earning Cardiff a well deserved BP. Owen Williams added 7 points from the tee on the night.
Cardiff Met stopped the rot at Cyncoed by beating inconsistent Leeds Beckett 32-21.
Beckett’s only answer to Met’s first half tempo came in the form of a penalty try. Tom Benjamin crossed early for Met, followed by a Shawn Howard double to lead 22-7 after 40 minutes.
Harry Johnston who kicked 12 points in all added a penalty after half time before Beckett fought back. Steff James converted Hayden Green-Thompson’s try then Tobi Akemakin’s to trail by four but with the visitors breathing down Met’s neck, Luke Northmore picked up a loose pass and raced under the posts to seal the win.
Hartpury made it three wins in a row by shading a tense encounter 18-17 against Northumbria at Gillman’s Ground.
An error strewn first half left little for the crowd to shout about. Nathan Chamberlain and Josh Hodge exchanged penalties before Ervin Muric finally brought some class to the turf with a dummy and fend to finish powerfully for Hartpury. The conversion was missed but the home side led 8-3.
Pury scored swiftly after the restart with Muric again proving elusive before Toby Venner seared under the sticks for easy extras to be added. Northumbria responded though, through backrow menace Yaree Fantini who scored a quick double. Hodge maintained kicking perfection and the away side led for the first time 15-17. Enough time remained, however, for the Men in Black to infringe in their 22 and Chamberlain to slot the winner to roars of delight.
Durham got their title challenge back on track defeating old enemies Loughborough 32-19 at Hollow Drift.
The Palatinate blew The African Violet away in the first half securing the bonus point in the process with tries from Tom Lewis, Saul MelvinFarr and a Myles Rawstron-Rudd brace who also added two conversions with Loughborough hanging in by virtue of a penalty try.
The flames of hope were fanned for the away side by Taju Atta and Tom Walsh tries, but they were extinguished for good by another unconverted Durham try from Oscar Boe and a Rawstron-Rudd penalty.