Green Machine gathers speed with clinical win over Hartpury

THE tie of the round took place at Gillman’s Ground where league leaders Exeter inflicted a fatal blow to Hartpury’s title ambitions 21-45.

Hartpury started brightest and their slick hands sliced open Exeter’s defence for Elias Caven to waltz under the sticks. Jack Capon’s converted effort swiftly cancelled out the home side’s early lead but it wasn’t long before Max Clementson pounced on an Exeter error to restore Pury’s seven point advantage.

It prompted a ruthless and merciless response from Exeter. MOTM Paul Schroter was at the bottom of a try-scoring driving maul before setting up Olly White. Sam Morley converted as he would do five of seven tries on the night.

Matt Blee’s second half yellow didn’t slow down Exeter down as Luke Bliss, Pierre Thompson, Will Hollis and Sam Morley all crossed to threaten the 50 point mark but they finished short as Hartpury’s Alex Forrester restored some pride.

But they ended the game with nothing and put The Green Machine of Exeter in the title box seat.

Leeds Beckett are a menace looming large in anyone’s fixture list after recording their fourth win on the spin beating Nottingham

Trent 22-45 at Lady Bay. Trent’s tries from Jake Farnworth and JJ Broberg complimented by the boot of Will Sutton were no match for the might of a Beckett reborn.

John Okafor augmented his already impressive try scoring second row tally with a hat-trick while Ben Dixon and Will Lewis backed up with scores of their own. Beckett sit seventh breathing down the neck of Durham and Bath with playoff seedings to play for.

Cardiff hit a season high eighth leapfrogging opponents Loughborough with a 20-14 win at Llanrumney.

Owen Williams opened the scoring for the home side converting aswell before doing the same to Alex Everett’s effort on 37 minutes to give the new boys a 14-0 lead. Sam Bailey struck back for the African Violets soon after and with Fergus Guiry adding the conversion Loughborough were within a score with 40 minutes to play.

A tense stalemate ensued until Williams notched a penalty on 72 minutes but Loughborough wouldn’t lay down putting Tom Walsh over for a converted score. Williams held his nerve to add another three pointer which clinched the game for Cardiff.

Northumbria rule the North East roost after a 24-15 win over

Durham at Kingston Park.

Durham took the initiative 0-15 via tries from Josh Melvin-Farr, Josh Wright and five points from Kippa Fawcett’s boot but that would conclude their scoring.

Michael Walton dotted down on the stroke of half time to launch the Northumbria resurgence before quick fire tries from Tom Galbraith and Jamie Ross put The Men in Black ahead.

Josh Bragman converted all three and his final penalty made sure of the win.

Bath bounced back from last week’s loss to Cardiff by vanquishing

Met in the very same city.

Will Partington’s boot provided 13 points to support tries from Chris Barry and George Wootten. Russell Bennett converted Luke Northmore’s try to keep Met in with a chance until 63 minutes but Bath held firm confining The Archers to their second consecutive home loss.