Leading Lions roar to further success
UNSTOPPABLE leaders
Bournemouth roared into an early lead that was never threatened in a 33-18 victory at Exeter University to make it 20 wins from 21 games this season.
Despite shipping an early penalty, the Lions ran in two converted tries within the opening 13 minutes as Joe Tarrant and Scott Chislett got over the line and Grant Hancox duly added the extras for a 14-3 advantage.
Freddie Gleadowe extended the lead and while Exeter got one back to narrow the deficit, Chislett’s second stamped Bournemouth’s authority on proceedings once more.
Sam Hardcastle’s chip forward laid on the final try for Hancox and the triumph opened up a 20-point lead at the top of South West Premier due to Barnstaple's 25-12 loss away at Exmouth. The visitors had the ascendency in the first half but had to wait until the last two minutes to make the breakthrough through Nat Bayet – Jake Murphy added the extras.
A Sam Whitehead penalty closed the gap before the interval and Exmouth seized the initiative afterwards to move into a 22-7 lead before a late consolation for Barnstaple.
Ivybridge moved to within two points of second spot having cruised to a 50-7 bashing of backmarkers Old Patesians. It featured tries from Adam Northcott, Tom Scholes and Billy Pinkus, while Jack Harrod registered the sole effort for the visitors.
Elsewhere, Maidenhead made light work of
Newton Abbot with ten tries and eight conversions in a 66-0 success.
Scott Prince was the main man, bagging a hattrick, with Mike Davies, Elio Mandozzi and Todd Muil also among the tries, while a penalty try was awarded when Dave Cole was unfairly denied a score.
Gabe Hills was at the double to settle a tense 1210 win in Bracknell’s favour at Drybrook. It was one conversion that made the difference in the end in a match which featured two sin bins and a red card.
Connor Bedwell, Tom Goodman and Tom McLean were among the scorers as Brixham left
Cleve with a 34-27 win. And Weston-superMare eventually eked a 31-29 win at Camborne.