Points on the board in opening day win

ASHBOURNE Rugby Club have begun the 2022-23 season a week earlier than most – and started with an excellent 25-15 win at home to Southwell.

For a week at least, that will keep the team on top of the new Counties One Midlands East (North) table.

The latest restructure by England Rugby will see Ashbourne up against some familiar foes this season – Coalville, Ilkeston, Lincoln, Loughborough among them, while they still have to make the long trip to play Market Rasen & Louth.

Newcomers include Mellish, Birstall and the second teams of the strong Burton and Hinckley clubs.

The league season was due to kick off next week but Southwell asked to move the game forward as they have an anniversary event this coming Saturday.

Southwell are coached by former Wales international Andy Powell but Ashbourne turned in a fine display against them.

The game was scoreless for the first half hour but it was the visitors who took an 8-0 lead into half-time after scoring a try and a penalty.

Ashbourne were undeterred and roared back to go 12-8 ahead after the break with tries from Mark Broom and Will Player, who Southwell were later to name man of the match.

The visitors hit back with a converted try to lead 15-12.

Next, Ollie Ruddock kicked a penalty to level the scores with 20 minutes to go.

With the game in the balance, George Beard made the decisive move for Ashbourne, going through to touch down after collecting his own charge down in Southwell’s 22.

Another Ruddock penalty from Ollie ended the scoring with two minutes left and Ashbourne kept Southwell from scoring for a losing bonus point.

Having played already, Ashbourne have no league game this Saturday.