Cocks close in on a top two finish

THE P-word can be whispered after another comprehensive victory for Ashbourne in Counties 2 Midlands East (North).

Jake Fernihough’s fast-developing young side saw off Ashfield 31-21 away from home on Saturday, despite missing a number of first team regulars, and they are now seven points ahead of thirdplaced Nottingham Moderns in the table, with two teams to be promoted.

It is Moderns who Ashbourne have to visit in their final game and they have not forgotten a single-point defeat to a controversial try against them on the opening day of the season.

“Ideally, we’d like to have it wrapped up before we go there,” said team manager Martin Farr, “but we have two big games coming up to try to achieve that.”

Those are away to fifth-placed Derby seconds on Saturday and at home to sixth-placed Nottingham Casuals the following week.

Against Ashfield, Ashbourne dominated the first half and put themselves into a fairly comfortable position.

They scored five tries, through Josh Wheeldon, Will Cross, Jack Bowers,

Fernihough and Jonny Riley, with Riley taking on kicking duties and converting three of them.

Ashfield rallied somewhat in the second half but only scored their final points in the last few minutes, so a real comeback was not really on the cards.

It was a good day, too, for Ashbourne seconds in Counties 3 Midlands East (Central).

With some of the club’s more senior players drafted in to help out the young team, they won their second game in a row, edging a thriller at home to Rollsroyce by 21-20.

That represented an excellent fightback after they had trailed 15-7 at half-time and then fallen 20-7 behind.

The turning point was when Richard Smith was switched to fly half and began to dominate the game.

Rolls-royce’s kicking let them down – they scored four tries but could not convert any, while Ashbourne scored three and Will Allen converted them all.

Allen also scored one of the tries. Smith chased his own excellent kick to touch down for another and Jacob Hickman powered in for the winning try,.

The Colts made it a fine weekend for the club by beating Ilkeston 31-24 away in the Notts, Lincs & Derbys Plate quarterfinal and they now have a trip to Market Rasen for their semifinal.

The club’s veterans had a 34-3 win over Newcastle under Lyme on Friday evening.

PICTURE: STUART FLETCHER. Captain Jake Fernihough was among the try-scorers as Ashbourne marched to an away victory against Ashfield.

PICTURES: STUART FLETCHER Jacob Hickman on his way to scoring the winning try for Ashbourne seconds as they edged out Rollsroyce 21-20 at home on Saturday.

Man of the match John Ford on the charge for Ashbourne seconds, with support from Tom Wager.

James Wright aims to break away from a would-be tackler.

Dom Harrison on the attack for Ashbourne.