Brave show from patched-up Cents at league leaders
APATCHED-UP Old Centralians side put up a brave fight before going down 50-28 to South West Premier leaders Exeter University.
Cents travelled without much hope of getting anything from the match as they fielded the only players left standing in the club because of injury, unavailability and Covid concerns.
So to come away with a try scoring bonus point spoke volumes for the commitment of the squad.
At half-time Cents were losing 24-21 and the home side’s superior fitness told in the end.
They took home a point thanks to scores from Mike Mathers, Tim Willcox (two) and a penalty try, while Harry Preece kicked three conversions.
Elsewhere, many games were called off due to Covid outbreaks in some clubs, although the RFU gave clubs the option to call games off without sanction should either club wish to do so.
In South West One West, Lydney, Newent and Old Patesians had the weekend off and a defeat for leaders St Austell leaves Lydney fourth, six points off top spot, while Newent sit sixth and Pats are bottom.
No games were played in Southern Counties North, so Stow-on-the-wold stay second in the table, two points behind leaders Reading.
Matson’s Western Counties North derby game with Chosen Hill Former Pupils was one of two games in the division to go ahead.
Matson took advantage with a 38-7 win at Brookfield Road, led by a hattrick of tries from Josh Claxton.
Tom Porter, Kian Bayliss and Fergus Jones also went over with Farrell Gwilliam kicking four conversions.
Matson have now opened a 16-point lead over second-placed Cheltenham after 14 bonus point wins out of 14
Rob Panting scored the Chosen Hill try, converted by Andy King, but they have dropped down to fourth as Gordano won 56-0 at Cleve in the division’s other game to move into third on points difference.
Cheltenham North sit second-bottom, ahead of Spartans who are on minus 13 points after conceding three matches amid player availability issues.
In Gloucester Premier, only two games survived with Hucclecote continuing their fine upturn in form with a 26-12 win over Dings Crusaders II.
Cote started the season with six successive defeats but have now won four of their last five games to climb to seventh in the 12-team table.
This latest win saw Mickey Graves scored two tries with one each for Patrick Hanslow and Lewis Keates, with three Charlie Hurst conversions completing the tally.
Old Richians are ninth after going down 40-29 to fourth-placed Bristol Saracens.
Longlevens sit second in the table, nine points behind leaders Clifton II, while Old Cryptians are fifth, Coney Hill eighth and Cheltenham Saracens and Ross-on-wye are the bottom two sides.
Gloucestershire One North leaders Smiths Rugby saw their game with Berry Hill called off and they have a 12-point lead at the top.
Behind them there is an almighty scrum for second spot as six teams are seperated by only three points.
Gordon League are second after they won 15-3 against Cirencester at Hempsted Lane with tries for Carlo Colucci and Kaian Buhagair.
Jake Hanley kicked a conversion and a penalty and League are a point ahead of third-placed Berry Hill but have played a game more.
Three teams are locked on 33 points, Drybrook II, Gloucester Old Boys and Old Centralians II.
Old Boys were 19-12 winners over Drybrook II, helped by another two tries for Spencer Miller.
Niall Galvin scored their other try, their tally completed by two conversions from James Murphy.
Craig Clarke scored both tries for the Squirrels, with one converted by Andy Milner, while Old Cents II saw their game at seventh-placed Brockworth called off.
The league’s bottom four played each other with Widden Old Boys and Chosen Hill FP II beating Fairford and Matson II respectively.
At Coln House, Fairford suffered a 31-29 loss in front of a large and loud crowd but took two bonus points.
The Greens and Blacks’ points came from tries for Adam Blizzard, Greg Jones, Will Bowers and Sam Johnson, while Harri Cummings converted three and kicked a penalty.
But it wasn’t enough as Widden took their second win of the season, led by two tries for Callum Maysey.
Akeem Richards and Paddy Joyce also went over with the rest of points coming from the boot of Jordan Walker
Chosen Hill II are back in positive points but stay bottom after their 31-19 win over their Matson counterparts.
Malachi Mills crossed twice alongside scores for Tanaka Kanhakamwe, Ben Leach and Zack Taylor, Jake Lines converting one score and adding two penalties.
Leaders Dursley made it 11 wins from 11 in Gloucestershire One South and lead the way by 13 points as they beat Whitehall 27-10.
Tries from Josh Bailey, Ethan Goring, Duncan Goodison and Dylan Armstrong did the trick in the only game to be played in the division.
Bream sit third, five points behind second-placed St Mary’s Old Boys and Lydney II lie seventh.
Two games survived in Gloucestershire Two North, with Tewkesbury winning 22-19 in their derby clash against Bredon Star.
Liam Mellor, Brad Hunt, Elliot Lovatt and Tom Cane crossed for Tewkesbury, with a conversion from James Watkins.
They climb to third in the table, a point behind second-placed Star, who scored three tries, courtesy of Xander Seddon, Bertie Tarrant and Jake Carolan, two being converted by Matt Alonso.
Star are five points behind leaders Cheltenham Civil Service, who have a game in hand.
Stroud sit fourth, a point behind Tewkesbury and two off Bredon, again having played a game less.
The other game saw Painswick go down 31-20 to Old Cryptians II despite tries for Rhys Gaskell, Tom Coombs, Sam Andrews and James Dangerfield.