Eleven Bears Academy players were in dual-reg action over the weekend, with Old Reds securing an impressive win on the road.

Old Reds photos courtesy of Graham Rowden.

English National League Two West
Bournville 12-23 Old Redcliffians

Centres, Gethin O’Callaghan and Toby Baker, both started in the Old Redcliffians team which won away at Bournville, 23-12.

A composed start for the hosts saw them take a nine point lead after 30 minutes with scrum half, Freddie Morgan, kicking three penalty goals.

However, Reds went into half time with the lead thanks to a swift counterattacking try finished off by Finn Murphy as well as two penalties kicked from the tee by Jack Gapper.

Another Morgan penalty took Bournville’s point tally to 12 before prop, Joe Rogers, burrowed over from close range to regain the lead for the Bristol side.

With the score locked at 16-12 going into the final quarter, a resolute Old Redcliffians defence did enough to stay firm and withhold their oppositions pressure.

Late in the game, Reds were given a second opportunity to quickly turn defence to attack as Tom McClean finished off a try from 50 metres away in his national league debut.

The result is the first time that Old Reds have won away from home this season and saw them climb to sixth in the table.

Next weekend, they will hosts Exeter University at Scotland Lane.

English National League One
Dings Crusaders 31-15 Sale FC

Tomas Gwilliam came off the bench to earn player of the match as Dings Crusaders beat Sale FC 31-15, in what was the first meeting of the two sides.

Joined in the front row by Louie Trevett and Jimmy Halliwell alongside Harry Rowson, Deago Bailey, Kenzie Jenkins and Aaron Tull, Gwilliam’s team went behind early after a Sale penalty goal.

The Crusaders replied quickly; Rowson was the spark as he carried hard, making space for George Boulton to slice through the Sale defence to score the first try of the match.

Deago Bailey helped to score Dings’ second try after Sale pulled one back of their own.  The ball popped out of a driving maul and into the hands of the Bristolian centre who connected with Sol Taufa to dive over.

Tom Knight converted the try with the last kick of the half to make the score 14-10 at the interval.

Inside centre, Boulton, was the catalyst for two Dings tries early in the second half after Sale’s first receiver, Will Hunt, was shown a yellow card.

The first try was finished and converted by himself while the second gifted Taufa his second try of the afternoon, the tricky winger gathered the ball that Boulton had kicked in behind to somersault over the line for the bonus point score.

In the latter stages of the game, Sale had a sustained period of pressure camped in the host’s red zone and crashed over from the back of a driving maul to make the score 26-15.

Second half replacement, Ollie Smith, scored late in the match to ensure that Dings saw the game out.

The result solidified Dings’ position in ninth place as they travel to fifth placed Blackheath next time out.

English National League Two West
Hornets 29-29 Cinderford

Sam Scott and Ethan Surrey were both in the starting Hornets lineup, as the Weston based side drew 29-29 at home to promotion chasing Cinderford.

The Hornets worked hard, earning a significant lead at the break, after Charlie Carter, Connor Vickery and Chris Francis all crossed the paint in the opening half.

Aaron Ryan was on the scoresheet for the visitors making the halftime score 19-7, in the favour of Scott and Surrey’s team.

Prolific winger, Josh Sheppard, added a fourth try for the Hornets early in the second half, increasing the points deficit to 17.

Sheppard’s try triggered a spirited Cinderford comeback with the Forest of Dean club bagging two tries swiftly after.

Later in the game, Cinderford took the lead as Nathan Taylor crashed over following a well drilled lineout routine; the conversion as well as an additional penalty gave the visitors a 29-24 advantage going into the dying embers of the game.

Corey Baker crashed over to level the scores at 29-29, giving Carter an opportunity to secure victory in the last play, however the full backs conversion attempt drifted wide just of the post.

Although a somewhat disappointing result for Hornets, considering the lead they had in the second half, the game meant that the Somerset side have lost only once in their last five games – an impressive stat for a team that lost four out of their opening five matches this term.

They travel to high-flyers Clifton next weekend, looking to continue their good run of form.