Ten Bears Academy players were in dual-reg action over the weekend, with Sam Edwards starring for Dings and two tries for Deago Bailey.
National League One
Dings Crusaders 31-31 Richmond
Scrum half, Sam Edwards was named man of the match as Dings Crusaders drew 31-31 at home to Richmond at Shaftesbury Park.
Alongside front row pair Tom Gwilliam and Jimmy Halliwell as well as Aaron Tull and Deago Bailey, Edward’s side got off to a fast start, racing into a 5-0 lead as centre, Bailey, crossed the paint.
Richmond fought back viciously, but quick-thinking Sol Taufa was able to latch onto a loose pass, scoring a breakaway intercept try from more than 50 metres out to make the score 12-3, inside the first quarter.
The hosts inability to exit from their 22 invited Richmond back into the game, an opportunity which they took, scoring twice in quick succession to take the lead.
A trademark Dings maul just before halftime was finished off brilliantly by Gwilliam to lock the scores at 17-17, at the interval.
After brilliant work in the midfield from Bailey and Ollie Smith, Edwards sold a dummy impressively to score the Crusaders bonus point try early in the second half.
Shortly after, as prop Louie Trevett was introduced, Edwards crossed the paint for his second of the afternoon which, once skipper George Boulton had converted it, took the scoreline to 31-17.
Midway through the second half Bailey was shown a yellow card just after Luc Jones scored for Richmond cutting the deficit to seven points.
With a man advantage, the visitors scored again, taking the score to 31-31.
Despite Dings stringing a number of phases together in the last couple of minutes of the match, they were unable to penetrate their opponents defence, eventually settling for the draw.
After bagging three points against Richmond, Dings Crusaders will travel to 6th placed Rosslyn Park next Saturday.
National League Two West
Hornets 27-21 Bournville
Sam Scott and Ethan Surrey both impressed for Hornets as they held on to beat Bournville 27-21 at the Nest.
The hosts started quickly, dashing into an early lead with Hayden Tuttiett’s converted try inside six minutes taking the score to 7-0.
Dominance at scrum time was key for Hornets with Scott performing admirably in the front row, earning a number of penalties which gained his side crucial territory in the opening exchanges of the match.
Pressure from the pack as well as effective lineout, led by Surrey and Corey Baker, helped the Weston-based side score their second and third tries.
Callum Lane crossed the whitewash from the back of a maul after Owen Griffiths finished well following great Hornets interplay in the Bournville 22.
Soon after, Josh Sheppard crashed over, extending the hosts lead to 24-0 before the half an hour mark.
A Charlie Carter penalty in the last play of the half made the score 27-0 at the break, rewarding the Hornets with a resounding lead after a remarkable first period.
Two tries in the first 13 minutes of the second half saw Bournville work their way back into the game, cutting the deficit to just over a dozen points.
After a front rower was shown a yellow card with around 15 minutes to play it seemed that the hosts would be able to see the game out, but a breakaway try for their opponents took the score to 27-21.
A converted try would see the visitors take the spoils in the most dramatic fashion and as they crossed the line it seemed that they would steal the game.
However, the late try was ruled out after referee judged the Bournville attacker to have made a double movement in the act of scoring the try.
With less than five minutes to play, Hornets were able to hold on, gaining a crucial bonus point win which extended the gap between them and the relegation zone to five points.
Hornets travel south to Exeter University next time out, looking to build some momentum in the league.
National League Two West
Taunton Titans 62-29 Old Redcliffians
Gethin O’Callaghan started at inside centre as Old Redcliffians were well beaten 62-29 away at Taunton Titans.
A blistering first half for the hosts saw them go into the interval with a 52-0 lead, scoring eight tries.
The youthful exuberance of Rocky Prowse mixed with the experience of player-coach Ollie Devoto (formerly of Exeter Chiefs) accounted for five of the Titans first half tries – with the former scoring four of them himself.
Jay Toogood, Reece Malone and Harry Beasley completed the scoresheet for the first portion of the match.
Old Reds started the second half with improvement, playing on the front foot and putting their opponents under some pressure, scoring two tries thanks to their driving maul.
Midway through the second half, Louie Sinclair kicked a penalty and 18-year old Prowse scored his fifth try of the afternoon to further increase Taunton’s lead.
Lock, Sam Taylor, crashed over for the visitors with 15 minutes to go, scoring the visitors third try of the match.
Old Reds were able to save at least some of the blushes, scoring two tries in the final three minutes of the game to rescue a bonus point.
The South Bristol side host Loughborough Students next weekend.
