NATIONAL ONE ROUND-UP – WEEK 26

ROTHERHAM Titans wrapped up the National One title with a hard-fought 34-26 home success against gutsy Sale FC.

Lloyd Hayes converted an early Jackson Barling score and then kicked a penalty to put the hosts in command.

Dogs’ skipper Andy Hughes got his side on the board, James Robins with the extras, only for Barling to double up.

And Hayes then added to John Okafor’s try for 22-7 at the break.

Sale refused to give in, though, Nathan Langdon and Nev Edwards over before Robins cut the gap to three.

Titans, however, knew the title was theirs as Barling completed his hat-trick for the try bonus-point.

Hughes grabbed another seven-pointer, but Roth celebrated in style as Hayes converted Xavier Valentine’s late score.

Blackheath secure home play-off spot

Blackheath secured the home play-off spot and consigned Clifton to relegation following a dramatic 52-28 victory at The Utilita.

Home hooker Billy Harding made history by completing the perfect 26-match try-scoring sequence with the opener, Jake Hennessey and Luke Pollock over soon after.

Sam Morley added to the latter two for 19-0, but the visitors got off the mark as Jack Bennett touched down, Tom Quinlan with the extras.

Club replied emphatically, however.

Harding took his seasonal tally to 48, Finn Osborne touched down and Kyle McGhie also crossed.

Another two Morley conversions made it 38-7 at the interval.

Debutant Ben Murphy grabbed a try six minutes after coming on for Blackheath, but Clifton then rallied.

Bennett, Freddie Myatt and Zak Hamid all went over for converted scores to secure the try bonus-point which for a time looked like it would keep the Bristolians in the relegation play-off.

And that did not change even when McGhie rounded out the scoring after Archie Smeaton took Club past their half-century.

Late penalty helps Moseley survive for now

The key action for Clifton came at Billesley Common, where Birmingham Moseley snatched a last-gasp 35-33 victory against Bishop’s Stortford.

Starting the day in the drop zone, Mose slipped 12-0 down after James Apperley and Tristan Smith touched down inside seven minutes, Dan Cole converting the second.

But two Bishop’s yellow cards gave their opponents an opening Birmingham seized on.

Tries from Will Safe, Tommy Taylor, Travis Bennett-Alcock and Austin Nevitt, added to by three Jack Jolly conversions, made it 26-12 at the interval.

Jolly extended the lead with a penalty, only for Cole to add to a Jack Biard try.

Another Jolly kick looked insufficient as Will Rogers and Chris Bolton touched down for the visitors, two more Cole kicks leaving Bishop’s 33-32 up with 11 minutes to play.

At this stage Moseley were down, but a long-range Taylor strike secured the win and took his side from 53 league points to 56.

Clifton were left on 53 and would have entered to play-off on more wins if not for Taylor’s late heroics.

Albion and Rosslyn complete top four

Plymouth Albion will visit Blackheath in the first stage of the promotion shoot-out after toppling Leeds Tykes 54-24.

The hosts fell behind as Ed Crossland converted a Lucas Walsh try, only for Albion to hit back through Noah Fenton, Rhys Williams and Huw Taylor – Iwan Jenkins landing after all three for 21-7.

Seramaia Turagabeci and Walsh made it a four-point game at half-time, but Plymouth were ruthless after the break.

Williams completed his hat-trick – Jenkins adding to the second – before Alex Green and Crossland reduced the arrears to 33-24.

However, Plymouth pulled clear in the final quarter as Fenton, Oscar Stewart and Morgan Stone touched down, Jenkins taking his tally to 14.

Rosslyn Park moved above Sale to a fourth-placed finish with a wild 52-40 triumph at Dings Crusaders.

Bristol Academy ace Ethan Surrey gave Dings the lead, fellow Bear Sam Worsley knocking over the kick.

Ed Volley and Luc Smith levelled matters, only for Worsley to add to his own score.

Smith slotted after Max Fraine went over, Dings again back in front after Tom Knight’s seven-pointer.

Park equalised for a third time thanks to Cameron King and Smith, but it was 28-21 to the hosts at the break thanks to Tomas Gwilliam and Worsley.

A Joe Luca Smith try reduced the deficit before Park took the lead for the first time as Smith added to a Luke Mehson effort.

But Dings went back up 35-33 after Worsley landed following Omar Ly’s try.

Luca Smith’s second, added to by Smith, was responded to by Sol Taufa to leave things 40-40 early in the final quarter.

But Tom Stanton’s try plus Smith’s conversion and a five-pointer of his own sealed the deal for Rosslyn.

Barnes bags six as TJs smash Lions

Curtis Barnes scored a sensational double hat-trick as Tonbridge Juddians put bottom side Leicester Lions to the sword 83-14 at The Slade.

The wing put TJs in front before the visitors edged ahead after Luke Bouchier converted an Ahren Crowley score.

But it was 55-7 at the break as Barnes took his tally to three, Oscar Waite, Lewis Gjaltema, Archie White, Connor Lloyd, Harrison Sims and Tom Kendrick also touching down.

Tom Mannix converted five of the nine first-half scores.

Barnes made it four early in the second period, Lloyd on target after taking over kicking duties.

The same duo made it 69-7 before Ethan Godferoy went over for Lions’ second, Bouchier again on target.

Tonbridge had the final word, though, Lloyd adding to his second try and then Barnes’ remarkable sixth.

Rams closed the season seventh in the standings following the 61-40 home victory against Sedgley Park.