TABLE-TOPPING Richmond made it four wins on the spin with a come-from-behind 38-21 home success against Bishop’s Stortford.
The visitors raced into a 14-0 lead as Mike Cooke added to two Tom Mills tries, ‘Mond halving the deficit before the break as Callum Grieve converted Alex Schwarz’ score.
The goal-kicker continued his fine form from the tee after Miles Wakeling, Lewis Dennett and Tololima Savaiinaea went over, Mills completing a brilliant hat-trick before Cooke made it 28-21.
A Grieve penalty gave the hosts breathing space, and they sealed the deal when he again bisected the uprights following Savaiinaea’s second.
Rotherham Titans remain hot on the Londoners heels following another dramatic victory, this time downing visitors Birmingham Moseley 28-27.
There was little to suggest the compulsive finish as Roth went 12-0 up early on, Callum Bustin and Calum Barrett touching down as Lloyd Hayed converted the first.
Jack Jolly slotted a penalty before Bustin and Hayes made it 19-3, Moseley cutting the gap through Aquile Smith and the extras from Jolly.
Hayes kicked a penalty before Will Safe went over for Mose, Jolly’s kick making it 22-17 at the break.
Birmingham hit the front via a converted Ollie Allsopp score, but after Hayes and Jolly exchanged kicks, it was the former who struck the vital blow as Titans yet again got the job done.
Rosslyn Park climbed to third in the table with a hard-fought 21-19 home win against relegation-threatened Leicester Lions.
Steffan James added to Matt Woodward’s third-minute try for the hosts before Jordan Tebbatt replied for Lions.
James was on target again following Will Glover’s try, and after Tebbatt doubled up, Luke Bouchire with the extras, former Ram James landed again after Dan Laventure dotted down for 21-12 at the break.
Leicester kept going and closed within two points at the start of the third quarter, Ethan Godferoy over the line and Bouchier adding the extras, but they were unable to avoid a defeat which leaves them 12 points behind third-bottom Esher.
Sedgley Park all but guaranteed their survival with a tremendous 25-22 triumph at Blackheath.
Rhys Henderson’s converted try gave Tigers an early lead before Tom Ffitch kicked a penalty for Club, Warren Seals replying to make it 10-3 to Sedge.
Auguy Slowik and Henderson exchanged tries before the break, but Ffitch levelled things following Jake Hennessey’s touchdown.
Park went back in front thanks to Will Connor and Seals, the latter slotting another three-pointer to give his side breathing space.
The Hennessey-Ffitch combination cut the deficit to three on 67 minutes, but Tigers held on for a superb win.
Dings Crusaders were another side to all but secure another campaign in National One with a 31-24 victory at bottom side Darlington Mowden Park.
Will Thompson’s try for the visitors was countered by one from Huw Lloyd, Dings up 12-5 at half-time after Jamie Elswood converted a Max Rivers effort.
DMP hit back through a Reuben Parsons double, Junior Newton adding to both, before Crusaders had a further setback when Alex Bilton was red carded.
Yet they equalised thanks to Tomas Gwilliam and Elswood, only for Mowden to regain the lead when Ollie Walker touched down.
Dings, though, rallied in the final 12 minutes, Elswood on target after Alex Ashton crossed before Gwilliam sealed the deal with his second – Park’s misery confounded with a late red for Ben Douglas.
Sale’s strong form continued with a 37-21 win at Esher.
Ben Robbins dotted down inside a minute for the Eees, Tom Walker with the extras, before Ciaran Parker replied for the visitors, James Robins levelling.
Sam Clarke’s try for Sale was outdone by a converted Robbins second, but Clarke doubled up to put the Dogs 17-14 up at the break.
The centre completed a stunning hat-trick to extend the lead before Henry Mortimer and Walker made it a one-point game, the away side pulling clear as Andrew Hughes, Ben Carlile and Tom Brady finished the job.