In our latest weekly rugby round-up, there’s a fine win for Colchester, a derby day triumph for Stowmarket and a big shutout victory for the Bury Foxes.
London One North
COLCHESTER claimed a superb victory on the road at top-of-the-table North Walsham, triumphing 21-12.
While the Blacks were delighred to come home with the win, there was frustration that some suspect handling had denied them the bonus-point achieving fourth try and Rochford took top spot in the league as a result.
Colchester took the lead through a tap-and-go try from scrum-half Matt Wadling, before Dan Brenna extended their lead after the break.
A Damien Brambley try soon folowed – converted by James Crozier – to make it 21-0.
Dan Smith and Matt Hodgson got tries back for Walsham, but they could not get closer.
Elsewhere, DISS were thumped 69-7 by the aforementioned Rochford, a professional side who just proved too good. Man of the match Nick Garnham scored their only try.
SUDBURY were also defeated, 31-12 at Eton Manor on a plastic pitch which made for an incredibly fast game and saw them 26-0 down at the break.
They did hold their own in the second half, scoring two late tries, but were beaten by the better side on the day.
London Two North East
SOUTHWOLD fell to a 14-10 defeat in a dull clash at South Woodham Ferrers.
The home side took the lead after a controversial yellow card saw ‘Wold a man down after ten minutes.
To their credit, the Suffolk side fought back and Jonny Mayall levelled the scores with a try, converted by Luke Wade, just before the break.
Wade gave ‘Wold a 10-7 lead with a penalty, before another yellow card saw them down a man again and, with Ferrers pressing on the Southwold line, they were awarded a penalty try which won the game.
Meanwhile, a weakened IPSWICH side were beaten handily 47-19 at league leaders Woodford.
Tawanda Kandemwa gave them the lead with an interception and 75-metre run, and he then kept Ipswich in the game single-handedly scoring another two tries to keep them in touching distance at 26-19.
But the exertions of the first three quarters of the match took their toll and Woodford pulled away to give the scoreline a flattering look.
Elsewhere, STOWMARKET grabbed a fine win across the border in Norfolk, seeing off Norwich 39-24.
Matt Edison started the scoring with his first try for the club, and Nick Kegge and Dan Garrard then added scores of their own.
But Norwich’s forwards started to dominate and two tries before half-time made it 17-17 at the break.
In the second half, a stalemate gave way to a Stowmarket try streak as Norwich began to tire.
Dotun Ogunkeyede and a brace from Leif Bjornson put the Suffolk side ahead to stay, with a penalty from Casha Nijhawan for good measure.
London Three Essex
CHELMSFORD beat Canvey 29-12 on the road to make it four wins in a row to start the season, and move top of the table.
Mike Dawson opened the scoring after just two minutes, and added another to stretch their lead after a fine passing move.
Harry Thompson added to the score when he showed good pace to cross wide, before Canvey snatched a try back.
However, fine passing again saw Scott James score to make it 22-5 at half-time.
A stop-start second half followed, but Thompson crossed again to make the game safe, before a late consolation try from the home side.
They face Old Cooperians looking to continue their winning run this weekend.
Essex rivals BRAINTREE faced Old Coops this week, winning 45-21 away.
Joe Young gave them the lead, with Dominic Dann, Dylan Moss (two) and Darren Page stretching the lead to 31-7 at the break.
Dan Olley and Fergus Rollit-Mason added to the scores after the break, with both tries converted by Rob Oakley.
Women
The BURY FOXES welcomed local rivals WOODBRIDGE AMAZONS to west Suffolk for their first home game of the season, and downed them in style, 41-0.
EJ Stearn and Elina Rougier scored their first two tries, both converted by Robyn Gordon, before Stearn crossed again to make it 19-0 at the break.
Bury killed the game with two more scores inside the first ten minutes of the second half, Rougier adding her second and Robyn Gordon grabbing her first. Stearn then grabbed her hat-trick and Gordon added a second on the last play of the game.
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