Academy round up weekend of the 24th October 2009

National League 1
Esher 39
Blackheath 18

Esher pulled eight points clear at the top of the table this weekend after a five try blitz over League 1 strugglers Blackheath.
The game was pretty much over in the first half when Esher scored four of their five try's and had all ready secured a bonus point, however they fell asleep in the second half and let Blackheath play their way back into the game. Esher's full back and kicker Ulph started the scoring with a 30m penalty and then four minutes later added another.
A try came when a loose pass from Blackheath allowed Ulph to collect, pass to Thomas Loizides who ran under the posts. A penalty was Blackheath's consolation prize but it wasn't to stop Harlequins' Joe Marler battle his way through to dive under the posts. Esher put two more tries on the score board before the end of the half to finish it 32-3. The second half started with the same exuberance and Esher scored right away, but then fell asleep and allowed Blackheath to come back. Two tries and a penalty saw a glimpse of hope, but they couldn't damage Esher's first half rampage.

National League 2 South
Ealing 52
Bridgwater A 7

Ealing continued their dominance of their league with another convincing win over Bridgwater last weekend.
An eight try romp saw Ealing play some imaginative and wide rugby, and their first try came twenty minutes in when they touched down in the corner. Ealing did little to suggest a try fest was on board when a couple of penalties were all that they could bag moving deeper into the half. However two more converted tries were marked down before the half finished after using their wide play to seal their clinical style. Ealing brought on Bryan Young in the second half and he scored from a brilliant individual effort and was very quick to score again minutes later. Kiba Richards then scored twice and Bridgwater got their consolation try, finishing 52-7.


Dings Crusaders 21
Rosslyn Park 21

Park were lucky not to be defeated to a struggling Crusaders team last weekend. Crusaders had come from five straight defeats, and on paper should have been played off the pitch, however it was the complete opposite.
Park started off the strongest getting over the Crusaders line nine minutes in, which was also converted, but from here Crusaders started to dominate. Two penalties, a 55-metre effort, as well as an un-converted try gave Crusaders the lead at half time. 14-7. The second half started with Park converting two penalties, coming within a point of the home team but Crusaders kept their composure and stayed ahead with a well run move with the wing popping up and scoring under the posts for an easy conversion. Crusaders couldn't hold on and showed their past form when they allowed Park to put a penalty through the posts and an un-converted try to finish 21-21. Park will be unhappy with the way they played and Crusaders will be left to rue their luck.