RUGBY: Wins for Newbold and OLs

PICTURES BY MIKE BAKER

It was a real mixed bag of results around Rugby on Saturday, with all five first teams playing at home. There were celebrations for Newbold and Old Laurentians, but bitter disappointment for Lions in their promotion campaign.

Newbold pulled off a fantastic 27-0 victory over runaway Midlands 1 East leaders Bedford Athletic at Parkfield Road on Saturday. It was only Bedford’s second defeat of the season, and keeps Newbold in third spot.

Old Laurentians also had another excellent win to lift themselves off the bottom of the table, when they beat Wellingborough 32-3 at Fenley Field. OLs are now four points ahead of Matlock, although the Derbyshire side have a game in hand. Wellingborough are eighth in the table.

The battle of the top two in Midlands 3 West (South) ended with a one-point defeat for Rugby Lions at Webb Ellis Road. Southam, who won 15-14, take over at the top now, although Lions are level on 71 points. Evesham are third on 70, but have played one game less.

In the East division, it wasn’t the best of days for Rugby St Andrews in their local derby with Daventry, doing down 30-10 at John Tomalin Way. Saints are sixth in the table, two places above their visitors.

After their brilliant victory over leaders Five Ways Old Edwardians last week, Rugby Welsh couldn’t reproduce their sparkling form. They lost 11-8 to fifth-placed Copsewood with the last kick of the game at Alwyn Road.

Welsh have now dropped to third in Midlands 5 West (South), but are just one point behind second-placed Keresley.

Next week, being international weekend, there are no Midlands league games.