Week 13 - Mind the gap!

The gap between the top eight and the bottom four clubs is now a small but precarious chasm after London Scottish lost to Doncaster at the Athletic Ground on Saturday.

Man of the match, James Kellard’s two second half tries sparked an Exiles revival to pull them level at 20-20; Scottish had been 17-0 down after 27 minutes. But with seven minutes to go, winger Ben Toft’s try in the corner gave the visitors the points and lifted the Knights 14 points clear of the relegation zone.

Fellow relegation dodgers Moseley bagged a bonus point win against injury-hit Esher at Molesey Road on Saturday, in a game that was much closer than the 14-29 scoreline suggests.

What separated two closely matched teams was Esher’s tally of dropped passes and their inability to hold onto the ball in contact.

Ed Jackson - prolific try scorer 

At Meadow Lane on Friday night, Nottingham moved into the top four for the first time this season by virtue of a 26-10 win over London Welsh. The Green and Whites had James Arlidge to thank, as the former Japanese international was metronomic with the boot, contributing six penalties and a drop goal. The Exiles were never in the game and a late try by Ed Jackson converted by Gordon Ross was nowhere near enough for a losing bonus point.

However, Welsh coach Lyn Jones announced the signing of former Wasps’ Heineken Cup winner, loosehead Tom French, in a move to strengthen the besieged Exiles’ front row.

Tom French - formerly with Wasps

Bristol travelled to Brickfields on Saturday where two late tries consolidated their place at the head of the Championship table. Pete Drewett’s Albion are showing signs of improvement and were still in the game at 3-11 until the 79^th minute, when they conceded a penalty try following a series of scrums close to their line. Although Bristol are now three points clear of the pack, coach Liam Middleton was disappointed not to secure the bonus point.

Bristol could have been further out in front had Rotherham been able to kick on from a 10-0 lead against Bedford at Goldington Road on Saturday. Rotherham coach Andre Bester was rather too vocal with his opinion that referee Matt Carley was inconsistent at scrum time, and was invited to sit out the second half away from the technical area.

Tries from Sam Walsh and Sasha Harding, both converted by James Pritchard, put the Blues ahead 14-13 at the break. Bedford replied to a converted try from flanker Robin Copeland - who is attracting Premiership attention – and a Garry Law penalty, with a try from hooker Chris Locke and a conversion and a penalty from Pritchard. Leading by a point late in the game, the Blues breathed a sigh of relief as they watched Law’s penalty attempt drift wide. This moves Bedford into second place, two points ahead of London Welsh.

Finally, at Headingly on Sunday, Leeds exacted revenge for their 52-10 thrashing at the Mennaye Field back in September. Leeds deservedly finished 14-13 ahead in a game not short of controversy. Leeds wingman Michael Stephenson was sent to the sin bin, and the Pirates were awarded a penalty try, after he was adjudged to have tackled David Doherty early. In the second half, referee Dean Richards over-ruled his assistants and nullified a 35-metre penalty attempt from Joe Ford.

However Stephenson had the last word when he crashed over in the corner to win it for Leeds.

This result leaves the Pirates in fifth place with 43 points, and resurgent Leeds in seventh, 13 points adrift of the leaders. For full details of results and the Championship table, click here: http://clubs.rfu.com/Fixtures/MatchByDivision.aspx?DivID=130433319

This weekend sees a return to British and Irish Cup action. Join me next week to see how the Championship clubs got on.