Titans hit six ahead of return to National One
FOLLOWING their enthralling National Two North title race last season, Rotherham and Leeds Tykes met once again with the Titans coming out on top 40-7.
The game was competitive in spells but the National Two North champions put down a marker ahead of their return to National One.
Leeds scored in the first half through scrum-half Ewan Laughton but trailed 14-7 due to winger Cuchulain Livingstone and scrum-half JB Bruzulier touching down.
Rotherham added further scores in the second period through skipper Zak Poole, new signings Ronnie Du Randt and Travis Gideon, and Jamie Cooke, who returned after more than two years out from a leg break.
Last season's National One runners-up Rams came from behind four times before eventually snatching a thrilling 35-28 victory in a cracker at Welsh Premiership side Aberavon.
Steff Gibson crossed for the hosts but Rams replied swiftly through debutant Joe Pannese. Aberavon went back in front with Gibson grabbing his second but Rams equalised through Ollie Cole. James Clegg continued the Aberavon scoring but Ollie Moyle finished and then Ed Hoadley touched down before Harry Stone finished an enthralling contest.
National Two West champions Dings Crusaders saw off Bargoed's second team in a 34-19 triumph at Shaftesbury Park as Tongan winger Solomon Taufa touched down for a first half hat-trick. Further tries came from Ollie Smith, Gethin O'Callaghan and Ezra Craven despite a second half fightback from the Welsh side.
Bournville began their countdown to the new National Two West season with a hard-earned 26-19 victory over Bromsgrove in a fast, furious and entertaining encounter. Bromsgrove played a full part in the entertainment, whose enterprise was rewarded with tries from wing Ali Murray, flanker Josh Forbes and loosehead Will Parkes, with flyhalf Will Harris adding two conversions.
The visitors were in front until Connor Thorneycroft was driven over from close range eight minutes from time and recent recruit Freddie Morgan, a scrum-half who has arrived from Dudley Kingswinford, added the conversion to level at 19-19.
Bournville did not settle for the draw, but played with ambition and were rewarded when Clarkson McLeod rounded off a sustained counter-attack two minutes from time and Morgan added the extras.
The hosts had to split their resources with a second match inside 24 hours against Bridgend Ravens yesterday which proved a step too far for Bournville as they succumbed to a 5515 defeat.
National Two East's Worthing surrendered a 19-0 half-time lead as level 5 side Tunbridge Wells won 27-19. Tries from Kieran Tomlinson, Sam Myles and Harry Forrest had put the hosts in control but unanswered scores by Tom Fairly, Theo Rimmer, Jay Smith, Mylo Vanner-Mackew and Carter McCelland overturned the deficit.
Neath got their preseason off to a very impressive start when they ran in nine tries, seven converted, in a 59-0 win over Cambrian Welfare. The scores came from centre Kieran Charles (2), scrum-half Rhodri Cole (2), replacement Nathan Orrells (2), winger Llewellyn Hawkes, outside-half James Dixon and prop Jack Powell with full-back Steff Williams (5) and James Dixon (2) adding conversions.
Billingham were victorious away at newly promoted National Two North side Blaydon in a 24-5 victory thanks to tries from Joseph Scarborough, Ben Walton, Joe Ross and Jamie Lane.
National Two North outfit Otley were victorious 59-19 away at Scarborough courtesy of tries by Harvey Sellers, Harry Butler, Nick Fontaine, Tom Parnell, Jacob Holmes, Will Martindale, Elliott Spiers and Eddie Crossland.
Third tier Blackheath saw off National Two East title challengers Barnes 40-19 thanks to tries by Billy Harding, Tom Baldwin, Mike Hoyt, Augustin Slowik, Jake Hennessey and Paul Schroter.
Bishop's Stortford beat National Two East's Tonbridge Juddians 6321 in a 12-try thriller with Chris Smith and Alex Rayment scoring a brace of tries apiece for the victorious third tier outfit.
In a battle of two National One sides, Sedgley Park Tigers scored six tries as they beat Darlington Mowden Park 36-24, while National Two East's Dorking were well beaten 52-7 at home to third tier Richmond and National Two West runners-up Luctonians started their pre-season by beating Welsh Premiership side Cross Keys 33-14 at Mortimer Park.
National Two North side Fylde beat Rossendale 66-26, National One's Birmingham Moseley defeated Welsh Premiership side Pontypool 3619. The battle between England's third tier and Wales' first division continued but this time the Welsh Premiership came up on top as Pontypridd beat Cinderford 31-26.
Preston Grasshoppers of National Two North beat Blackburn away 35-10, National One Plymouth Albion dominated Camborne 52-12 and National Two North side Lymm enjoyed a successful day by scoring seven tries in their victories over Chew Valley (28-0) and National Two West side Hornets (19-0).
National Two East side Henley Hawks lost 61-33 to the West's Old Redcliffians, fellow West outfit Hinckley were involved in a thriller with newly promoted East team Havant with the south coast men coming on top 53-43.
Newly promoted National Two East side Oxford Harlequins suffered a 54-26 loss at home to London Welsh, third tier Rosslyn Park beat their domestic rivals Leicester Lions 48-12.
Fellow promoted side Colchester suffered a 42-24 loss at Oundle, Sevenoaks were victorious away at Bracknell 31-14 and National One side Esher beat Two East's Canterbury 45-26. National Two North's Tynedale were beaten at home 38-33 by Scottish Premiership side Heriots.
Elsewhere on Friday night, National One challengers Sale FC beat newly promoted National Two West Macclesfield 75-5, while Redruth, who Macc will face next season, won away at Launceston 26-19.
