RUGBY: Weekend round-up

Darren Dean with the ball in OLs' win over Wellingborough earlier this month

Old Laurentians added another great win to their relegation-escape bid, beating seventh-placed Paviors 38-31 away from home on Saturday. It lifts OLs up one more place in the Midlands 1 East table, to third from bottom, one point ahead of Newark on 32 and seven clear of Matlock on 25.

But OLs have a difficult next game in prospect on April 2, when they host leaders Bedford Athletic.

Newbold also had a good win on Saturday, beating ninth-placed Bugbrooke away from home, 28-18. Newbold stay third in the table and visit Matlock next week in a re-arranged game.

KJ Henry in Newbold's win over leaders Bedford Athletic earlier this month

Newbold then host second-placed Derby on April 2 at Parkfield Road in a crucial match.

In Midlands 3 West (South) Cheltenham North called off their game with Rugby Lions due to a shortage of front row players.

Lions, now have 76 points and stay third in the table, behind Evesham on 80 points and Southam, also on 76 but with a greater points difference of +504 to +462.

On April 2 Lions get to host league leaders Evesham at Webb Ellis Road, before a trip to Harbury on the 9th and will finish the season with a home game against fourth-placed Ledbury on April 16.

Paddy Larchet in Rugby Lions one-point defeat by Southam earlier this month

The final placings look likely to go right to the wire, with Southam hosting Evesham on the 16th.

In the Eastern division, Rugby St Andrews went to Dunstablians and suffered a 39-0 defeat. Saints have slipped to seventh in the table, with their hosts in fifth.

Saints have a home derby at John Tomalin Way on April 2 when third-placed Long Buckby are the visitors.

In Midlands 5 West (South) third-placed Rugby Welsh didn’t have a game this week, but host second-placed Five Ways Old Edwardians on April 2. Old Eds were beaten 36-5 by Keresley on Saturday, who take over the top spot.

Welsh finish the season on April 16 away to Trinity Guild.