MEN'S RUGBY: Odita doubles up but ONs suffer defeat

STOPPED IN HIS TRACKS - action from Old Northamptonians' defeat to Newbold (Pictures: Dave Ikin)

ONs, who are now third, behind Kettering, lost 39-19 to league leaders Newbold on Avon, whose mammoth pack took control at Billing Road.

Newbold had fallen behind early on, with ONs showing their potency with ball in hand to take a 12-5 lead.

Eddie Allen had put the away side ahead, but ONs responded superbly, scoring through winger Dan Odita.

Odita was soon scoring his second try of the game, with his pace taking him clear to grab one of ONs’ tries of the season.

Rory Seymour converted and ONs had a seven-point cushion, but Newbold were to dominate the remainder of the half, heading in at half-time 26-12 up.

Matt Love gave ONs hope with a score after the break, with Seymour again adding the extras, but that was as good as it got, as Newbold finished with a flourish.

Towcestrians 27 Sandbach 29

Sandbach visited a packed Greens Norton Road for a match that the Towcetrians would have targeted as a must-win in the National League 3 Midlands run-in.

Tows started incredibly slowly, gifting the visitors a 14-0 lead as they conceded two tries in the first four minutes.

Sandbach soon added a penalty and the Tows were faced with a 17-point hill to climb.

The fightback started when Craig Holton went over for a try, converted by James Snook.

But sloppy tackling allowed Sandbach’s winger in for a converted try in reply.

Snook again cut the deficit when he went over for a try and the half ended with Tows trailing 24-12.

The second half started brightly for Tows with Snook again slotting a penalty and then Holton grabbed his second try of the match, intercepting after a Nicky Blackham smash tackle.

Snook converted to bring the home side to two points down and Tows crossed again when a Marc Yeates kick was gathered by Matt Bodily to score a bonus-point try.

Tows were 27-24 up, but Sandbach ran a lineout penalty for Ant Davies to cross for the winning try.

Towcestrians IIs beat Hereford IIs from National League 2 38-7.

The Colts bowed out of the Oceanic Cup after going down 24-5 at Olney.

Mens Own IIs 19 Heathens 36

A BIG second-half comeback secured victory for Heathens in this friendly clash.

Mens Own were 19-0 up at the break, but Heathens  went on to register 36 unanswered points, with Gareth Ivett (2), Andy Ingate, Simon Smith, Connor O’Brien and Joe Yeo scoring.

Stamford 10 Olney 38

OLNEY cruised to victory in this Midlands 2 East (South) fixture.

Olney were 19-0 up at the break thanks to tries from Kane Russell, Harry James and Phil Bowden.

And the away side added further efforts from Cam Keenan, Bowden and Hamish Bull in the second half.