Quartet get off to a flying start

Bill Beaumont Division Three round-up

By GEORGE WELLBELOVE

IT WAS a day of big scorelines in Division 3 as Leicestershire, Middlesex, Dorset & Wiltshire and Sussex all racked up sizable victories to get off to flying starts with their sights on Twickenham.

In Pool 1, Leicestershire dismantled neighbours Warwickshire with an immense attacking display. Justin Trombas crossed over for an emphatic hat-trick to help his side to a 71-17 victory. Alex Barradall, Luke Gutteridge, Kier-on Stone, Guy Randell, Kieran Hussey, Oliver Duffield and a brace from Lewis Elliman created an insurmountable lead. Mitchell Culpin commanded proceedings in a confident performance, showing his class throughout and secured seven conversions from nine attempts. Warwickshire had little answer for Leicestershire’s prowess but secured three tries for their efforts through a brace from Takudzwa Chawadya and a try from Mohan Senavirathne.

It was a testing away match for Eastern Counties in Pool 2 as they came out on the end of a 55-24 loss to Middlesex. In the capital, Middlesex proved to be too strong to get their campaign off to the best possible start. The visitors showed fight and promise for the full 80 minutes with tries coming from Sam Day, Aaron Eagle and Tom Jackson. Jake Alsop was perfect off the tee for Eastern Counties. Middlesex will now set their sights on Essex to secure top spot in the group.

Dorset & Wiltshire put 70 points on Berkshire to continue their historic domination over Pool 3 and extend Berkshire’s winless run against them. Semi Nacoko, Jack Adams and Robert Brown all scored braces to sweep aside their opponents in Royal Wootton Bassett. Further tries from John Fruci-Jewell, Mitchell Gough and Harry Whigham added to the rout. The away side avoided being nilled but it was a day to forget for Berkshire as they look to secure a result against Oxfordshire next weekend.

Meanwhile, Sussex blew Surrey away in Esher as they ran out 15-40 winners to continue their winning streak against their fellow home county side. Surrey put out a relatively inexperienced team with 13 debutants in the matchday squad and they were immediately thrust into a baptism of fire. It was a far cry from the tense matchup last season, which ended in a four -point win for Sussex, but the visitors simply had too much for the home side in Pool 4 to continue the trend of runaway victories and wrap up a brilliant beginning for Division 3.