Nuneaton 28 Barking 10
Nuneaton got what they needed with a bonus point victory over rock-bottom Barking's multi-national collection, but made hard work of it in several respects and periods of an average-versus-mediocre team contest ensued.
Despite facing a stiff, bitter wind in the first half, Nuns had the lions' share of territory and a string of half-chances which they failed to convert into scores through faulty handling.
Lock Chris Jones seemed to spend most of his time outside among his backs and, though it brought him two tries later, his overlap pass ten yards out was far too high for left winger Lee Parry to collect.
Gareth Cull put Nuns ahead with a 15th-minute penalty and, on 31 minutes, seemed to judge perfectly his difficult conversion attempt across the adverse wind, aiming well wide and curling the ball in, but it struck the near upright.
That was after Jones had rounded off a 70-yard attack by full back Jon Lowdon and Parry, and the lock ended the half with his second try out on the right after good work on the left by Parry and No 8 Glenn Southwell.
Chris Dermody had landed a Barking penalty before the interval and, contrary to expectations of second-half Nuns domination, reduced their lead to 13-10 by improving replacement flanker Eddie Jones' 46th-minute try in an all-action spell by the visitors.
All came right eventually for Nuns with centre Jody Peacock sending Lowdon over and fly half Cull converting his own clever break and touchdown before putting over a closing penalty goal.
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Cambridge 10 Stourbridge 32
Imposing Stourbridge maintained their challenge with their fourth win and third bonus point in four weeks while inflicting a first home defeat upon Cambridge since their summer promotion as champions of National Three South.
The only sobering thought for Stour is that their exciting young fly half Sam Robinson suffered a nasty looking second-half knee injury which will mean a scan later this week.
Robinson had given Stourbridge a 13th-minute lead with a solo try when slicing open the home defence from a set scrummage feed and they were 19-0 up by 35 minutes after two more tries and two conversions by Alistair Bressington.
It was first a cross kick, then a delicate chip, both by Robinson, which were each collected on the full and grounded, one by left winger Jon Hall, the next by centre Mark Eastwood.
Cambridge had faced a strong wind — well used for tactical kicking by Robinson and Bressington — but in their first meaningful attack responded with a try by winger Dominic Jones who showed impressive pace.
The home side took control in their third quarter and Stour required all their well-drilled defence to hold out, but could not stop captain and No 8 Glen Remnant scoring from one of many rolling mauls.
Stour got back on top and in the last ten minutes Bressington kicked a penalty, then raced up his right wing and kicked into goal where full back Matt Williams, now switched to fly half, made the touchdown.
Finally Eastwood powered through form short range for his second and Stour's fifth try.
