Leeds coach Neil Back saw his side open up a commanding lead at the top of National One this weekend © Getty Images

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Leeds make it ten from ten

Tournaments/Tours English National Division One

Teams Leeds Carnegie

Leeds Carnegie opened up a five-point cushion at the top of National League One with a straightforward 52-7 away victory over local rivals Sedgley Park on Saturday.

Leigh Hinton opened the scoring for Neil Back's side, who went on to rack up four tries in each half to maintain their unbeaten start to the season. Leeds did concede their first points in three weeks however when Sedgley Park wing Peter Swatkins dotted down for a converted try in the dying seconds.

Exeter Chiefs kept up their charge at the top by downing Plymouth in the Devon derby. Fly-half Gareth Steenson was at his metronomic best in kicking 18 points during a 41-14 win, watched by the largest crowd of the season thus far at Brickfields.

The Chiefs also racked up five tries for a bonus point, but will be counting the cost of their victory after centre Brian Rennie was forced off the field with a dislocated shoulder and No 8 Mark Fatialofa dislocated an elbow.

A stuttering Bedford Blues managed to secure a bonus-point win over Otley, but their performance left a lot to be desired in terms of accuracy. The 37-12 score-line was secured by tries from Will Harries, Gregor Gillanders, Mouritz Botha and Ian Davey, but struggling Otley were unable to capitalise on Bedford's errors, something that a stronger outfit surely would have done.

Nottingham stay in the hunt after securing a tight 26-24 win over Moseley. A late try and conversion from former Leicester and Saracens fly-half Tim Taylor broke Moseley hearts but secured vital points for Nottingham, who sit in fourth.

London Welsh laboured to an away victory over struggling Newbury, with a penalty try following a scrum in the final minutes giving them a 20-9 win. Doncaster secured maximum points with a 34-22 home win over a plucky Coventry side. Director of Rugby Lynn Howells was dealt a blow with several players missing through injury but his side were able to hold firm and a try from Bevon Armitage proved enough to kill the game off.

Manchester's dire season continued with a bonus-point loss to Esher. The Lancastrian side are now rooted to the foot of the table with only two points gleaned so far this season.

This week's real losers proved to be Rotherham however, whose recent on-field resurgence was derailed by a four point deduction for fielding ineligible South African flanker Barry Jacobsz against Leeds and Esher. The side recorded a 32-28 victory over Cornish Pirates this weekend, and will need to keep up their good form on the field to counteract this disciplinary slip-up.

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