National league 1 results round up week 8...

...26th October 2013. 

Cinderford                     15              10             Old Albanian

Coventry Rugby            63              21             Blackheath

Esher                              27              24             Fylde

Henley Hawks               11              10            Doncaster Knights

Hull Ionians                   25              32            Wharfedale

Richmond                        5              24            Blaydon

Rosslyn Park                  48              17           Worthing Raiders

Tynedale                        21              24           Loughborough Students   

For those pundits who thought the season was already over last week with Doncaster crowned Champions elect, were in for a salutary lesson as Week 8 saw the leaders Doncaster Knights duly beaten by Henley Hawks. Renewed hope then for all the other contenders with the chasing pack of 4 all winning and now only 6 points separating the top 5 sides.

It was a Saturday of somewhat blustery conditions which affected the kicking and apparently caused a lot of unforced errors.

Pride of place must go to Henley Hawks whose close and nerve wracking home win over Doncaster Knights opens up the league nicely. Despite the visitors having the bigger pack it was the Henley scrum that proved dominant. Yet it required a sterling defensive performance to keep previously unbeaten Doncaster out, who were not helped by the usually reliable Paul Roberts having an off day with a succession of penalties and his 2 conversions. This first loss by the Knights brings the chasing pack within sight of them.

Another late, late show by Esher saw them sneak a win over a resilient Fylde side who had their own title aspirations. A close game was settled in the end by a Fylde yellow card with just 7 minutes to go giving the home side enough impetus to get a late try and penalty for the win. With no bonus point Esher now slip to 3^rd place yet still only 3 points behind leaders Doncaster.

Rosslyn Park surged into 2^nd place with a bonus point 7 try victory over their visitors Worthing Raiders. Once again a dominant home pack performance gave Park the confidence and edge with even a penalty try to savour as Worthing had no real answer despite 3 tries of their own. With Scott Sneddon in fine form as fly half with his try and goal kicking this win puts Rosslyn Park into 2^nd place but moves Worthing Raiders into the relegation zone.

Coventry Rugby produced their most dominant effective team performance of the season as they annihilated a Blackheath side who shipped in 10 tries. With the Coventry pack in control especially in the scrums it gave the forward momentum for the backs to show off their clinical finishing skills. A win that moves Coventry Rugby up into 4^th place and now just 6 points behind leaders Doncaster.

Tynedale maintained their poor form with another loss, this time at home to Loughborough Students.  A loss that leaves Tynedale in the relegation zone but drops the Students down to 5^th with their lack of a bonus point. Yet Tynedale were able to create plenty of chances but not take enough advantage of them which allowed the Students back in. Another late yellow card for the home side gave the Students the space to get a late winning try.

It was almost but not quite as Hull Ionians just failed in their attempt to get their first win of the season, this time at home to Wharfedale.  Seemingly out of it at half-time the Ionians fought back to equalise but a late Aaron Myers try sealed it for Dale moving them to the heady heights of 7^th place, but leaving Hull Ionians firmly ensconced at the bottom with just 2 points.

Blaydon visited Richmond with high hopes of getting their 4^th consecutive win, and so it was as Richmond made too any errors, with Blaydon showing them how to take their chances. In the end Blaydon ran out comfortable winners which brings them within 1 win of the top half of the table, but leaves Richmond  only 2 points from the relegation zone.

The final game of Week 8  saw a former Coventry old boy prop Will Davis take centre stage as his second half brace of tries  allowed  Cinderford to get only their 2^nd win of the season over Old Albanian. The blustery conditions caused problems for the kickers as well as unforced errors so the Davis master class gave the Foresters the welcome win.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

27^th October 2013.