National league 1 results round up round 10...

weekend 8th/ 9th November 2013.

Results Round 10 - 8^th/9^th November

Rosslyn Park                 31           5         Loughborough Students

Blaydon                         22         17         Doncaster Knights

Cinderford                    25           0          Blackheath

Coventry Rugby           32           5          Fylde

Esher                              56         24         Tynedale

Henley Hawks               10         17         Old Albanian

Hull Ionians                   31         20         Worthing Raiders

Richmond                      13         18         Wharfedale    

Not quite “The World Turned Upside Down”   but two key shocks opens up National League 1 nicely for the remaining season. It was not only the shock of leaders Doncaster losing again but the first ever league win of Hull Ionians, coupled with the form wins of Esher and steadily creeping up the table Wharfedale and Blaydon.

Doncaster Knights made their north-eastern trip to Blaydon count for nothing as they were outplayed and out fought by a dominant home side, again finding their form from last season. Never on top Doncaster were well beaten, their second away loss that allowed Esher to overtake them at the top.

Esher took full advantage with an 8 try demolition of a struggling Tynedale side still languishing in 15^th place on just 10 points. An always dominant home performance led again by their impressive back row of Steven Wood and Mike Macfarlane gave them the framework for an all-round excellent team performance. A win that takes Esher into first place for the first time in the season as they have still only lost 1 game so far.

The Friday night game saw Rosslyn Park bounce back from their heavy loss away at Fylde to comprehensively beat a Loughborough Students who have now lost 2 games in a row. Once again an impressive pack performance laid the backbone with early tries. A loss that drops the Students into 6^th place after the heady heights of 2^nd place earlier in the season, whilst Park stay in 3^rd just 5 points behind the leaders.

Before their 5^th consecutive home crowd of more than 1000, Coventry Rugby soon dispelled any hangovers they may have had from their loss at Worthing with another comprehensive home win, this time over Fylde. The Coventry side were dominant in all sectors of the game especially their scrum and all-round defensive display, as Fylde were left to attack from deep. Probably the best overall team performance of the season which reduces the gap to the leaders to 8 points.

Wharfedale continue to confound the critics with another win, this time away at Richmond. A game that ebbed and flowed and looked like it was heading for a draw until a late try by winger Scott Jordan finally won it for the visitors. A win that puts Wharfedale into the heady heights of 5th place but drops Richmond into the relegation zone.

It was a mid-table clash as Henley Hawks lost their unbeaten home record to Old Albanian. A second loss on the trot by Henley, perhaps suffering from earlier beating Doncaster saw Old Albanian taking an early lead with 2 first half tries. An injury hit squad didn’t help the home side and despite a second half fight-back a clinching penalty saw the visitors home.

It was home power that saw Cinderford home in their clash with Blackheath. A close 1^st half saw the home side dominate in the second as their pack took control, their pressure causing three tries. A win that moves Cinderford out of the relegation zone but drops Blackheath within 1 win of it.

The final game saw was worth waiting for the long suffering supporters of league newcomers Hull Ionians as they turned over a fancied Worthing Raiders side, for their first win of the season. A dominant home pack performance gave them the platform despite defensive frailties, as Hull Ionians fully deserved their first win. A loss that drops Worthing just 1 point from danger but still leaves Hull Ionians in bottom place with only 6 points.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

10^th November 2013.