National league 1 week 11/round 11-16th November 2013...
By Tom Little.
November 11 2013
match previews including preview of Loughborough Students v Coventry Rugby.
Fixtures Week 11 - 16th November
Blackheath v Richmond
Doncaster Knights v Esher
Fylde v Hull Ionians
Loughborough St v Coventry Rugby
Old Albanian v Blaydon
Tynedale v Rosslyn Park
Wharfedale v Henley Hawks
Worthing Raiders v Cinderford
A third of the season passed and still a possibility of 8 sides being involved in the chase for the title. It is even tighter for the top 4 sides as they are only separated by 8 points.
Key game must be new leaders Esher as they visit toppled leaders Doncaster Knights. Esher have only lost one game all season, and that at Wharfedale, whilst Doncaster have slipped up twice away from home at Henley Hawks, and last week at Blaydon. Doncaster have a 100% home record and although a couple of injuries have somewhat weakened them, they should be slight favourites. With both sides publicly stating that they were going for promotion a ferocious battle is expected which may go down to one score.
No such fears as Rosslyn Park travel to a misfiring and relegation zone side Tynedale. Still with only two wins Tynedale will come across a massive and dominant Park pack which should give them more than enough for the away win and keep the pressure on Esher and Rosslyn Park.
There is an intriguing game in prospect as Loughborough Students have Coventry Rugby as their visitors. Despite an excellent home record Coventry have somewhat struggled away from home, whilst the Students come to this game on the back of two straight losses. A more detailed match preview follows at the end of this general preview.
Awaiting any slip up by the top 4 is Wharfedale who, after 4 successive wins are up to 5th place, just 5 points behind Rosslyn Park in 3rd place, as Henley Hawks are their visitors. The Hawks, who having earlier beaten Doncaster have lost their last 2 games, and with injuries kicking in Wharfedale should be clear favourites at home.
Fylde, whose fine home form should counteract any worries after their poor loss away at Coventry, face a buoyant Hull Ionians side, who at last got their first league win of the season. Whether the improving Ionians pack have enough quality to restrict Fylde’s possession and off- loading style remains to be seen. Could be a closer call than first expected.
Blaydon, after a 6th successive victory travel to Old Albanian, who have somewhat struggled this season. Blaydon on the back of an impressive victory over the then leaders Doncaster should be too powerful in their pack to lose to Old Albanian, although OA managed to take Henley Hawks unbeaten home record last week. It may be a closer game than expected.
Two sides struggling to put a winning run together, is the London derby as Blackheath entertain Richmond. With Blackheath too close for comfort to the relegation zone, and Richmond already in it, a nervous and close game is expected.
The final game sees two more struggling sides, both just above the danger zone as Worthing Raiders have Cinderford as their visitors. A surprise loss away at Hull Ionians somewhat shocked the home side, whilst Cinderford were easily beating Blackheath. With Cinderford not always travelling well another nervous game is in prospect with the Raiders possibly slight favourites.
Loughborough Students v Coventry Rugby match preview.
This coming Saturday 16th November, kick off 2 pm sees Coventry Rugby travel to their nearest National 1 League neighbours Loughborough Students at their Loughborough campus ground. Founded in 1919 the merger of the Loughborough colleges in 1976/77 saw the club renamed Loughborough Students Rugby Club. After joining the National Leagues sudden progress was made being promoted to this league at the start of last season.
Under the then Head Coach Dave Morris, who is now also Director of Rugby, they finished 7th in their first season on 78 points, with 15 wins and 14 losses and 1 draw, compared to Coventry Rugby’s 9th place with 72 points with 13 wins,15 losses and 1 draw.
Last season saw Coventry do the double over them with a home win 41-34 and in arguably their best way performance of the season winning 27-6 on campus.
The majority of the squad have been or are part of the Premiership Academy set up so many already have a strong rugby pedigree.
Despite losing a high percentage of last year’s team many to Championship or Premiership sides, Loughborough Students made a strong start to this season winning 5 out of their first 6 games, including away wins over Blaydon, Wharfedale ,and Worthing Raiders, and home wins over Old Albanian and Fylde, their only defeat was at home to Blackheath. A series of results that took them into 2nd place.
However since then they have lost 3 out of their last 4 games , with defeats at Doncaster and Rosslyn Park and at home to Esher, with their solitary victory coming at Tynedale. A mini slump which has seen them back into 6th place yet still only 5 points behind Coventry Rugby.
Some keys players have come into the side this season with the Pons brothers, Jack as fullback and Ben in the back row, who are well known in Midland rugby circles with Ben being at Coventry some seasons ago. Other new players include James Freeman as flanker ,Jake Alban at lock, George Eastwell at centre and no 10 Chris Surman.
Key players remaining from last season include influential scrum half Henry Taylor, centre Rhys Owen, wingers Craig Dowsett and Alex Davis and hooker Tom Crozier.
With the Students often playing a high intensity fast off-loading game they have caught some of their opponents unawares so Coventry Rugby will have to be aware of their fitness and speed and nullify them again as they did so successfully last season. Coventry will also have to put behind them some of their poor away performances this season if they have any pretensions to be pressuring the top 3 sides in the league.
Don’t forget there will be a Supporters Coach running to this game, details from the club if required.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
10th November 2013.
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