National league 1 week 12- round 12...

Saturday 23rd November 2013 results round up.

Results Week 12 Saturday 23^rd November

Blaydon                     51            14               Wharfedale

Cinderford                39            32                Fylde

Coventry Rugby       36            34               Tynedale

Henley Hawks          27            11               Blackheath

Hull Ionians              24             26              Loughborough Students

Old Albanian            17             33              Doncaster Knights

Richmond                 34             39              Worthing Raiders

Rosslyn Park             38             31              Esher

A Saturday that saw no fewer than 10 teams getting the try bonus even in defeat. 62 tries scored in total which suggests either a loosening of defensive prowess, cold weather, Christmas largesse or a narrowing of the gap between teams. Bonus points wins for leaders Doncaster and 2^nd placed Rosslyn Park maintains their control at the top of the league, whilst in the nether regions it is an almighty battle to stay out of the final relegation place, with six sides possibly involved.

Leaders Doncaster Knights took full advantage of the clash between Rosslyn Park and Esher, with a bonus point victory at Old Albanian. In what is stated to be the fastest ever league try by Tyson Lewis set Doncaster on their way with the bonus point achieved by half-time. Despite a spirited second half fight-back by Old Albanian a later try settled nerves leaving Doncaster with a 3 point advantage over Rosslyn Park.

It was another good 1^st half performance that saw Rosslyn Park take an early 21-8 lead against Esher. The second half saw more possession coming Esher’s way helped by poor discipline by the home side. With the home sides infringing Esher managed to get the scores back to 28 all, but Rosslyn Park then settled their nerves with a late try and penalty. A win that keeps Rosslyn Park just 3 points behind Doncaster,but drops Esher to 4^th place.

Coventry Rugby had their try bonus within 30 minutes but then went off the boil as they played to Tynedale’s strengths. The second half belonged to the visitors who at last belied their lowly league position, as they made Coventry pay for their poor discipline and missed tackles. An off day for both defences, but the bonus point win moves Coventry Rugby up to their highest position of the season in 3^rd just 6 points behind Doncaster. With three very difficult fixtures coming up to finish off the half season mark a salutary lesson for Coventry.

The North-Eastern v North-Western contest went somewhat more easily than expected to Blaydon as they finished off Wharfedale. The 7 try win moves Blaydon up to 6^th place, just on the shirt tails on 5^th placed Wharfedale. Despite plenty of possession Wharfedale had no answer to the tackling and then finishing power of the Blaydon, especially from the returning Newcastle Falcons winger Zach Kibirige, who caused more than enough mayhem in National league 1 last season. Worrying for the rest of the league is the form that Blaydon are now showing just waiting a slip up from those teams just above them.

It was a relief for Cinderford as their close but exciting home victory over Fylde took them out of the relegation zone. A game of two yellow cards a piece allowed both sides to take advantage, with another brace of tries for lock Paul Arnold, who is now leading the try scorers list. It was two late penalty goals that finally sealed the crucial home win for the Foresters.

It was close but not close enough as Hull Ionians went for their 2^nd win of the season this time over Loughborough Students. Matters were not helped by the home side conceding three early tries, despite a second half fight-back the Students held out with only as losing bonus point as reward for Ionians. Once again Students fullback Craig Dowsett was impressive scoring a hat-trick, surely it is only a matter of time before he is snapped up by a Premiership or Championship club.

Henley Hawks were back to winning ways after 3 straight losses as their forwards dominated the second half after their visitors Blackheath led at half-time. A loss that moves Blackheath perilously close to the relegation zone but moves Henley Hawks up to the relative safety of 9th place.

The final game saw Richmond fall back into the danger zone as they narrowly lost a 10 try thriller to Worthing Raiders. Yellow cards for both sides in the second half led to a brace of tries each, but it was the Raiders who took full advantage late on with a try and penalty converted with Joe Govett more effective in the goal-kicking role than his opposite number.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

25^th November 2013.