National league 1 week 13/round 13 match previews...
By Tom Little.
November 26 2013
Saturday 30th November 2013, including Esher v Coventry Rugby.
Week 13 Fixtures - 30th November
Blackheath v Blaydon
Doncaster Knights v Rosslyn Park
Esher v Coventry Rugby
Fylde v Richmond
Loughborough Students v Cinderford
Tynedale v Hull Ionians
Wharfedale v Old Albanian
Worthing Raiders v Henley Hawks
What a mouth –watering set of fixtures is in prospect this Saturday as the top four sides in the league all meet. These two fixtures should prove a key indicator for the remainder of the season as to who is favourite for promotion. And by a quirk of the fixtures the bottom two sides also meet each other.
It is first against second as leaders Doncaster Knights have Rosslyn Park as their visitors. It is fitting that both sides are so well matched, both having 10 wins and boasting the best defensive records in the league. Doncaster lead by a dint of their superior try scoring bonuses but recently Rosslyn Park have found their own try scoring habit. With Park’s forward controlling most matches it should be an intriguing contest between the power of Park’s forwards and the speed and finishing of the Knights. An honourable score draw could be on the cards.
An equally close contest is in prospect as Coventry Rugby visit Esher, in another contest between too well matched sides. As this is a must win for both sides no quarter will be given, this being the first test for Coventry against a current top 4 side. A more detailed preview of this game follows at the end of this general preview.
With Wharfedale’s sudden surge up the table coming to a grinding halt at Blaydon they are back on their beloved home turf as they take on Old Albanian. Despite a 2nd half fight-back last week against leaders Doncaster Old Albanian were well beaten and Wharfedale should have enough power up front to put behind them last week’s result and maintain pressure on the top 4.
Blaydon now unbeaten in 8 games and up to 6th place must fancy their chances against a Blackheath side who have lost their last three games. Blackheath are now only out of the third relegation place due to a better points difference face a Blaydon side who should be just too strong in all areas of the game. A Blaydon win could bring them within sight of 5th place.
Fylde now back in 7th place entertain a Richmond side who are now back in the third relegation spot. Surely the home side should have enough finishing power and pace to leave the Londoners still there. What is the betting that Paul Arnold gets another brace of tries!
Loughborough Students have recently slumped back to 8th place after being 2nd earlier on face a Cinderford side not without its own problems. A welcome win for Cinderford over Fylde saw them just creep out of the danger zone but they need to maintain that momentum. With the Students at home they should be slight favourites for the win.
Two sides only separated by one point, sees Worthing Raiders at home to Henley Hawks. With both sides winning on Saturday a high scoring match is in prospect although probably close the home side should be slight favourites.
The final game sees the bottom two sides Tynedale and Hull Ionians meet. Both sides put up creditable performances last week losing by only two points. Tynedale will be the more satisfied after gaining two bonus points at Coventry and with their home advantage should be too good for an Ionians side still looking for their 2nd win of the season.
Esher v Coventry Rugby match preview.
This coming Saturday 30th November, kick off 3 pm, Coventry Rugby travel to Molesley Road, Hersham to face Esher.
Esher formed in 1923 are in their second season in National league 1 after relegation from the Championship. Last season they finished a creditable 2nd place to eventual promoted Champions Ealing Tfs, and are currently 4th in the league compared to Coventry Rugby’s 3rd.
Esher had somewhat of a traumatic pre-season when head Coach Ollie Smith upped and left but his place was taken by Craig Chambers assisted by forwards coach Ricky Nebbett and player coach Kris Chesney. Recruitment pre-season saw Esher keep the majority of last season’s squad with the notable exception of the 3 Quins DR players Jack Clifford, Charlie Walker and Kyle Sinclair, who all were sent to neighbours Ealing Tfs in addition James Ingliss went to Rosslyn Park and centre Chris Elder to Plymouth Albion.
However, new players recruited included scrumhalf Robbie Shaw and flanker Stephen Wood, both from Richmond, Brandon Waller a No 8 from Hartpury College and winger Andes Morgenson from Moseley.
Some of the influential players retained were No 8 Mick Macfarlane, locks Ian Kench and Kris Chesney along with flankers Cameron Gentles and Pete Synott. An experienced front row include David Millard and Stewart Maguire as props and Neil Sweeney as hooker. There is a new key half-back partnership of No 10 Tom Whelan and No 9 Pat O’Grady.
Esher’s strength also lies in its effective and speedy back division with Luke Daniels a goal-kicking fullback and wingers Spencer Sutherland and Andy Wright, as well as centre Arron Cruckshanks, Tom Cheeseman and Jack Cooke.
There is also a mouth-watering clash between the league’s top two leading points takers with Cliffie Hodgson in first position meeting up with Luke Daniels in second, with both players also having scored 7 tries.
Last season also on the 30th November Coventry travelled to Hersham and were soundly beaten 27-10 but in a re-arranged mid-week fixture they had their revenge winning at home by 35-24 in what was possibly their best home performance of the season.
This season both sides appear well matched both having won 9 games and having lost 3 all away from home. Esher are unbeaten at home beating Henley Hawks, Old Albanian, Blackheath, Fylde and Tynedale, as well as winning away at Richmond, Blaydon, Worthing Raiders and Loughborough Students. Their 3 away losses have been at Wharfedale, Doncaster Knights and last Saturday Rosslyn Park.
On the face of it a very similar record to Coventry Rugby, although unlike Coventry, Esher have already played two of the top four sides and were unlucky not to get anything out of the Doncaster game, a set of results that confirm that they were justified in being one of the pre-season favourites for the title.
A close and hard fought contest is expected as Esher defend their 100% home record whilst Coventry Rugby need to prove they have the credentials to challenge at the top of this league and put behind them the tactical errors and poor tackling seen in the Tynedale game.
Coventry Rugby need to match and exceed the power and experience of the home pack and restrict the speed and finishing of the Esher backs.
Once again a large following is expected from Coventry, a factor that does help the Coventry Rugby side as they look for their 4th successive victory, a win which could see them challenge for 2nd place.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
26th November 2013.
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I think there might be two of them.