National league 1 week 14 - round 14...

7th December 2013 results round up including Coventry Rugby v Rosslyn Park

Results week 14 - 7^th December.

Blaydon                    45          14         Worthing Raiders

Cinderford               28          27         Tynedale

Coventry Rugby      18          19         Rosslyn Park

Henley Hawks         21          32         Fylde

Hull Ionians             25           47        Esher

Old Albanian           53           16        Blackheath

Richmond                33           10        Loughborough Students

Wharfedale             19           17        Doncaster Knights

A Saturday that saw, as expected two close finishes for the top two games, which could have gone either way. Losses by Doncaster Knights and Coventry Rugby have now truncated the difference between the top 6 six sides to just 9 points, with a seventh side Blaydon waiting in the wings for any slip up.

Another loss by bottom side Hull Ionians surely dooms them, whilst another 2 away points for Tynedale may prove enough at the end of the season.

First key game saw Doncaster Knights lose their third away game of the season, as they found the spirit and commitment too hot to handle at Wharfedale. No surprise seemed on the cards as Doncaster raced to an early lead helped by a try from Paul Jarvis. The second half saw Dale dig deep and more than match their illustrious visitors, winger Scott Jordan gave them the  impetus with  the reliable goal-kicking of Tom Barrett, as they held out for a deserved win. The loss reduces Doncaster’s lead to 3 points over Rosslyn Park.

Rosslyn Park took full advantage of this loss with their own close and hard fought battle at Coventry Rugby, as they took the home side’s home record before Coventry’s largest ever National League 1 crowd. Despite scoring 2 tries to 1 Coventry found the well organised Park side difficult to break which led to a series of penalties, especially in the second half. Sam Sneddon took full advantage of Coventry’s errors with 3 penalties in the third quarter. Despite a late Coventry try Park held out in a tense and nail biting encounter between two well matched sides for a just about deserved victory. The loss still keeps Coventry Rugby in 3^rd place, but brings Rosslyn Park within 3 points of Doncaster.

No such fears of a close game at Hull Ionians as their visitors Esher ran up a 4 try bonus within 30 minutes. Once again bottom side Ionians defence let them down and despite a late second half fight-back which gained them a try bonus, they are looking increasingly isolated at the bottom of the league. The Esher win keeps them in 4^th place level on points with Coventry.

Fylde were another side who ran in a try bonus within 30 minutes as they beat Henley Hawks. Initially the home side were unable to cope with the speed and passing of the Fylde backs. However, the second half saw a Henley fight-back as they brought the score back within 5 points. Fylde stuck it out for the win leaving them still in the top 6 and only two wins behind leaders Doncaster Knights but Henley with no points from this game.

The miss-match of the day saw a dominant Blaydon side run up another early try bonus point as they overwhelmed an understrength Worthing Raiders side. With no defence in the first half Worthing managed to get two tries but the home side finished with a flourish as they are now unbeaten in 10 games and are only 3 points behind 6^th place.

Richmond at last promised what they could do with a bonus point win over a Loughborough Students side whose form has been patchy of late. It was the home forwards who paved the way which gave the rest of the side the platform for the tries as they starved the Students of possession. At last this win removes Richmond from the relegation zone.

A continuing out of sorts Blackheath side had no answer to the second half blitz by home side Old Albanian as their defence became dominant and led to errors creeping in. Blackheath’s cause was not helped by 2 yellow cards and a penalty try. This loss leaves Blackheath back in the relegation zone, yet are still only 2 points from safety.

Cinderford took full advantage of Blackheath’s slip up but not without its own scares as they beat fellow strugglers Tynedale. A good first half by Tynedale was soon counteracted by three swift home tries to give them a 22-10 lead. Once again Dale came back to equalise but two late home penalties gave Cinderford the lead, only to be pinned back with a late try which went unconverted. An important win for the home side taking them out of the danger zone but the two points Tynedale managed may prove decisive as it leaves them just 7 points from safety.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

9^th December 2013.