National league 1 week 15 - round 15 Saturday 14th December.
By Tom Little.
December 10 2013
Match previews including Doncaster Knights v Coventry Rugby.
Fixtures Week 15 - Saturday 14th December
Blackheath v Wharfedale
Doncaster Knights v Coventry Rugby
Esher v Cinderford
Fylde v Blaydon
Loughborough Students v Henley Hawks
Rosslyn Park v Hull Ionians
Tynedale v Richmond
Worthing Raiders v Old Albanian
The final games of the first half of the season take place on Saturday with arguably still 7 sides in it for the top of the league and promotion.
At the other end Hull Ionians look to be doomed whilst a battle royal is building up between another 7 sides to escape the final two relegation berths.
Key game must be that of Doncaster Knights and Coventry Rugby, first against third. With both teams losing last week it is a crucial game for both sides with Doncaster needing to win to keep the leadership whilst Coventry Rugby need to win to maintain their challenge at the top. A more detailed match preview will follow at the end of this general preview.
Rosslyn Park now firmly ensconced in 2nd place just 3 points behind Doncaster and having met Doncaster, Esher and Coventry in successive weeks have potentially an early Christmas present as they entertain bottom side Hull Ionians. Having already beaten Esher, Coventry and getting a losing bonus point at Doncaster surely only complacency could defeat them.
Likewise Esher on paper have an easy home game against Cinderford as a win for the home side would put them in sight of 2nd place whilst Cinderford even after beating Tynedale last week are still too close to the danger zone to relax. Esher should be too strong as they are expected to pick up the winning bonus point.
An intriguing clash is in prospect as Fylde take on Blaydon. The north-easterners now unbeaten in 10 games and only 3 points behind Fylde need the win which would take them above their hosts. However, Fylde have rediscovered their fast off-loading form and a win for them could put them up to third place. Everything to play for then for both sides although the continuing form of Blaydon and more effective all round game might see them through.
Wharfedale on a high after beating leaders Doncaster are back to reality as they travel to London to face a relegation threatened Blackheath side. Despite Wharfedale not travelling as well to match their home form will need to win such games if they have any pretensions for higher things. Blackheath on the other hand are fighting for their lives and if their injuries clear up then they still have a chance to snatch a close victory.
Two sides struggling to get their form back are Loughborough Students and Henley Hawks who meet at the campus. Both sides being firmly anchored in mid-table but able to score tries, form might suggest that the students might just win a high scoring encounter.
Inconsistent Worthing Raiders have Old Albanian as their visitors. With Old Albanian now getting back into form Worthing will need to get their defensive lines in order to give them a chance. The Raiders have proved that they can score plenty of tries but usually too late to affect the result so they need to be at the top of their game to stand a chance.
The final game this Saturday sees Tynedale at home to Richmond. Although languishing 7 points from safety Tynedale have been picking up losing and try bonus points which could have been more if they had a reliable goal-kicker. Richmond have so far been slow to benefit from their abrasive pack but they do have the means to trouble the home side. A tense close affair but which could also be high scoring is expected.
Doncaster knights v Coventry Rugby match preview
This Saturday 14th December, kick off 2.30 pm sees Coventry Rugby visit their past Championship rivals Doncaster Knights at the Castle Park ground. In what is expected to be a thrilling and close contest of two well matched sides with Doncaster Knights in 1st place and Coventry Rugby in 3rd just 6 points behind them. Both sides lost narrowly last Saturday with Doncaster away at Wharfedale and Coventry Rugby losing their unbeaten home record to Rosslyn Park.
Doncaster Knights were founded in 1875 just one year after Coventry. They steadily moved through the leagues once the game went professional helped by a lottery grant of £1-8m in 1998 to develop their ground and new clubhouse at Castle Park, eventually reached the Championship in season 2009/10. Last season despite a full-time squad and budget to match they were relegated for the first time to National league 1. This game on Saturday will be the first game between the two sides since their Championship days.
Under Director of Rugby Clive Griffiths assisted by player coach Glen Kenworthy, Paul Cooke from Hull RL and Darren Morris as prop and scrum coach. They have assembled an experienced squad with the club’s benefactors confirming they will fund a full-time squad of approximately 28 with the necessary budget.
Although there has been a large turnover in players from last season a strong nucleus have been retained such as Matt Challinor captain and lock Chris Hallam-scrum-half, no 10’s Dougie Flockhart and Jamie Lennard. Adam Kettle from the back row remains, as does Jack Bergmanes as hooker and prop Adam Tamanis. Winger Tyson Lewis has been setting the league alight with his tries and speed and penchant for quick tries.
Approximately 24 new recruits have arrived including Argentinian scrumhalf Bruno Bravo, fly-half Paul Roberts and centre Bevon Armitage both from Plymouth Albion as well as impressive centre Matt Clark from Leeds Carnegie.
Full- back Glenn Bryce has arrived from Jersey and wing Paul Jarvis who was injured at pre-season training at Coventry before the start of last season. The pack has been boosted with flanker Michael Hills from London Welsh, hooker Robert Santamaria from Aironi, lock Michael Walker-Fitton from France and Phil Eggleshaw from Nottingham.
A series of injuries has led Clive Griffiths to recently recruit three LeicesterTigers dual registered players, Riccardo Brugera and Tiziane Pasquali at prop and flanker Luca Guillaume. Also just arrived is Australian full-back Jacob Woodhouse from Manley.
Unbeaten at home Doncaster Knights have beaten 7 sides, including Fylde, Esher and Rosslyn Park, whilst in their 7 away games have beaten Hull Ionians, Cinderford, Richmond and Old Albanian. However, they have lost three games away from home to Henley Hawks, Blaydon and last week Wharfedale.
Doncaster although boasting the best points difference in the league and the highest number of tries scored at 60, Coventry Rugby are themselves the highest points scorer by 3, whilst they themselves have scored 55 tries.
Overall Doncaster have won 11 games and lost 3 with 56 points, compared to Coventry’s won 10 lost 4, and 50 points.
This match is a crucial game for both sides as Doncaster need to put behind them the shock of losing three away games and maintain their lead at the top of the league whilst Coventry Rugby although having beaten Esher and just came up short against 2nd placed Rosslyn Park need the win to not drop further behind Doncaster.
Another tense exciting and indeed enthralling encounter is expected between these two well matched and ambitious sides.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
10th December 2013.
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