National league 1 results round up week 16 - round 16...

21st December 2013.

Results Week 16 - 21^st December

Blackheath                    16           14             Worthing Raiders

Blaydon                         51             7             Tynedale

Cinderford                    29           31             Coventry Rugby

Doncaster Knights       46            8              Hull Ionians

Henley Hawks                 8          13             Esher

Old Albanian                 33          16             Loughborough Students

Richmond                        7          28             Rosslyn Park

Wharfedale                   26          36             Fylde 

Driving rain and strong winds were the order of last Saturday as Week 16 fixtures were completed. The failure of both Rosslyn Park and Esher to get the try bonus point allowed leaders Doncaster Knights to slightly increase their lead but excellent bonus point away wins by Fylde and Coventry Rugby put them both in sight of third place.

As expected leaders Doncaster Knights found their Yorkshire rivals Hull Ionians in feisty mood but eventually the power and finishing of wingers Tyson Lewis and Paul Jarvis with an increasingly dominant home pack, before Doncaster’s largest crowd of the season saw them home. A win that increases their lead to 4 points over Rosslyn Park but surely dooms Ionians to relegation.

Rosslyn Park kept within sight of the leaders with another dominant pack performance against a hard working Richmond side. In poor conditions the power of the Park pack proved decisive as they went into a 16-0 lead. Yet Richmond were never outclassed but this defeat leaves them only 4 points from the third relegation spot.

Again it was the power of the pack that gave Esher the edge as they faced the elements at Henley Hawks. This ability to play the conditions gave them the advantage in a closely fought contest, a win that keeps Esher on the toes of Rosslyn Park but does leave Henley just two wins ahead of the danger zone.

The north-west derby saw a good Wharfedale pack performance give them a half-time lead of 20-7 over their visitors Fylde. This lead was soon swept away as a rampant Fylde side ran in 4 unanswered second half tries for the bonus point win which moves them up to 4^th place just 3 points behind Esher in third.

Another exciting game came in the forest as a Coventry Rugby side were seemingly cruising to a bonus point win over Cinderford by half-time leading 28-14 and playing against a strong wind. Yet a change of fortunes occurred in the second half as Coventry’s possession dried up not helped by another harsh yellow card for Tom Poole. Now playing against the strong wind Cinderford took full advantage running in three unanswered  and unconverted tries .Yet it was a 100% kicking record  by Cliffie Hodgson including a second half penalty that won it for Coventry as they defended  well right to the end. The win, their first double of the season moves Coventry Rugby up to 5^th spot within 1 win of Esher but drops Cinderford back into the relegation area.

Not quite men against boys but Blaydon’s half century beating of neighbours Tynedale just confirmed the form book. Yet a very early Tynedale try was soon counteracted by another dominant team performance by the hosts running in 7 unanswered tries, with 21 points coming from Andrew Baggett and a brace of tries from Newcastle Falcons winger Zach Kibirige. The win keeps Blaydon in 7^th place but now only 5 points behind Coventry in 5^th. As for Tynedale, well it is looking grim as they are still 10 points from safety and quickly running out of games.

The mid-table contest between Old Albanian and Loughborough Students went the way of the home side after a poor start and early lead to the Students. Eventually the power of the home pack told and with worsening wind and rain they gained the bonus point win which puts them just 3 points behind the Students.

The final game saw two struggling sides play out the expected close and nervous game in worsening conditions as Blackheath came from behind to beat Worthing Raiders. The win takes Blackheath out of the third relegation place but still leaves both sides perilously close to it.

This being the final Round Up of the year everyone at Coventry Rugby club wishes all their increasing number of supporters, both home and away, a Prosperous New Year and looks forward to the continuation of the compelling completion of this intriguing league campaign.

The Previews for Week 17 including Coventry Rugby at home to Richmond on the 4^th January 2014 will appear in the New Year.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

23rd December 2013.