National league 1 week 17- round 17 Saturday 4th January...

match previews including Coventry Rugby v Richmond.

Fixtures Week 17 - 4^th January 2014.

Coventry Rugby                       v     Richmond

Esher                                         v      Blaydon

Fylde                                         v      Blackheath

Hull Ionians                              v     Cinderford

Loughborough Students       v      Wharfedale

Rosslyn Park                            v      Henley Hawks

Tynedale                                  v      Old Albanian

Worthing Raiders                   v      Doncaster Knights

The season re-commences after the Christmas and New Year break with 4 of the top 5 sides all at home, the only exception being leaders Doncaster Knights with their visit to Worthing Raiders, a game which is not expected to alter the status quo.

The other end of the table sees the bottom two sides both at home where wins are a necessity. How the effect of the rainy and blowy conditions on the games remain to be seen.

Doncaster Knights make their first ever visit to Worthing Raiders, four points clear of their nearest challengers Rosslyn Park. Doncaster having lost three away games are not expected to slip up against a Worthing side, although scoring plenty of tries, second only to Doncaster, are making too many errors and shipping too many tries against. A high scoring game is expected but not to the advantage of the home side.

A side struggling to get a run of wins together is Henley Hawks as they face the daunting trip across the M25 to the in- form side of the league, Rosslyn Park. With Park still on the heels of Doncaster but with the best defensive record in the league are expected to beat their visitors. However, another defeat by the Hawks could leave them perilously close to the third relegation spot so they need to get something out of this game.

In what is expected to be a close and no quarter given game is that between third placed Esher and Blaydon. A recent defeat at Fylde by Blaydon stopped their surge up the table and the long journey down to Esher would make the home side slight favourites to take the spoils. A key game for both sides if they want to make any impact on this league.

Fourth placed Fylde now getting back into top form entertain a Blackheath side still finding it difficult to pull away from the relegation zone. Fylde should enough pace throughout the team to defeat their visitors who will again be looking over their shoulder at the teams just below them.

Coventry Rugby needing the win to keep in touch with the top of the table have one of their traditional rivals Richmond as their visitors. Games between these two teams are usually very close and a full match preview will follow at the end of this general preview.

Two top half sides clash as Loughborough Students and Wharfedale meet. The Students have seen their early season sparkle somewhat fade as they find wins are increasingly more difficult to find. An impressive winning run by Wharfedale came to a sudden end at home to Fylde. Although not always the best travellers Wharfedale could still surprise the Students especially if their pack can give them the edge.

Struggling Tynedale in 15^th place and finding it increasingly difficult to close the gap on those teams above them have Old Albanian as their visitors. Old Albanian will be pleased after their recent win over the Students and should be confident enough to take on a Tynedale side lacking in self- belief. Another tense affair is expected with Tynedale desperately needing the win.

The final game sees the crucial clash between relegation placed sides, bottom club Hull Ionians and 14^th placed Cinderford. The Foresters will be more confident after their stirring 2^nd half fight-back against Coventry and must be favourites for the win which could take them out of the relegation zone. However, with Cinderford still looking for their first away win of the season Hull Ionians must still feel they have a chance for the win.

Coventry Rugby v Richmond match preview.

This Saturday 4^th January 2014 sees Coventry Rugby meet Richmond at home at the Butts Park Arena, kick off 3 pm. In front of what is expected to be another large crowd which should take Coventry Rugby’s attendances to over 10,000 for this season, a close and tense match is expected between these two old traditional rivals.

Founded in 1861, Richmond played the first recorded club fixture against Blackheath in 1864 and were one the 8 founder members of the RFU in 1871.The first league match between Coventry Rugby and Richmond came in season 1988/9, since then they have met 13 times with Coventry just ahead on 6 wins, and 2 draws including this season’s last minute win courtesy of a Cliffie Hodgson penalty goal at the Richmond Athletic Ground. Last season Richmond finished 8^th compared to Coventry’s 9^th.

Under Head Coach Steve Hill Richmond have had somewhat of a difficult first half to the season, although better form of late has seen them with 5 wins over Hull Ionians, Blackheath and Tynedale away, with home wins over Cinderford and Loughborough Students. Although losing 11 games they have put up competitive displays against the top half sides with little reward. A lesson if any is needed that they cannot be taken too lightly. As a comparison Coventry Rugby have won 11 and lost 5 games so far.

Richmond have had a largely settled side and squad over the past few seasons only key loss being scrum-half Robbie Shaw to Esher but James Gibbs has picked up his mantle earning good reviews and certainly one to watch at the base of the scrum. Key players in the backs include fly-half and goal-kickers Quins youngster Louis Grimoldby, as well as Rob Kirby.

Tom Platt remains as full-back and is also adept at goal-kicking. Winger James Greenwood can be very dangerous and elusive and is now scoring tries whilst centre Rob Alexander is also one to watch.

With a settled pack Richmond have been competitive in most games and in experienced prop forward Danny Parkinson they also have a try scoring one as Coventry almost found to their cost in their earlier meeting. More experience is found in locks Will Warden and Charlie Lenygon supplemented by Chris Davies either as lock or No 8, in what can be a dominant back row also contains Simon Ackroyd and Tom Sargeant.

There is no reason to doubt that this will be another tense and closely fought affair before the largest National League 1 crowd of the day, as Coventry Rugby look to their second successive double of the season and to keep pressure on the four teams above them whilst  Richmond on their part will want to move as far as way as possible from the bottom 3.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

30^th December 2013.