National league 1 match previews for week 18 - round 18...
By Tom Little.
January 7 2014
Saturday 11th Janauary 2014 including Henley Hawks v Coventry Rugby.
Week 18 Fixtures - Saturday 11th January 2014
Blackheath v Loughborough Students
Blaydon v Rosslyn Park
Doncaster Knights v Cinderford
Henley Hawks v Coventry Rugby
Old Albanian v Esher
Richmond v Hull Ionians
Wharfedale v Tynedale
Worthing Raiders v Fylde
With poor weather and ground conditions expected to be with us for Week 18 there is another possibility of close results and low scoring. On the face of it the top 5 sides should be favourites to all win, although Rosslyn Park face a very tricky away fixture at Blaydon.
Leaders Doncaster Knights are back at home as they face Cinderford who are still too close to the relegation zone for comfort. Despite Cinderford’s win last time out at Hull Ionians, Doncaster are overall favourites for the home win which will maintain their lead over the chasing pack.
The most intriguing fixture of Saturday is that of 7th placed Blaydon facing their visitors Rosslyn Park. Park have discovered the art of winning by playing an effective and efficient tactical game but also have the ability to score tries when required. However, Blaydon are very effective at home and despite a couple of recent losses certainly cannot be written off to beat second placed Rosslyn Park. A key game for both sides as they both wish to keep within sight of Doncaster.
Third placed Esher travel to Old Albanian as firm favourites to maintain their position or even overtake Rosslyn Park in 2nd place, facing an Old Albanian side still struggling to find the fluency of last season. Despite having home advantage Old Albanian will find it difficult to get anything out of this game as Esher are expected to maintain their position amongst the top three.
In what is expected to be the highest scoring game of the round is at Worthing as the Raiders take on Fylde. With both sides wanting to live up to their reputation for try scoring although in Worthing’s case this ability has not translated itself into wins, a highly competitive contest is expected providing the rain and ground conditions allow. Fylde will be looking to avenge their surprise home defeat by the Raiders, a win which would put them in sight of third place whilst it is getting a must win situation for Worthing. This one too close to call.
It is a northern battle as Wharfedale have Tynedale as their visitors. With both sides basking in a warm glow after well- earned wins last week especially Tynedale as they battle to escape the relegation area, a feisty and hard fought battle in expected. Wharfedale will be slight favourites in view of their home record and better recent form.
Henley Hawks have Coventry Rugby as their visitors to Dry Leas. After a bright league start Henley have struggled of late and with Coventry having had no game last Saturday due to the weather a form guide may be difficult. A full match preview of this game will follow at the end of this general preview.
Two struggling sides Blackheath and Loughborough Students meet, with the home side needing the win to help pull away from the relegation zone. Although in no such danger the Students will want the win to keep them in the top half of the table. As Blackheath need the win more it is expected that they will win in a close and fraught match.
The final game sees Richmond entertain Hull Ionians. Although it is too late realistically for Hull Ionians it is a must win situation for Richmond whose game against Coventry last Saturday was postponed. Richmond should have enough firepower, especially in their forwards to eke out a nervous win which will keep them out of the danger zone.
Henley Hawks v Coventry Rugby match preview Saturday 11th January 2014.
This Saturday 11th January 2014 Coventry Rugby travel to the Dry Leas ground to meet Henley Hawks in a 3 pm kick off.
Henley were formed in 1930 and reformed after the war in 1954 becoming known as Henley RFC in 1963, with the sobriquet Hawks added more recently. Promoted back to National League 1 at the start of this season after becoming Champions of National League 2 South. They have also maintained close links with Premiership side London Wasps allowing a number of dual registered loan players to be used.
Since the leagues were formed Coventry Rugby have met Henley 11 times winning 8 drawing one and losing two.
Under director of Rugby Mike Poulson and Coaches Nigel Dudding and Pete Davies, Henley Hawks made a steady start to their league programme including a home draw with Rosslyn Park and an excellent home victory over leaders Doncaster Knights. However, since then they have somewhat struggled to get a run of wins together and are currently in 10th spot on 35 points with 6 wins and 2 draws, compared to Coventry Rugby’s 11 wins and 55 points. Stronger at home Henley’s 6 wins include 5 at home over Tynedale, Hull Ionians, Richmond, Doncaster and Blackheath, with a lone away victory over high flying Fylde.
Although currently on a losing run of 4 games, Henley Hawks cannot be taken too lightly as they have the ability to trouble any team in this league .Henley have found it difficult at times to score many tries despite having a reputation for playing an open attacking style and are currently on 44 tries compared to Coventry’s 62. The earlier league fixture saw Coventry beat them 32-15 but in that game Henley had plenty of possession but the finishing power of Coventry proved decisive.
Henley have recruited well these last two seasons and have an experienced side in most positions although it has to be said that some serious injuries have taken their toll.
Coventry will recognise a few faces from the Henley squad with former Coventry props James Hadfield and Dai Maddocks. In former Wasps Academy player fly-half James Comben they have an influential goal-kicking player and in winger Xavier Andre plenty of speed. Full-back Liam O’Neill has come in from Wasps Academy and another fast winger Alan Awcock from Newport.
Centre full-back Martin Nutt is Captain and the back line also includes Luke and Tom Allen, Neil Baggett and Danny Wells. In Robbie Stapley they have an impressive No 8 as Coventry found out in their last meeting and a fast back row also includes Liam Dwyer and Ryan Long. More experience is found in locks Josh McNulty, Dave Clements and Will Woodward and hooker Ant Brennan.
A close game is expected as hopefully Dry Leas will live up to its name as Coventry Rugby go for their second successive win after their postponed game last Saturday, whilst Henley Hawks need to stop their losing sequence which has put them rather too close to the wrong end of the table.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
7th January 2014.
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