National league 1 week 19 - round 19 match previews...

Saturday 18th January 2014 including Coventry Rugby v Blaydon.

Fixtures Week 19 - Saturday 18th January

Cinderford                                v          Richmond

Coventry Rugby                       v          Blaydon

Esher                                         v         Wharfedale

Fylde                                         v          Doncaster Knights

Hull Ionians                              v         Henley Hawks

Loughborough Students        v         Worthing Raiders

Rosslyn Park                            v         Old Albanian

Tynedale                                   v         Blackheath     

Week 19 sees many key games at both ends of the table. Main questions-Can Doncaster Knights continue their momentum as they travel to Fylde? Will it be back to form for Rosslyn Park? Can Coventry Rugby make a breakthrough for a top three position?

The other end of the table is equally exciting with no less than 6 teams battling it out to avoid the final two relegation places, on the strong assumption that Hull Ionians will fill the third spot.

Leaders Doncaster Knights travel to Fylde looking to maintain their lead at the top of the table which has now increased to 8 points. Fylde who felt that they could have won the away fixture are back at home after a loss at Worthing but as usual with Fylde they do have the ability to trouble any team. However, Doncaster will not give up their lead without a fight and are slight favourites for the away win.

Second placed Rosslyn Park who found their long trip to the north-east not to their liking are back on safer territory as Old Albanian are their visitors. Inconsistent Old Albanian who surprised many with their easy home win over Esher need to beat the unbeaten home record of Park, although this contest could be closer than first expected. Rosslyn Park must be favourites for the win to keep in touch with Doncaster.

The clash between Esher and Wharfedale is difficult to predict as both suffered somewhat heavy surprise defeats last week. If Esher have any pretensions at all of higher things then this is one they cannot afford to lose.

Another close and exciting game is in prospect as Blaydon are the visitors to Coventry Rugby. With both sides within sight of a top three position a crucial game for both sides. Coventry will look to avenge their earlier away loss. A full match preview will follow at the end of this general preview.

With Worthing Raiders finally getting a win their visit to Loughborough Students is now a mid-table clash. With both sides having struggled recently to get a winning run together, home advantage might not be enough to counteract the finishing prowess of the Raiders.

Cinderford now just above the relegation area face a Richmond side whose recent bonus point win over Hull Ionians has taken them into 11^th place. With it being so close at the wrong end of the table a loss by either team could see them back into the danger zone. Cinderford with home advantage should be slight favourites for the win.

Hull Ionians terminally bound for relegation have Henley Hawks as their visitors. Henley wishing to avoid their 6th successive loss which has left them too close to the relegation zone showed enough defensive qualities against Coventry to get the win, provided they can sort out their discipline problems.

The final game of Week 19 - Round 19 sees the battle of two sides already in the relegation area as Tynedale entertain Blackheath. Two successive victories by Tynedale has given them hope and with some of their experienced players back from injury they must be confident at home to get their hat-trick of wins. With Blackheath being very inconsistent a nervous and tight game is expected with home advantage just counting.

Coventry Rugby v Blaydon match preview

This coming Saturday 18^th January 2014 sees Coventry Rugby having Blaydon as their visitors to the Butts Park Arena, kick off 3pm. it is 5^th against 7^th as Coventry Rugby want to put behind them their earlier loss away at Blaydon by 21-16. Games between these two clubs are hard fought but can be close but with Blaydon doing the double over them last season, a feat Coventry will not want repeated.

Coventry are going for their third successive win, a win which could take them into third place whilst Blaydon after finishing a very creditable third last season had a poor start losing their first 4 games, but are now back on track and only one win behind Coventry Rugby.

Founded in 1888 the north-eastern club are currently coached by former Newcastle Falcons player  Micky Ward who is Director of Rugby and still playing in the front row and is assisted by Head Coach lee Hogarth. Blaydon maintain close links with the Premiership club Newcastle Falcons taking a number of players on dual registered loan.

A very settled side over the past few years they initially lost key winger Zach Kibirige to the Falcons but have recently had him back on loan - a player that Coventry need to look out for. New players include centres Tom Bramwell from Tynedale and Tom Grimes from Preston Grasshoppers. Wingers Sean Brown from Falcons Academy and Adam Kibirige and another Falcons loan player centre Tom Penny.

There are at least two new members of the pack with impressive hooker Francis Entressengle coming in from Huddersfield and indeed  scoring tries as does lock Andrew Archibald on his return from Hong Kong.

The team also has plenty of experience with lock Chris Wearmouth and player coach No 8 Jason Smithson. In addition the back row is earning plaudits from old hand Rob Bell and flankers Ben Morris, Gavin Jones and Harry Bate. One should not forget the experience of former Falcons front rower Hall Charlton who is also player coach and his partner Robbie Kilbraier. More speed is found on the wings with Tom Banks and Tom Jeffrey and in Andrew Baggett they have a leading goal-kicker and fly half.

It has already been mentioned that Blaydon had a poor start to the season but since that initial loss of 4 games there has only been two more losses-both close ones away at Fylde and Esher plus two  away draws at Old Albanian and Blackheath.

Blaydon have currently won 10 games, crucially amongst others, beating both leaders Doncaster and 2^nd placed Rosslyn Park at home, so far the only side to beat the top two. In their 18 games they have scored 67 tries compared to Coventry’s 62 in their 17 games and are on 55 match points compared to Coventry’s 59. Points difference is also very close, only one point separating the sides.

All the making then of a tense, exciting and closely fought encounter before what is expected to be another large home crowd.

Tom Little

Coventry rugby press office

14^th January 2014.