Final national league 1 results round up week 30...

round 30 Saturday 26th April 2014.

Results Week 30 - Saturday 26^th April.

Blackheath                                20         38           Doncaster Knights

Coventry Rugby                       67          14           Hull Ionians

Esher                                         31          17           Richmond

Fylde                                         50          30           Old Albanian

Loughborough Students        29         10            Blaydon

Rosslyn Park                            52          17           Cinderford

Tynedale                                  14          14           Henley Hawks

Worthing Raiders                   34          38           Wharfedale

The final Saturday of the season saw both the promotion and final relegation place settled. So for different reasons it is goodbye to the only full-time side in the league Doncaster Knights being elevated back to the Championship, whilst it is farewell to Henley Hawks, thus joining Hull Ionians and Worthing Raiders in their likewise rapid return to the leagues they came from. Whether this status quo for National League 1 is good for the game remains to be seen.

Well they finally did it, an instant return to the Championship for Doncaster Knights, but how they had to struggle to do so throughout the season losing 5 games, but in the end their greater fitness paid off especially late in games and although winning the same number of games as Rosslyn Park they were promoted by dint of having more bonus points. In their win over Blackheath it was again clear that last quarter fitness gave them the edge against a defiant home side.

Their closest challengers Rosslyn Park did what they had to do in an 8 try demolition of relegation threatened Cinderford. In the end it was not enough but Park must take credit for keeping on the tails of Doncaster all through the season. A salutary lesson that consistency by winning at least 80% of your games puts you in the promotion fight.

This Cinderford loss meant that they had to rely on other teams results to survive.

Coventry Rugby endorsed their third place finish in a 10 try mauling of relegated side Hull Ionians in a game that the home side took 30 minutes to focus correctly. After a gentle admonition at half-time the Coventry side took control building on the power of their pack and scrum with new Broadstreet loanee Ben Dawes prominent. Two hat-tricks by Jacques le Roux and centre Rob Knox put a smile on the large crowd. Hull Ionians never gave up but didn’t have enough power up front to remain in this division.

It was nervous times trying to avoid the final relegation place with the key battle being at Tynedale where they took on Henley Hawks. The home side only needed 2 points whilst Henley needed any type of win to give them a chance. In the end a tight and nervous encounter saw the spoils shared but the two points gained by Henley Hawks was not enough and are relegated back to National League2 after just this one season.

Fylde gained another home bonus point win against Old Albanian. A large half-time lead of 33-10 was soon cut into by the visitors but then a OA yellow card gave Fylde the opportunity to run in three more tries for an easy win which kept Fylde above Blaydon and Esher.

Esher cemented 5^th place with a home win over Richmond before a large crowd. Already with a try bonus point by half-time the home side then eased off with only a Richmond penalty to show for the effort in the second half. Despite the loss it meant a top half finish for Richmond.

Loughborough Students needed a win to guarantee their survival and they did it in style with a bonus point win over Blaydon, a loss that left the visitors in 6^th place after a very inconsistent season. Leading Students try scorer Jack Pons set the Students on their way and Blaydon had no answer to their powerful pack.

The final game summed up Worthing Raiders season, an ability to score tries and run up leads very rarely led to winning games, and so it was at Angmering as Wharfedale were the visitors. Despite the Raiders leading late into the game a flurry of yellow cards gave Dale the edge and winning scores. Back to National League 2 South for this well supported south coast side, as they can only learn from this experience.

This Saturday also saw the culmination of the Championship relegation battle with Ealing Tfs returning back to National League 1 after just the one season in the Championship despite a close fight with Jersey, who survived due to their win at Bedford Blues.

Replacing relegated Hull Ionians, Worthing Raiders and Henley Hawks in National league 1 will be National League 2 South Champions Hartpury College together with National League 2 North Champions Macclesfield making an immediate return to this league. The final promotion place will go to the winner of the runners up in both National League 2 leagues Ampthill for the South and the well supported Darlington Mowden Park from the North.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

27^th April 2014.