Week 4 - league 1 previews 27-9-2014 including...
By Tom Little
September 24 2014
Blaydon v Coventry Rugby.
Week 4 Fixtures - Saturday 27th September.
Blaydon v Coventry Rugby
Cinderford v Tynedale
Esher v Fylde
Loughborough Students v Rosslyn Park
Macclesfield v Hartpury College
Old Albanian v Blackheath
Richmond v Darlington Mowden Park
Wharfedale v Ealing Tfs
Week 4 sees three out of the four unbeaten sides away, with possibly Ealing Tfs and Fylde facing the most difficult trips to Wharfedale and Esher respectively. The other end of the spectrum sees all four teams yet to win all at home but with none too confident of winning.
The only team with a 100% record Ealing Tfs travel to the Dales to face Wharfedale, whose only loss so far was by a single score to Tynedale. Dale can always be difficult to beat at home and Ealing will face a real test of their title resolve. However Ealing seems stronger all round and should have enough to win a close and hard fought contest.
Another unbeaten side, Fylde fresh from their victory over pre-season favourites Rosslyn Park travel to Esher.The home side are already the second highest points scorer in the league and seemed to have shrugged off the loss of some key players. A real test for Fylde who last season didn’t always travel well. A close call which might just go to home advantage.
Richmond of all the unbeaten sides face arguably the easier task at home as they face newly promoted Darlington Mowden Park. No-one has yet troubled Richmond, who are league’s highest scorers, and their all round game and experience should prove too much for their visitors.
The final unbeaten side Tynedale, travel to a struggling Cinderford side, still looking for a first win. Despite three victories Tynedale have only scored 51 points with still no bonus points. Their heady heights of 4th place contrasts starkly with last season’s travails. An influx of Newcastle Falcons Academy players linked to retaining the majority of last season’s experienced squad has given them an early impetus. They should be strong enough to beat a Cinderford side who at least obtained a try bonus point against Darlington MP on Saturday.
Rosslyn Park will be smarting after their away loss to Fylde should relish the visit of Loughborough Students. The Students have been very generous so far giving their opponents head starts and then realising too late they could win. They can’t afford to let this happen again at Park. The home side have enough power and quality to get their season back on track.
Coventry Rugby make the long trek north to meet Blaydon. After putting behind them their injury problems Coventry will be buoyant after their first bonus win of the season, meanwhile Blaydon had a large defeat at the hands of league favourites Ealing Tfs. A full preview of this game will follow at the end of this general preview.
Old Albanian, who have had a difficult start to their season and are still looking for their first win entertain Blackheath who did manage to obtain their first win on Saturday over Loughborough Students. Both sides are capable of winning this one, but OA seem to lack penetration this season so another close contest should go to the visiting side.
The final game sees the clash between league newcomers Macclesfield at home to Hartpury College. College have made the better start to the season but were given a lesson in Saturday’s heavy defeat to Richmond. Macclesfield are still looking for their first win but already have the worst defensive record in the league. If Hartpury can negate the powerful home pack then they may just win this important game. Another defeat for Macclesfield will leave them in trouble.
BLAYDON V COVENTRY RUGBY MATCH PREVIEW
This coming Saturday 27th September 2014 Coventry Rugby make the long trip to the north-east to face Blaydon at their Crow Trees Ground, with the kick off at 2.30 pm.
Blaydon founded in 1888 they have former Newcastle Falcons hooker Micky Ward as Director of Rugby and player. Mr Ward is also the Forwards Coach at the Falcons and this close relationship gives them access to some of the Premiership side’s Academy players.
Coventry Rugby have a poor away record at Blaydon not having won there, with only a draw to show over the years. The past two seasons has seen Blaydon do the double over Coventry, with them last season winning their home fixture 21-16 and more worryingly at BPA by 37-15.Certainly a record that Coventry Rugby will have to exceed if they have any higher aspirations.
Last season Blaydon finished a creditable 6th after an awful start to the season, coincidently their season was kicked started by their first victory of the season over Coventry. Currently they have won one and lost two games, winning at Darlington MP 24-23, then losing narrowly at home to Tynedale 15-20, and last Saturday a somewhat larger defeat to favourites Ealing Tfs. However the defeat at Ealing hid a much better performance than the score suggests, with chances going awry and breakaway tries by Ealing.
Always having a strong pack Blaydon- Coventry encounters are usually full bodied affairs with no quarter given. The home side have retained the majority of last season’s squad, supplemented by a sprinkling of Newcastle Falcons Academy players as well as local recruits mainly from the local Universities.
Key players retained include experienced lock Chris Wearmouth, a front row of Micky Ward, hooker Francis Entressangle and prop Robbie Kilbraier. A very effective back-row includes Gavin Jones, Keith Laughlin and Jason Smithson.
Retained backs include the influential fly-half and goal-kicker Andrew Baggett, centre Tom Bramwell and wingers Andrew Archibald, Tom Jeffrey and Fraser Wilson.
New recruits include Falcons Academy players Craig Willis at No 10 and Will Witty. Ollie Wood as centre comes in from Scunthorpe and full-back Nathan Bailey. Rhodri Adamson at Northumbria University and Nathan Horsfall both fight over the scrum-half position, with Adamson also an accomplished goal-kicker. Two more University players are hooker/prop Victor Guignour and flanker Jack Davison, together with prop Trevor Davison.
Certainly a blend of youth and experience which will provide Coventry Rugby with a stern test as they look to record their first ever win at Crow Trees. Usually such encounter are close affairs with Coventry needing to more than match the home pack to deny them the platform to release their useful back-row and backs.
For those supporters travelling up to the north-east don’t forget it is a 2.30 pm kick off and the postal address of Blaydon RFC is Crow Trees, Snailwell, NE16 3BN.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
24th September 2014.
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