Week 5 - league 1 round up 4-10-2014.
By Tom Little
October 8 2014
Results for Saturday 4th October...
Blackheath 12 29 Blaydon
Coventry Rugby 53 26 Wharfedale
Darlington MP 41 12 Macclesfield
Ealing Tfs 28 12 Cinderford
Fylde 43 25 Loughborough Students
Hartpury College 30 19 Esher
Rosslyn Park 38 3 Old Albanian
Tynedale 19 30 Richmond
No change at top or bottom this week with both unbeaten sides Richmond and Ealing Tfs, and still no wins for Loughborough Students, Old Albanian and Macclesfield. Yet hidden amongst the bare statistics are good wins for Blaydon and a coming of age in this league for Hartpury College and Darlington MP.
Leaders Richmond faced a tricky visit to Tynedale and despite facing a full complement of Falcons players and trailing at half-time the visitors shrugged off a Ben Frankland hat-trick to sew up a bonus point win. Once again it was the all round game of Rob Kirby which proved decisive , putting Richmond in good heart before next week’s crucial clash with Ealing.
Their next week opponents Ealing Tfs found the visit of Cinderford rather more difficult than they had imagined, with two quarters being scoreless for both sides. Cinderford belied their lack of wins with a brave display and it took tries just before half-time and the end by Phil Chesters to make sure of the points. A display that will put Cinderford in good heart for their clash with Coventry,whilst Ealing must tread carefully as they face Richmond.
Fylde maintained their excellent try bonus form and remained in third place with an expected win over Loughborough Students. With the home backs orchestrated by returnee Scott Rawlings and another hat-trick by winger Oli Brennand a try bonus was assured, although credit again to the Students for again at least salvaging their own try bonus point.
As expected Rosslyn Park had an easy bonus point win over winless Old Albanian, although it was not until the second half that they took full control. Hugo Ellis at No 8 with two tries making four for the season proved what a class act he is.A loss that leaves OA languishing in 15th place.
Hartpury College proved that they are getting to grips with this league as they confounded the pundits with a deserved home victory over fancied Esher. Never overawed and helped by the metronomic goal-kicking of fly-half Gareth Thompson, College were always in control despite a late Esher try which put a better gloss on the score.
Coventry Rugby were back to winning ways after a scintillating 1st half display over a shell shocked Wharfedale. Straight direct running by the Coventry backs saw them score 6 tries with several other near misses. At times the Dale defence reminded one of the proverbial chocolate teapot but even less effective. Wholescale changes at half-time saw the visitors come into the game with more vigour and 3 tries gave them a sniff of a shock comeback. It was not to be as Coventry tightened up their game and had the satisfaction of scoring a great late try by winger Dan Rundle to bring up the 50 points.
Blaydon confirmed their form after last week beating Coventry by travelling to Blackheath and beating them with a strong second half display with three tries. Again it was the Blaydon forwards who proved the catalyst and denied the home side of any chance of coming back to score any points in that half. A win that allows Blaydon to leapfrog Blackheath in the league.
The final game saw newcomers Darlington Mowden Park confirm their maturity in this league with a bonus point win over winless Macclesfield. It was another dominant second half display especially by the forwards that saw Park’s home win leaving Macclesfield firmly anchored at the bottom of the league with the worst defensive record and the only side with no points at all.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
7th October 2014
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