Week 6 league 1 previews 11-10-2014...
By Tom Little
October 9 2014
...including Cinderford v Coventry Rugby.
Week 6 Fixtures - Saturday 11th October 2014.
Blaydon v Rosslyn Park
Cinderford v Coventry Rugby
Esher v Darlington Mowden Park
Hartpury College v Fylde
Macclesfield v Tynedale
Old Albanian v Loughborough Students
Richmond v Ealing Tfs
Wharfedale v Blackheath
No prizes for guessing the tie of Week 6 which must be the clash of the two unbeaten West London sides Richmond and Ealing Tfs. With both sides only having dropped a bonus point each, Ealing Tfs as Championship favourites, have their avowed aim of returning straight back, but Richmond have been in excellent early season form having retained most of last season’s squad and made some judicious acquisitions. Ealing being largely a full-time squad have kept the majority of last season’s backs but recruited a very experienced set of forwards. A real test for both sides, which could go to the home side, opening up the title chase.
Third placed Fylde face a difficult away trip to Hartpury College who have settled into NL1 better than expected. With key goal-kicker Gareth Thompson in fine form Fylde can’t afford to give many penalties away. This should be a high scoring encounter with a home win not being ruled out.
Blaydon having beaten Coventry and Blackheath are set up nicely for their home fixture against Rosslyn Park. A real test for the title pretensions of Park who have yet to hit top form, but Blaydon will be confident enough at home to cause an upset.
The surprise loss of Esher at newcomers Hartpury College may be seen as an omen, as another league newcomer Darlington Mowden Park are their visitors. Darlington MP have settled in well helped by some experienced new recruits and Esher cannot take them too lightly. Home advantage should just be enough to see them through to a close victory.
Cinderford who put up a brave yet unsuccessful display at Ealing Tfs have Coventry Rugby to contend with following their large win over Wharfedale. A full match preview of this game will follow.
It is difficult to see Macclesfield getting anything out of their visitors Tynedale. Winless and pointless Macclesfield have found the gulf in class too great and the best they can expect is some sort of bonus point. Dale will be looking for the win to keep them in the top half of the league.
Both Wharfedale and Blackheath had larger losses than they had expected last Saturday so in the battle of the confidences it could go either way. I suspect that Wharfedale won’t play so badly as they did in the first half at Coventry, and with home advantage may eke out a close win.
It is the battle of the bottom as both winless sides Old Albanian and Loughborough Students meet. Both sides seem a shadow of last season but at least the Students are picking up plenty of try bonus points even if they have no defence. This is a game I feel the Students will be too strong for a misfiring OA side.
Cinderford v Coventry Rugby match preview 11th October 2014.
This coming Saturday 11th October Coventry Rugby travel to the Forest of Dean to face Cinderford, at the Beavis Memorial Ground, Dockham Road, GL14 2AQ kick off 2.30pm.
Founded in 1886, the Foresters as they are known finished 11th in their last two seasons and are currently in 13th place with just one win out of five. Under Director of Rugby Andy Deacon and new coach, Neil Loader assisted by Saul Nelson, Cinderford has so far beaten Tynedale at home but lost to newcomers Hartpury College also at home. Three away losses were to Darlington Mowden Park, Esher and last week to unbeaten Ealing Tfs. They certainly showed enough fight in their last two defeats to suggest that they will soon be back on winning ways. Last season Coventry Rugby won an early season home victory 38-13 but allowed Cinderford to come back to them in the away fixture with Coventry holding on to win 31-28, perhaps a salutary lesson there.
Some key players left pre-season with Will Davis to Ealing, No 9 Reece Broughton to Chinnor and the back row trio of Adam Balding-retired, Joe Garner to Esher and Tom Bozzard .In the past the club have maintained close links with Gloucester Premiership Rugby, but with the promotion of Hartpury College how close this link remains is not clear.
Despite this a large number of new recruits have arrived including hookers Sam Wilkes from Ealing, Alex Gordas and Luke Cole. New props include Jake Caulfield from Plymouth Albion, Chris Bundy and Joe Smart. Lock forward Lance Randall is playing well as is the back row of Rhys Luckwell from Clifton, Mike Uren from Dings and George Mills. New backs include winger Henry Bird and half-backs Andy Uren and Charlie Norman
A number of key players are retained such as full-back Mike Wilcox, Jack Adams and Sam Hanks in the centre, with winger Sam Baker. Experienced No 10 Mark Davies is partnered either by Alex Frame or Danny Pointon. Hooker Finlay Sinclair also remains with influential prop Ed Booley. The back row is boosted by the retention of George Evans and Roger Birkin.
With the core of last season’s experienced squad remaining, Cinderford always have a formidable pack and the backs with pace to score tries. A game that the Foresters need to win to keep them out of the danger zone, whilst Coventry Rugby, whose first half display against Wharfedale was breath-taking, needs to be vary of complacency and easing off in the second half.
Please note the earlier kick off of 2.30 pm.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
8th October 2014.
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