Week 9 - league 1 previews 1/11/2014...
By Tom Little
October 28 2014
...including Coventry Rugby v Esher preview.
Week 9 Fixtures - Saturday 1st November 2014.
Blackheath v Macclesfield
Coventry Rugby v Esher
Ealing Tfs v Hartpury College
Fylde v Blaydon
Loughborough Students v Cinderford
Old Albanian v Wharfedale
Rosslyn Park v Richmond
Tynedale v Darlington Mowden Park
Hartpury College are not expected to trouble leaders Ealing Tfs as they make their first ever visit to West London. Yet Hartpury have made an excellent start to their NL1 campaign with last Saturday even finding a cutting edge amongst their backs in a large victory over Tynedale. It may be a closer game than expected but the new found power of Ealing’s front 5 may steamroller the College, as Esher found to their cost in the second half against Ealing.
Rosslyn Park after their narrow win at Cinderford face another difficult game, this time with near neighbours Richmond. Second against fourth, as both sides need the win to continue pressure on Ealing. It promises to be a hard-fought and close encounter, as both have similar scoring records with Park having a slightly better defensive one. Park should just scrape a win but probably without the bonus point.
The north-west takes on the north-east as Fylde entertains Blaydon. A mixed start for the visitors has seen them back in 10th place, but they do have the forwards to trouble Fylde. Another close contest may just go to the home side as their win would maintain pressure on Ealing and Rosslyn Park.
Another possibility of a close game is at the Butts Park Arena as old rivals Coventry Rugby and Esher meet. Coventry Rugby will be looking for their 5th consecutive win against an Esher side yet to win away from home. A full match preview of this game will follow.
The north-eastern clash between Tynedale and Darlington Mowden Park promises to be a tasty affair. Dale had a surprisingly heavy defeat away to Hartpury last Saturday, despite plenty of possession, whilst Darlington MP managed a well -earned draw with high flyers Fylde. With Darlington having an impressive front row they do stand a chance of surprising their hosts, but Tynedale can never be written off at home.
Macclesfield, despite their 8th consecutive loss made a strong showing facing Coventry and should have a renewed faith as they face the journey south to face Blackheath. An inconsistent season so far sees Blackheath with a 50/50 record and back in 8th place. They are capable of raising their game, especially at home, so a closer game than first expected should see them edge out their visitors.
Two sides struggling Loughborough Students and Cinderford meet at the campus, with the Students somewhat surprised on Saturday with Wharfedale winning after a fight-back in the second half. On the other hand Cinderford were within one kick from beating Rosslyn Park, so they must fancy their chances to get a much needed win to possibly move them out of the relegation zone.
The final game sees winless Old Albanian meet a Wharfedale side still basking in the glory of winning a game after trailing at half-time. OA have shown this season that despite plenty of possession they do not appear to have the cutting edge to win games. A game that Wharfedale feel they should be able to win which would take them away from the danger zone but leave OA firmly entrenched in it.
Coventry Rugby v Esher match preview Saturday 1st November 2014.
This Saturday 1st November 2014 sees Coventry Rugby back at the Butts Park Arena as they face Esher, with kick off as usual at 3 pm. The Surrey club now back in National League 1 for their third season following their relegation form the Championship, finished a disappointing 5th last season after a very close 2nd the previous season to the then champions Ealing Tfs. As with a few other West London clubs plans are proceeding with the development of a new stand with leisure facilities ensuing greater use of the land and therefore income to fund their ambitions, including a possible Rugby League side.
This season has seen Esher re-appoint Mike Schmidt as Director of Rugby, assisted by Head Coach Craig Chambers and Coaches Ricky Nebbett and Chris Kibble. Despite the usual switch of players to and fro the West London clubs, Esher have as usual managed to keep the majority of last season’s squad enhanced by some excellent new signings.
Usually, meetings between Coventry Rugby and Esher go with home advantage but last season Coventry managed the double over them winning 20-14 away and a comprehensive home victory of 43-0 later on in the season.
Esher are currently 9th following a somewhat mixed start to the season with all three away matches to Richmond, Hartpury College and Tynedale all being lost albeit by small margins. Their record at home has been more impressive with wins over Cinderford, Macclesfield, Fylde, and Darlington MP. Last Saturday saw them face league leaders Ealing Tfs finally losing 5-22 after holding them to 5-7 at half-time.
Esher have had to contend with the loss of a few key players with Luke Daniels off to Ealing, the duo of fly-half Tom Whelan and No 8 Mike Macfarlane both to Rosslyn Park, the feisty lock Kris Chesney to Southend as player coach and Simon Edwards hooker to Richmond.
New recruits include impressive centre Ollie Richards from Worthing, centre Tom Bedford from Ealing, and fly-half Paul Ian Cross from London Irish. Scrum-half Stuart Commins has also come in from Ealing with another No 9 experienced Robbie Shaw back from London Scottish.
The pack has been strengthened with lock Neilus Keogh from Nottingham, No 8 Harrison Collins after spells at Tynedale and Fylde, and flanker Joe Garner. Prop forward Cameron Zeiss is back from Plymouth Albion and prop Colin McMahon from St.Mary’s.
Key players retained include half-backs Andy Garner at No 9 and fly-half Micky Wilson and experienced centre Tom Cheeseman. There is great pace on the wings with former Coventry player Spencer Sutherland finding a rich vein of form, together with fellow flyers Andy Wright and Paul O’Lima. A strong from row also has hooker Neil Sweeney and prop Dave Simmons and Dave Millard, whilst locks Ian Kench and George Drye also remain. Full-back Alistair Chisholm has just returned from injury and can be a dangerous broken field runner, as Ealing found out last Saturday.
Despite the loss of Mike Macfarlane the back row seems just as strong with Pete Synnott leading the way with Cameron Gentles and No 8 Brandon Walker.
With Coventry Rugby now looking for their 5th consecutive victory and to cement their top five position, this is a game they need to win. Esher with their wealth of experience and overall strength both in their pack and speedy backs also need the win to bring them back within sight of the top five.
Despite Coventry Rugby ‘s struggle to beat bottom side Macclesfield last Saturday the form that Coventry Rugby are now finding ,especially at home ,should ensure that the biggest crowd of the season so far at the Butts Park Arena should be obtained to give the necessary impetus to Coventry Rugby to their further aspirations in this league.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
28th October 2014.
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On a personal note "go sober for October" will be over.