Week 9 - results round up 1.11.2014...

...including Coventry Rugby v Esher.

Week 9 - Results Saturday 1^st November 2014.

Blackheath                             34           0            Macclesfield

Coventry Rugby                     33         31           Esher

Ealing Tfs                                 50         17           Hartpury College

Fylde                                         42         24          Blaydon

Loughborough Students        25         15         Cinderford

Old Albanian                            31           7         Wharfedale

Rosslyn Park                            28          15         Richmond

Tynedale                                  19          53         Darlington Mowden Park 

This week 6 bonus point wins out of 8 with only Rosslyn Park and Loughborough Students losing out,  Darlington Mowden Park the only away winner and the only one whose game was virtually over at half-time, the other 7 games half-time scores were all within 2 scores.

Match of the Day for controversy and its nerve wracking end, resulted in a narrow win for Coventry Rugby over Esher. No less than 6 tries were ruled out, three for each side with the referee unsighted. The first half seemed more fractious with scrums being unable to be set properly. However matters improved in the second half with some direct running by Will Hurrell and Rob Knox, allowing winger Dom Lespierre to run in 3 tries. Yet Esher never gave up and a late surge saw them briefly take the lead before 2 Matt Jones penalties sealed it for a deserved victory for the home side. A record breaking fifth win on the bounce at the BPA, a win that moves Coventry up to 4^th place ahead of Richmond and now only 5 points behind second placed Rosslyn Park.

Rosslyn Park, before the largest crowd of the day came from behind at half-time to beat close rivals Richmond. As pressure was exerted, Park kicked two penalties  and an early third quarter try from prolific scorer back rower Hugo Ellis set them on their way, with a final try from former Worthing centre  Kiba Richards. Despite the try bonus being missed Rosslyn Park remain in 2^nd place just 4 points behind leaders Ealing Tfs.

Fylde maintained their race to the stars with a bonus point win over Blaydon. With only one point in it at half-time and a red card leaving them short for 30 minutes two late tries and exemplary goal-kicking by Chris Johnson saw Fylde home, leaving them still  4 points behind Ealing.

Leaders Ealing Tfs found  Hartpury College  more powerful than they thought in the first half with the Students only trailing 17-10 at half-time. However as many teams have found this season Ealing stepped up a gear in the second half led by centre Tom Wheatcroft as the dominant home pack supplied the backs with plenty of opportunities. The 8 try win keeps Ealing 4 points ahead of their nearest rivals.

Macclesfield after their exploits against Coventry found their visit to Blackheath unproductive despite another strong front row performance. Four second half tries by Blackheath saw them home as the visitors had no answer to the pace of the home side. A loss that leaves  Macclesfield  still winless and pointless at the foot of the table.

Another loss by Cinderford, this time against Loughborough Students leaves  them firmly entrenched in the third relegation place. Always in control the Students better finishing and defensive prowess saw them home although unable to get the try bonus point.

The biggest aggregate win on Saturday was that by newcomers Darlington Mowden Park at Tynedale. Superior in all areas and boosted by the loan return of former star Zylon McGaffin, Park ran in 5 first half tries effectively closing the game out. Four more tries followed as Tynedale seemed to find the loss of Falcons DR loan players too much to cover.

There was rejoicing in St.Albans as Old Albanian finally got their first win of the season over their visitors Wharfedale. Drawing 7 all at half-time the home side took control in the second half                                    although they had to wait until injury time to get the try bonus point. A win that still leaves  OA in the second relegation place and now 9 points from safety.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

3^rd November 2014.