Week 10 national league 1 previews 8.11.2014...

Including Hartpury College v Coventry Rugby.

Week 10 Fixtures - Saturday 8^th November 2014

Cinderford                                         Old Albanian

Darlington Mowden Park               Ealing Tfs

Esher                                                  Blackheath

Hartpury College                             Coventry Rugby

Macclesfield                                     Rosslyn Park

Richmond                                         Loughborough Students

Tynedale                                           Fylde

Wharfedale                                      Blaydon

This week the top four sides in the league are all away and expected to win, but as we know with this league surprises are always possible, which makes for an interesting Saturday. At the bottom of the league there is an intriguing fixture between Cinderford and Old Albanian, with a strong suggestion that the loser will make up one of the relegation places at the end of the season.

Leaders Ealing Tfs face the long trek up north to face newcomers Darlington Mowden Park. With Park surprising many with their performances if not actual wins, including a comprehensive away win at Tynedale last week, they will go into this fixture with confidence. Whether Darlington have enough power up front to counter a much improved Ealing pack remains to be seen. A close result is expected but Ealing have enough experience to just shade it.

Rosslyn Park also face a long trek this time to Macclesfield, but without expecting too much of a challenge, although the home side, especially their pack has recently been more competitive. Park have enough quality throughout their side to run out comfortable winners.

After some poor recent results including a resounding loss at home to Darlington MP, Tynedale now have another home fixture this time with third placed Fylde. This season Fylde have surprised many with their consistency even away from home, and if their forwards can get a large enough amount of possession, their backs can finish off the job. Another comfortable bonus point victory should be a formality for Fylde.

It is new territory for Coventry Rugby  as they travel to Hartpury College not only looking for their 6^th win in a row continuing their best ever league run since moving to the Butts Park Arena, but also how important it is to keep within one win of Rosslyn Park and Fylde. A full match preview of this game will follow.

Richmond, who put up such a strong first half performance at Rosslyn Park, should be too strong as they face a Loughborough Students side who are back in 11^th place. The Students have not been at their best this season and they will find the experience and pace of the home side too much to handle, as Richmond need the win to maintain pressure on Coventry.

It could be argued that the top half clash between Esher and Blackheath is the match of the day, as the two well matched London rivals fight over 6^th place. Both sides have had their good and bad days so far, but they are capable of troubling most sides in this league, as witnessed by the comeback by Esher at Coventry. Blackheath also have such experience and another close game is expected with Esher just having the edge.

The north sees the clash between old rivals Wharfedale and Blaydon. Both sides have had somewhat of a mixed start to the season both losing away last week, with Wharfedale unable to stop Old Albanian getting their first victory of the season. In the end this clash will come down to the power of the packs and the slight edge Blaydon have should just be enough to counteract home advantage.

Vying for match of the day but for the wrong reason is the meeting between Cinderford and Old Albanian. Both sides are anchored in the relegation spots but Old Albanian will be buoyant after their first win of the season last Saturday. A must win for either side as they both need to get closer to the teams above them. Cinderford have been putting up better performances than their results show and might just be strong enough at home to force a narrow victory.

HARTPURY COLLEGE V COVENTRY RUGBY MATCH PREVIEW SATURDAY 8^TH NOVEMBER 2014

It is new territory for Coventry Rugby as they travel to Hartpury College for their first ever meeting of these two sides, with a kick off at 2.30 pm. Hartpury College was founded as a small Agricultural College just after the Second World War, set in 360 hectares, on the Gloucester-Ledbury Road, it now has  6 pitches and 2 all-weather pitches ,it is also the training ground for Premiership side Gloucester Rugby.

The College expanded into Elite Sport including Rugby after 2000 with Hartpury RFC being formed in 2004.Since then the club has made rapid progress being accepted into the league pyramid structure and last season were NL2 South Champions, which saw them promoted to NL1 at the start of this season.

Under Director of Rugby Alan Martinovoc, with Head Coach John Barnes, defence/forwards coach Mark Cornwell and player coach Chris Fortey ,Hartpury have made a steady start to this season  currently lying in 8^th place with 24 match points having had 5 wins and 4 defeats. At home they have suffered close losses to Fylde and Wharfedale, but did suffer a large home defeat to Richmond 59-17, and last Saturday lost at leaders Ealing Tfs 50-17 as they found the power of the home pack too hot to handle.Two excellent home wins over Tynedale and Esher, go with three away from home at Cinderford, Macclesfield and with a last minute try over fellow newcomers Darlington Mowden Park.

Close connections with Premiership Gloucester Rugby has allowed them to use a number of dual registered loan players ,in addition more experienced players are part of the set up with a front row of Chris Fortey, props Mark Irish from London Scottish and Tim Brockett from Ealing.

Young props also include Will Tanner and Wayne Thompson, with locks Joe Batley, James Voss coming from Jersey, with Rob Fuller from Bournemouth. A strong back row includes Gloucester Dr player  and former Welsh  U 20’s flanker Dan Thomas, Luke Stratford from Jersey, Lewis Ludlow at no 8 and Mike Luxton either  a lock or flanker.

Half-backs Gareth Thompson either at No 10 or full-back is an effective goal-kicker, as is fellow No 10’s Mitch Burton and Lloyd Evans, and scrum-half Ben West  is a player to watch. Centres Craig Jackson, Steve Leonard from Clifton and Tom Griffiths provide a cutting edge, as does wingers Stephen Reynolds, Alex O’Meara and hat-trick hero Jaike Carter.

A game that Coventry Rugby can’t afford to take for granted as Hartpury have shown they can be competitive and in winger Jaike Carter they have a proven try scorer-whose prospective battle with Coventry Rugby’s Dom Lespierre will ensure an explosive afternoon. If Coventry Rugby can get at least parity in possession they have the backs to capitalise with a win to maintain pressure on the top three.

For those travelling to Hartpury the full address is Hartpury College, Hartpury,  Gloucestershire, GL19 3BE. Don’t forget it is an earlier kick off at 2.30 pm.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

4^th November 2014.