Week 11 national league 1 results round up....

weekend 14-15th November 2014 including Coventry Rugby v Darlington Mowden Park

Week 11 Results - 14^th/15^th November 2014.

14^th November                Rosslyn Park              27          10          Esher

15^th November                Blackheath                 29          24          Hartpury College

                                           Blaydon                      46            5           Cinderford

                                           Coventry Rugby        29           17          Darlington Mowden Park

                                           Ealing Tfs                   64            43         Tynedale

                                           Fylde                          35              3         Wharfedale

                                           Loughborough St     27            29         Macclesfield

                                          Old Albanian              13            10        Richmond 

With just over a third of the season gone the tectonic plates of National League 1 are finally moving apart with fissures now opening up at both ends of the league. Daylight is now to be found between the top four sides Ealing Tfs, Rosslyn Park, Fylde and Coventry Rugby over their nearest challenger Richmond, whilst at the other end, despite wins for Macclesfield and Old Albanian is still looks as though Macclesfield and Cinderford will fill the bottom two relegation places, with no less than four other sides Old Albanian, Darlington MP, Loughborough Students, and Wharfedale fighting to escape the final place and just separated by 6 points.

A weekend of three last minute winning scores with games involving blood, sweat, tears, heavy and muddy pitches , that is apart from at Ealing  with an astonishing 17 tries scored  which begs the question is that really rugby and what relevance it has to Championship aspirations.

What can I say about the score at Ealing, with the home side leading 52-14 at half-time with 8 tries over Tynedale. Was it case of clinical finishing by both sides in each half or just poor defending, perhaps a simple summary is that both sides had enough pace especially on the wings to take advantage.

A more traditional game was evident on Friday night before the largest crowd of the weekend as Rosslyn Park kept pressure on leaders Ealing by beating a steadily fading Esher, but this time they were the only top four side, unable to get the try bonus point. A winning run of 7 games keeps Park in 2^nd place just 4 points behind Ealing. It still needed a last quarter try to seal it for Park.

A tasty affair was in view as Fylde had a bonus point victory over their local rivals Wharfedale. A game of 2 red cards and a myriad of yellows coupled with Wharfedale’s continuing injury troubles in the game allowed the home side to run away with it in the second half, once again thanks to Paul Arnold’s brace. Fylde are now only 3 points behind Rosslyn Park.

Another winning run of seven was in evidence at the Butts Park Arena as Coventry Rugby obtained their try bonus point within 26 minutes over first time visitors Darlington Mowden Park, with an example of direct powerful running by the pack finished off by the impressive backs. Somewhat of a role reversal in the second half saw Park get more possession and run in two unanswered tries, but despite three yellow cards for the home side Coventry held on for the deserved win, which keeps them within 2 points of Fylde.

A close game in St.Albans saw Old Albanian finally move out of the bottom two with a win over high flying Richmond. A 10 nil half-time lead by the home side was steadily whittled away by Richmond until a last minute penalty by Richard Gregg gave the home side a much needed win  which brings them to just 2 points from safety, but surely ends any title aspirations of Richmond.

The bunting should have been out with singing in the streets of Macclesfield as they finally got their first win and indeed points of the season, with a last minute try to see off Loughborough Students. An out of sorts Students side who perhaps took their visitors too lightly were punished by the bottom side who wanted the win more. Although Macclesfield are still favourites for relegation it does give them hope, but leaves the Students only 4 points ahead of the danger zone.

For the second week running it was a last minute score that thwarted Hartpury Students from winning at Blackheath. It was almost a carbon copy of the Students defeat by Coventry as the home side overturned a 16 point deficit to sneak the win. Another salutary lesson, that at this level you need to close out games from winning positions. The win pushes Blackheath up to 6^th place ahead of Esher.

The final game saw Cinderford looking firmly at relegation as they travelled to Blaydon and were well beaten. The first half was relatively close but five tries after the interval sealed it for the home side, a loss that leaves Cinderford rooted in the second relegation place with surely too much to do to survive.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

16^th November 2014.