Week 17 National League 1 results round up...

...Saturday 3rd January 2015 including Old Albanian v Coventry Rugby.  

Results Week 17 - Saturday 3^rd January 2015.

Blaydon                                    5            31         Ealing Trailfinders

Cinderford                               3            17         Darlington Mowden Park

Loughborough Students       7            15         Blackheath

Macclesfield                          23           30         Esher

Old Albanian                         19           24         Coventry Rugby

Richmond                              21           26         Hartpury College

Rosslyn Park                         20            14         Fylde

Wharfedale                           34           14         Tynedale

The perceived North/South divide showed itself over Week 17-no not the socio-economic phrase beloved by politicians but the rather damp and windswept conditions found in the five southern ties, whilst the better weather in the north produced the only three try bonus scores of Saturday. No surprise results at the top with only Ealing managing to get the try bonus with both Coventry Rugby and Rosslyn Park finding the conditions and their opponents difficult. No change in the bottom three with another loss by Cinderford at home makes them favourite for the 2^nd relegation spot, but no less than five sides are now separated by just 10 points trying to avoid the third spot.

Leaders Ealing Trailfinders increased their lead to 6 points over Coventry Rugby with their bonus point victory over Blaydon. Despite dominance in the pack especially the scrum Blaydon felt aggrieved without being awarded at least two penalty tries but overall  they had no response to the incisive and clinical finishing of the Ealing backs, led by centre Andy Reay taking over the mantle of playmaker from Will Harries, as the leaders ran in three second half tries to confirm their bonus point victory.

Coventry Rugby had a difficult afternoon as they overcame a resilient Old Albanian side and a strong wind especially in the second half, as they gained their first ever win away at OA. The Christmas lay off seemed to do Coventry no favours as they struggled to find the fluency found in earlier matches, not helped it must be said with some poor kicking mainly into the wind. Still the result was more important than the performance and although now 6 points behind Ealing, Coventry Rugby have maintained their 4 point advantage over Rosslyn Park and no less than 10 points over Fylde.

Rosslyn Park kept their pressure on Coventry just above them with a hard-fought win over fourth placed Fylde. Another game in poor conditions saw a close battle with both sides being restricted to just 2 tries apiece. An early lead for Park was soon equalised by Fylde early in the second half, and despite constant pressure on their line Rosslyn Park held out for their crucial victory with 2 late penalties, a win that keeps them within 2 wins of Ealing.

The key battle at the other end of the table saw Cinderford lose at home at fellow strugglers Darlington Mowden Park. A tight first half saw two key tries from the visitors as Cinderford were unable to break the stranglehold of Park’s pack. Try as they might to force a breakthrough Park scored the only second half score of a penalty which leaves Cinderford  in 15^th place and now 6 points from safety, but at last moves Darlington MP  5 points from danger.

North-West met North-East as Wharfedale duly despatched 14^th placed Tynedale  with a bonus point win. Tynedale had no answer to a very strong looking Wharfedale side with Dan Solomi back in his try scoring ways, as the impressive back row fed the home backs with three late tries sealing it for the home side. A loss that leaves Tynedale  in the third relegation place but still only 3 points from safety, but moves Wharfedale   up to 9^th place  and surely now safe for another season.

Loughborough Students did their survival chances no favour with another home loss, this time to Blackheath, whose form can be brilliant at times. Conditions were not great and too many errors spoilt the game as a spectacle .Seven all at half-time another Blackheath try and a late penalty sealed it , a win that lifts them up to 5^th place  but leaves the Students just 3 points ahead of the third relegation spot.

Hartpury College confirmed their burgeoning reputation with an away win at Richmond .With Chris Fortey and Mark Irish lending their considerable experience to the College pack the visitors were always on top in that area and earned a penalty try. Winger Stephen Reynolds provide the cutting edge to back up the forwards  as a late penalty goal sealed it for the visitors The win keeps Hartpury in 8^th place but the loss drops Richmond to 6^th  just ahead of Esher.

The final game saw bottom club Macclesfield put up a strong home showing in gaining a losing bonus point from their visitors Esher. There was only 5 points in it at half-time but two early second half tries for Esher giving them the try bonus point leaving the home side chasing the game. A last quarter try and even later penalty gave the home side a deserved losing bonus point but with still only one win so far there is little chance of Macclesfield surviving the drop.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

5^th January 2015.