Week 22 national league 1 results round up...

...Saturday 7th February 2015 including Coventry Rugby  v Macclesfield.

Results Saturday 7^th February 2015.

Blackheath                             24          24           Richmond

Coventry Rugby                     35         15            Macclesfield

Ealing Trailfinders                 24          19           Esher

Fylde                                        10          33          Darlington Mowden Park

Loughborough Students      29           15         Wharfedale

Old Albanian                          19           18          Blaydon

Rosslyn Park                          24              7         Cinderford

Tynedale                                16            23         Hartpury College 

No change at the top of the league after Saturday’s results with the three top sides all getting their expected bonus point wins. However none of the three sides had it easy after all racing into an early three try bonanza. It was all more of a struggle in the second half with a far more even display by their visitors. Whether it is a sign of nerves at the top or a leavening out of ability of all teams even at the bottom will become clearer as the season reaches its thrilling climax.

The bottom of the league also showed no surprises with the bottom three all losing, with only Tynedale picking up a losing bonus point. However wins for Old Albanian and Loughborough Students widens the gap to 5 points above the danger zone.

A close game saw Ealing Trailfinders duly get their win, but not without some scares from a resilient Esher side, whose performance belied their recent form.  The home side’s transgressions kept the visitors in it helped by some excellent line out work and in the end they had to rely on Phil Chesters trademark brace of tries with the obligatory driving maul one as Ealing kept Esher out for the final 34 minutes of the game. 

Coventry Rugby raced into a 22 minute 21 nil lead but then a series of errors and loss of momentum let Macclesfield  back in, and although the visitors had no answer to the power and pace of Will Hurrell and hat-trick winger Dan Rundle. Coventry never regained their earlier dominance, a lesson they will have to quickly correct with some key games coming up.

A similar occurrence was in evidence as Rosslyn Park raced into a 3 try 19 nil lead over 14^th placed Cinderford. The Park was always dominant but the rest of the game especially the second half was more even, but not enough for Cinderford to even get a losing bonus point. Time and fixtures are running out for the Foresters with the teams just above them winning. This Park win keeps them within 2 points of Coventry and 4 from Ealing.

Another side in trouble Tynedale duly lost their 12 successive game, this time at home to Hartpury College. It might have been a better performance than of late but still a loss which now takes Dale 8 points from safety. The game swung backwards and forwards but it needed a late College try to seal Tynedale’s fate.Surely now too much for Tynedale to do to escape relegation.

The draw between Blackheath and Richmond saw Richmond leave off where they finished against Coventry, with their pack in fine form. A hat-trick from flanker Tom Sergeant was matched by three from Blackheath and a 21 all draw at half-time suggested another close finish. A penalty apiece saw it finish as a draw but the home side needed a last minute penalty to achieve that.

Fylde continued on with their poor form this time losing at home to Darlington Mowden Park, after  a second half onslaught from Park. Fly-half Grant Connon was in fine form not only with his boot but also his general play and with the inspired finishing of full-back Henry Robinson it was all too easy in the second half. The defeat, although leaving Fylde in 5^th place sees Hartpury College only 2 points behind them.

Loughborough Students have surely made their position safe with a bonus point win over Wharfedale. Despite trailing at half-time the Students better finishing saw them run in 3 further tries without conceding a point. This win leaves Loughborough 14 point ahead of danger and 4 points ahead of their visitors who do have a game in hand.

It was another crucial win, this time by Old Albanian as they had a  narrow win at home over Blaydon. A very close call indeed as the power of the Blaydon pack threatened to overwhelm the home side. However Old Albanian stuck in there and helped with yellow cards and penalties it was centre Dan Watt who sealed the win with 2 late penalties. A win that moves Old Albanian 5 points from danger but still with plenty to do if Cinderford find some winning form.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

8^th February 2015