Week 23 national league 1 previews Saturday 14th February...

...including  Esher v Coventry Rugby.

Fixtures Saturday 14^th February 2015.

Blaydon                                       v             Fylde

Cinderford                                  v             Loughborough Students

Darlington Mowden Park         v            Tynedale

Esher                                            v            Coventry Rugby

Hartpury College                        v            Ealing Trailfinders

Macclesfield                                v            Blackheath

Richmond                                     v            Rosslyn Park

Wharfedale                                  v            Old Albanian

Week 23 sees all three leading sides away and facing potentially difficult opponents. With only 8 games left no side can afford a slip up now, especially as shortly all three sides have to meet each other.

At the other end of the table time is running out for both Tynedale and Cinderford for them to pick up a win to at least put pressure on Old Albanian and Wharfedale just above them.

Ealing Trailfinders travel again to Gloucestershire hoping that history will not be repeated as they face Hartpury College. College now in 6^th place after 9 successive wins are themselves only 2 points behind Fylde in 5^th place. They are a team that Ealing take for granted at their peril, Ealing who were not at their best against Esher, still managed the bonus point win. This will be a close game with the leaders slight favourites for the crucial win.

Another side not quite at their best, Coventry Rugby travel to Esher, who lost a close contest at Ealing despite a strong pack performance. Coventry will need to be on their mettle to gain anything from this contest. A full preview will follow.

What is the betting for a third successive draw for Richmond as local rivals Rosslyn Park are their visitors? Richmond after impressive draws with Coventry and Blackheath under their belt this is a game that Park cannot take too lightly.Rosslyn Park whose need for the win is to keep pressure on Ealing and Coventry will need to dig deep in what is expected to be a close contest.

Cinderford are reaching the point of no return as they struggle to avoid relegation. Despite a poor run of results they are still only 5 points from safety, so their clash with Loughborough Students takes on monumental importance. With the Students now virtually safe a close and nervous encounter is expected with Cinderford needing to get the win to give them any chance of survival.

Another side in deep danger, but this time 8 points from safety Tynedale, have to travel to fellow north-eastern rivals Darlington Mowden Park. Despite somewhat better recent performances  by Tynedale they still haven’t had a win for 13 games meet a Park side who have now won 4 of their last 5 fulfilling their pre-season  ambitions  bringing them up to 8^th place and now safe. Darlington MP have found a clinical finishing edge and should be too strong over a Tynedale side now in serious danger of relegation.

It is another key game for 13^th place Old Albanian as they travel to Wharfedale just 4 points ahead of them. Old Albanian have been in recent better form and although Wharfedale have a game in hand, a defeat here coupled with a win for Cinderford would put them only one win from danger. Wharfedale at home should just about edge it.

Blaydon versus Fylde is one of the few fixtures on Saturday that don’t impact on the top or bottom of the table. Fylde have surprised many with their recent slump in form having lost 4 games in a row. Blaydon at home, especially with the prospect of their dominant pack should win this one.

The final game sees bottom side Macclesfield, who put up a strong performance at Coventry face another inform side Blackheath. The visitors are now in 4^th place and although they were held to a draw last week by Richmond should be too strong in all facets of the game to maintain their unbeaten form.

Esher v Coventry Rugby match preview Saturday 14^th February 2015

This coming Saturday 14^th February 2015 with the kick off at 3pm sees Coventry Rugby visit one of their traditional rivals Esher at their Molesley Road Hersham ground. Chairman of Rugby John Inverdale has experienced former DOR Mike Schmid as CEO, with Ricky Nebbett as Head Coach and Chris Kibble and Craig Chalmers as Assistant Coaches.

Back in National League 1 now for three seasons they finished a very creditable second to ultimate Champions Ealing three seasons ago, but 5^th last season and so far are in a disappointing 9^th spot with 9 wins and 12 losses for a total of 50 match points. Results for this season show a large home and away bias losing no less than 9 away with only one away win,at home the record shows 8 home wins and only 3 losses to Ealing Trailfinders, Richmond and Hartpury College. Earlier in the season Esher travelled to the BPA and although they lost 33-31 a strong second half fight-back provided a firm enough warning to Coventry Rugby. Last week they put up a brave but ultimately losing show at Ealing but their line-out and rucking were impressive. 

As usual Esher have kept the majority of last season’s squad with some notable exceptions of fly-half Luke Daniels to Ealing and Mike Macfarlane no 8 to Rosslyn Park. Some excellent new recruits have arrived with centre Ollie Richards from Worthing, centre Tom Bedford from Ealing, and ebullient scrum-half Robbie Shaw back again from London Scottish. In Ian Cross from London Irish they have an up and coming fly-half and goal-kicker, although after taking a heavy knock last week he could be doubtful.

The pack has been strengthened with No 8 Harrison Collins from Tynedale and Fylde and prop forwards Colin McMahon from St. Mary’s and Cameron Zeiss back from Plymouth Albion, who will be celebrating after scoring against Ealing.

A number of key players have been retained including experienced centre Tom Cheeseman, and wingers Andy Wright and Paul O’Lima, in former Coventry winger Spencer Sutherland they have a proven finisher who is now on 17 tries. Ali Chisholm is a dangerous broken field runner as well as goal-kicker from full-back although he did fill in at fly-half for Ian Cross after the injury last week.

Most of the pack remain which is well experienced with locks Ian Kench as captain and George Drye, hooker Neil Sweeney and prop Dave Millard. Peter Synnott is key in the back row as is Cameron Gentles and N 8 Brandon Walker.

Esher have proved that they can raise their game and certainly have the players to do so, Coventry Rugby need to be wary of their opponents to restrict chances to the home wingers. Meanwhile a competitive and indeed combative pack has the ability to give Coventry Rugby a close contest, but as Coventry Rugby go for their 19th successive game unbeaten; they will be in no mood to slacken off in their pursuit of leaders Ealing Trailfinders.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

11^th February 2015.