Week 29 national league 1 results round up...

...Saturday 18th April 2015 including Coventry Rugby v Blackheath.

Results Saturday 18^th April 2015.

Coventry Rugby                          49         29             Blackheath

Darlington Mowden Park         19          51            Old Albanian

Ealing Trailfinders                      15          19             Rosslyn Park

Esher                                            26            8             Wharfedale

Hartpury College                        34          26            Blaydon

Macclesfield                                31          44            Cinderford

Richmond                                    36          21             Fylde

Tynedale                                      26          17             Loughborough Students

Well its goodbye to Ealing Trailfinders, promoted as Champions, and hello to Plymouth Albion, relegated from the Championship following their loss at Moseley. Yet the fight to avoid the final relegation spot goes on to the last Saturday of the season between Cinderford and Old Albanian.

Ealing Trailfinders  may have lost their first home game of the season to local rivals Rosslyn Park, but the point they gained was enough to see them promoted back to the Championship after just one season. Somehow Ealing managed to double their highest crowd of the season and with 2278 attending was the highest attendance this season in NL1, beating that of Coventry Rugby’s 2132. A game that saw the power of the home pack thwarted by the meanest defence in the league, as Park stopped Ealing in their tracks with Scott Sneddon winning the game with 4 penalties.

Another large crowd at the Butts Park Arena saw Coventry Rugby complete their home programme with a bonus point win over Blackheath. The experience and skill of both fly-halfs shone through with Matt Jones and Gordon Ross setting their respective backs free with some exciting and skilful running. Blackheath proved doughty opponents until 2 late Coventry tries sealed it.

The fight to avoid the final relegation spot goes on for another week as Cinderford gained a crucial bonus point victory at Macclesfield. A win that keeps them 1 point ahead of Old Albanian, a game that was  close until the visitors made sure with a final quarter penalty try and  late try.

Old Albanian, despite their own bonus point win away at an outclassed Darlington Mowden Park  side will now have to rely on a Cinderford slip up next week to avoid relegation. The return of prodigal son James Shanahan helped and the power of No 8 Andrew Daish gave Old Albanian the impetus for an easy win before the nerves set for next week.

Hartpury College maintained their fine form with a bonus point victory over a visiting Blaydon side, lifting them up to 4^th place. A close game by half-time then saw two early home tries, seemingly sealing it before two late tries brought Blaydon back into it. A late home penalty saw Hartpury home, leaving Blaydon with their worst league position for some seasons.

Fylde lived up to their reputation for having a poor away record as they failed to meet last week’s performance against Coventry Rugby ,as Richmond ran  out as bonus point winners. Centre Adam Gadsby ran in three second half tries to see off a spirited Fylde side with Rob Kirby’s sole conversion enough to overtake Cliffie Hodgson’s leading goal-kicking tally.

Inconsistent Esher, were able to get a bonus point win at home against Wharfedale.A win that was not enough to lift them above 10^th place, but a defeat that left Wharfedale back in 12^th place. Both sides will need to improve next season otherwise they could be sucked into a relegation dogfight.

The final game saw already relegated Tynedale put up a spirited fight against an ill-disciplined Loughborough Students side.  The Students, who have been out of sorts mainly away with 11 defeats, will need to improve for next season. If Tynedale can keep most of their side together they stand a good chance of returning back to an increasingly competitive NL1.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

20^th April 2015