National league 1 results round up week 1, round 1...

...5th September 2015 including Coventry Rugby v Wharfedale.

Results Round 1 Saturday 5^th September 2015

Blaydon                          29         16              Blackheath

Cinderford                     24         37              Darlington Mowden Park

Coventry Rugby            41         14             Wharfedale

Esher                              16          27             Ampthill and District

Fylde                              30          28              Loughborough Students

Hull Ionians                  37          32               Hartpury College

Plymouth Albion          33         20               Richmond

Rosslyn Park                 62          12              Henley Hawks

Not too many surprises on the opening day of fixtures with 6 home wins and 2 away. Congratulations to newbies Hull Ionians and Ampthill for their opening day bonus point victories, whilst Plymouth Albion was soon in their stride. Interestingly only one of the London area sides won-is this a start of a re-positioning of the league?

The importance of quality goal-kickers was soon apparent with all 8 matches providing such examples led by Elliot Bale of Plymouth Albion with no less than 23 points including a try.

One of the pre-season favourites Rosslyn Park provided the best second half performance with no less than 43 points, including 4 tries in the last 10 minutes, which also involved replacement scrum-half with a hat-trick of tries. A salutary lesson for newcomers Henley Hawks as the power and pace of Park finally told.

Another of the pre-season favourites Coventry Rugby, decided to have the best first half in the league leading Wharfedale by 36-7 by half-time. With Coventry seemingly having the upper hand both in the scrums and their efficient backs, it became a damage limitation exercise for the visitors. Wharfedale got under the skin of the home side who then lost their discipline allowing Wharfedale some parity of possession although Coventry Rugby were never in any danger of losing.

Darlington Mowden Park confirmed that they could be the surprise package of the league with a comprehensive bonus point win over pre-season relegation candidates Cinderford. In another strong first half performance leading 30-12 at half-time with their experienced  half-backs Gary Law and Bruno Bravo , Park had to withstand a late fightback by the home side which at least gained them a crucial losing bonus point.

Blaydon lived up to their reputation for strong second half showings as their forwards took control over a Blackheath side with many players still getting to know each other. Despite leading at half-time Blackheath were not able to counteract the powerful home scrum-a theme that I am sure we will hear of again before the season is over.

League newcomers Ampthill and District took the relatively short trip to Esher and came away with an excellent victory, over a home side that has seemed to carry on with their inconsistency from last season. As expected the Ampthill pack, especially in the scrum took over and provided the platform for the victory helped in no small measure by winger Elliot Clements-Hill, back in the Ampthill fold, with 17 points including 2 tries.

Another newcomer making a successful start to the season Hull Ionians, put behind them any thoughts of last time they were in the league with a close run victory over Hartpury College.  Somewhat of a feisty encounter saw a narrow half-time lead by Hartpury overtaken with two second half home tries, this coupled with the excellent goal-kicking of scrum-half Isaac Green saw Ionians home for a deserved victory. Whether Hartpury will point to their missing Gloucester starlets remains to be seen.

Last season’s top four Fylde almost came a cropper at home to Loughborough Students, who put behind them the loss of some star performers to mount a serious challenge. A tight first half opened up considerably in the second, possibly helped by red cards, one for each side. The second half ebbed and flowed and as usual with the Students they never give up and indeed went in front until a late penalty by fly-half Chris Johnson gave him 15 points and the crucial win.

The final game saw newly relegated Plymouth Albion put in a strong home performance in beating long established NL1 side Richmond. Despite fielding so many newcomers Albion were on top for most of the game, helped by a masterclass by new fly-half Elliot Bale who weighed in with 23 points. Richmond , with largely last season’s squad on show , were not helped by 2 yellow cards but Albion will take much confidence from this first victory before they meet tougher opposition in Rosslyn Park next Saturday.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

6^th September 2015.