National league 1 results round up week 7...

...Saturday 17th October 2015 including Coventry Rugby v Fylde.

Week 7 Results Saturday 17th October.

Blackheath                                 27          24            Wharfedale

Blaydon                                       33         38            Plymouth Albion

Cinderford                                   20        43            Richmond

Coventry Rugby                          24        36            Fylde

Darlington Mowden Park          39        16           Loughborough Students

Esher                                             40        14           Hull Ionians

Henley Hawks                                0        46           Hartpury College

Rosslyn Park                                 17        10           Ampthill & District

Week 7 saw the four London clubs all win taking them into the top 6, with only leaders Hartpury College and Ampthill breaking the London hegemony.

Hartpury College consolidated their lead at the top with a comprehensive win at Henley Hawks, who had the ignominy of being nilled. With Hartpury having some of their Gloucester Rugby contingent back took time to settle but their defensive display kept the home side out. A 3 nil lead at half-time was soon turned into a rout with 7 tries led by four from winger Jonas Mikalcius. This win takes College to the top now 2 points clear from the chasing pack.

Blackheath crept up to second place with a harder than expected close fought battle with visiting Wharfedale .For most of the game Blackheath had to rely on Fred Gabbitas kicking his penalties which kept them close to Wharfedale going into the final quarter. At last Blackheath got their game going but had to wait for another penalty to seal it.

Esher moved into the top 3 for the first time this season,with an easier than expected win over visitors Hull Ionians. Yet Hull started brightly with two early tries before the home side took control as the visitors ran out of steam being unable to cope with the pace and control of the home team. Three unanswered tries in the second half saw Esher home moving in on the leaders.

Richmond moved up 2 places to 4th after a large win at relegation threatened Cinderford. Yet they trailed at half-time due a spirited performance by Cinderford. However it was a different matter in the second half as Richmond took complete control with 5 further tries taking them within 4 points from the leaders.

As expected it was a close contest as Rosslyn Park stopped a run of two consecutive losses by beating a spirited Ampthill side in a nervous affair. As the game seemed destined for a draw despite Park’s almost incessant siege in the Ampthill half, it took an injury time try to win the game for Park, the win taking them up to 6th place just one place above Coventry who they visit next Saturday.

It was not such a close contest as Coventry Rugby trailed 22-3 to Fylde by half-time shipping in three tries. A fightback early in the second period came to nothing as a yellow card gave the impetus back to Fylde, who took full advantage running in 2 converted tries. Two late tries by the home side gave the score a more respectable ring but in all honesty Coventry were not at the races on Saturday.

It was expected to be a close match at Blaydon with Plymouth Albion their visitors, an so it turned out to be. Bottom side Blaydon put up a brave fight as Albion went into a narrow lead. Further tries in the second had sealed it for Albion but two late tries by Blaydon gave them two vital bonus points.

The final game saw Darlington Mowden Park back at home as they gained the bonus point in beating a Loughborough Students side, whose 5th defeat sees them back in 14th place. A narrow half-time lead was turned into a rout with 5 further tries, a win that will surely now kick start Park’s season.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

19th October 2015.