Week 8 - round 8 NL1 previews Saturday 24th October 2015...

...including Coventry Rugby v Rosslyn Park.

Week 8 Fixtures Saturday 24th October.

Coventry Rugby                        v      Rosslyn Park

Fylde                                           v      Esher

Hartpury College                      v      Darlington Mowden Park

Hull Ionians                               v      Blaydon

Loughborough Students         v      Blackheath

Plymouth Albion                     v      Cinderford

Richmond                                  v      Henley Hawks

Wharfedale                               v      Ampthill & District   

Week 8 will take us just over a quarter of the season completed, and who would have thought that the leader would be Hartpury College, with two of the pre-season favourites Rosslyn Park and Coventry Rugby back in 6th and 7th place.

Hartpury College will be confident enough that they can consolidate their lead as they face Darlington Mowden Park at home. Park have had a poor start to the season nor helped by a tranche of away games and have only two wins, and although they had a large win over Loughborough Students last week, Hartpury College are expected to maintain their success as they go for 7 consecutive wins.

Only 2 points behind Hartpury are Blackheath, who have also only lost one game so far, and in travelling to Loughborough Students, now back in 14th place, are expecting an easy win to maintain pressure on the leaders. Blackheath have been more consistent this season although they had to rely on a late score to beat Wharfedale on Saturday.

Another London side Esher, are also finding consistency and are up to third just 3 points behind Hartpury College face Fylde at the Woodlands. Despite a poor start to the season Fylde in their last two games has seen them put 36 points against both Rosslyn Park and Coventry Rugby. They will be confident enough to take another high flying scalp.

Fourth placed Richmond have the opportunity to put pressure on those 3 sides above them as they have Henley Hawks as their visitors. Henley had no answer last week to a rampant second half display by Hartpury and if Richmond play to their strengths they should win easily.

Wharfedale almost pulled off the shock of last week being close to beating high flying Blackheath, are back at home to face 5th placed Ampthill. The league newcomers have done well so far and were only a few minutes from earning a valuable draw at Rosslyn Park, so Wharfedale have been warned. A game that Wharfedale might just sneak the win.

Two sides finding it difficult to live up to the pre-season hype Coventry Rugby and Rosslyn Park face each other at the BPA. A difficult one to predict as both sides have not been at their best, a crunch game for Coventry Rugby as a win would probably take them above Park. A full preview of this game will follow.

It is equally difficult to predict that between Hull Ionians and Blaydon. Despite Blaydon being bottom of the league they put up a brave fight against Plymouth Albion, whilst Hull I somewhat faded in the second half against Esher. A game that might just swing to home advantage.

Plymouth Albion found it a profitable journey up north but are now back at home to face a struggling 15th placed Cinderford. As one of the pre-season favourites for relegation Cinderford have found it a difficult start and will not relish the visit to Albion. It should be a large home victory as Albion are slowly finding their feet in this league.

Match preview Coventry Rugby v Rosslyn Park Saturday 24th October.

This coming Saturday 24th October at the earlier kick off time of 2.15 sees Coventry Rugby meet one of their traditional rivals Rosslyn Park here at home at the Butts Park Arena. It has to be said that both sides have not lived up to their pre-season expectations. Difficult to put a reason behind it but it could be expectations were too high, or the players thought it was going to be too easy, or even a spate on injuries has disrupted continuity. Whatever the reason or reasons I am sure both sides will be giving it their all for the crucial win.

Rosslyn Park were founded in 1879 just 5 years after Coventry Rugby, and indeed were the first club side to face an overseas side from France. Park have ambitious plans to redevelop the ground with work already started including a new 3g pitch. Close connections with the City has allowed Park to recruit quality players and have publicly stated their ambitions to look for promotion.

Steady progress has been made on the field with Rosslyn Park finishing 4th and 2nd for the last 2 seasons, currently they are in 6th place with 22 points, 6 points behind leaders Hartpury College and crucially 3 point ahead of Coventry.

MD and DOR is Shaun Justice with new Head Coach James Buckland taking over from Alex Codling. James Buckland was formerly Head Coach at London Scottish and London Welsh forwards coach, assisted by former OA coach Andy Holloway.

It has been a mixed series of results for Park so far this season having won 5 games and lost 2. The opening game saw a large home win over Henley Hawks with 2 more home wins over DMP and last week Ampthill, as well as a 1 point win at Plymouth Albion. Before last week’s win over Ampthill a much changed side lost their home record to Blackheath 18.31, followed by an away loss at Fylde by 20-36.

Last season Coventry Rugby lost their first game of the season at home to Park by 30-32 but won the final game of the season in a scintillating display at the Rock by 50-45.

Rosslyn Park have been able to recruit a number of dual registered players to boost their title ambitions including back-row Ed Milne, well known to Coventry supporters from Leicester Tigers, Charlie Piper hooker from Quins, prop Henry Elrington from London Irish, Tom Whiteley-half-back from Saracens, and Brett Herron centre from Bath. A number of other key new recruits have arrived former Coventry winger Mark Kohler from Albion, Daniel Browne-No 8 from London Welsh, Adam Frampton-lock from Newport and scrum-half Will Crow from Dorking. The front row has been further boosted by props Billy Moss from Bedford, Lovejoy Chawatama from London Scottish and Maurice Nwakor.

Some key backs have arrived including Andrew Henderson from Ealing, full-back Henry Robinson from DMP, Matt Hawke centre from London Scottish and centre Sam Stanley.

Approximately 20 players were retained from last season including wingers Dave Vincent and Adam Field, centres  Paul Mackey and Kiba Richards and key scrum-half Jack Gash.

Unfortunately main player maker and goal-kicker Scott Sneddon has suffered a broken leg and will be out until Christmas but there is an able replacement in Tom Whelan. Experienced locks Will Bowley and Richard Boyle remain as does an impressive back-row with Hugo Ellis leading the way with 5 tries, assisted by Sam Shires, Mick MacFarlane and Harry Rowland.

The front row has hooker Adam Bellamy remaining as well as prop Alex McKenzie.

This promises to be a full bodied encounter, as both sides need to confirm that their recent losses are temporary and are just blips. It could be a defining moment for both sides aspirations this season.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

21st October 2015.