National league 1 week 9 - round 9 results round up...

...Saturday 7th November 2015 including Esher v Coventry Rugby. 

Results Week 9 Saturday 7th November.

Ampthill                                   21           19            Loughborough Students

Blackheath                              13            12           Hartpury College

Blaydon                                   34            17           Fylde

Cinderford                              32            19           Hull Ionians

Darlington Mowden Park    21            22           Richmond

Esher                                       46              5           Coventry Rugby

Henley Hawks                          3            36           Plymouth Albion

Rosslyn Park                           26            15           Wharfedale

Six home wins this week with previous leaders Hartpury College losing their 2nd game of the season, being toppled from the top by Esher. The top 6 sides with all 4 London sides represented are separated by just 4 points. The bottom of the table is also showing signs of life with wins by the two previously bottom sides Blaydon and Cinderford, with now only 4 points separating the bottom 6 sides.

The performance of the day was at Esher as the home side had an overwhelming victory over a Coventry Rugby side beset by injuries and lacking confidence. Former Coventry winger Spencer Sutherland led the way with 4 tries with a brace from Quins youngster Stan South. This win takes Esher to the top of the table and leaves Coventry in 9th place.

Blackheath maintained their fine form with a close fought win over previous leaders Hartpury College. A last minute penalty try gave the hosts the win thanks to an increasing dominance in the scrum. Yet Hartpury will feel that the 2 early tries by No 8 Dan Thomas was more than enough to see them home, but the home confidence finally shone through , the win moving Blackheath up to 2nd place.

Another London side in form Richmond heaped more problems onto a struggling Darlington Mowden Park, but had to rely on a late converted try to give them the win against the run of play, in a game that could have gone either way. This loss leaves Park just 1 point above the relegation zone but moves Richmond to within 1 point of the leaders.

A game that ebbed and flowed  in the 2nd half saw former leaders Ampthill & District just hold on to defeat a Loughborough Students side, whose performance belied their lowly league position. A 7 nil half-time lead to the Students was soon overturned with 3 quick tries, but the visitors fought back with 2 tries of their own and a missed conversion cost them the draw. Unfortunately this loss puts Loughborough Students to last place in the league, although still only 1 point from safety.

Rosslyn Park kept in touch with the leaders with a bonus point win over a Wharfedale side who were unable to hold onto a narrow half-time lead.An early 2nd half yellow card against Dale allowed Park to take the initiative and Park eased to the win which moves them to within 4 point of the top, but moves Wharfedale down to just 2 points above the danger zone.

Henley Hawks continued their slump with the worst defensive record in the league with a heavy home loss to Plymouth Albion. A dominant first half performance saw Albion race to a bonus point as their finishing proved too much for the Henley side. A more scrappy 2nd half saw Albion ease home and moves them to 7th place , whilst Henley are only 4 points from safety.

Cinderford finally managed to get their second win of the season with a hard fought bonus point win over visitors Hull Ionians, who never gave up. It was fitting that returning winger Nev Codlin scored in effect the winning try, the win moving Cinderford up to 14th place and now only 1 point from safety.

The final game saw another side getting their second win of the season as Blaydon finally moved off the bottom of the table beating visitors Fylde with a try bonus point. Yet it started off so well for Fylde as they scored 2 early converted tries, but then the dreaded discipline problems set in with a red card and 2 yellows. Blaydon took  increasing advantage as their forwards took over, scoring 2 first half penalty tries. Blaydon scored 17 unanswered points in the second half as they move up to 15th place but more importantly only 1 point from safety.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

8th November 2015.