Week 12 - round 12 match previews NL1...

...Saturday 28th November 2015 including Coventry Rugby v Henley Hawks.

Coventry Rugby meet Henley Hawks here at the Butts Park Arena this coming Saturday 28th November 2015, with the kick off at 3pm.

Henley Hawks were founded in 1930 as the Old Henleiensians and have their ground close to the town centre of Henley-on-Thames known as Dry Leas. Under DOR Nigel Dudding, assisted by Head Coach Pete Davies, and coaches Dax Aiken and Ed Waldron, Henley Hawks are currently in 14th place with just 17 match points having won 3 games, drawn 1 and lost 7.They have the worst defensive record in the league with the highest number of points conceded and the lowest number of points scored.

Relegated from NL1 at the end of season 2013/14, they bounced straight back as Champions of NL2 South. Have close connections with Wasps Premiership and London Irish as well as the RAF. The last time Coventry and Henley met in season 2013/14 Coventry did the double winning the home match 32-15 and the away 18-10.

Henley Hawks have lost their last 5 games and they can point to an increasing injury problem, and the non- availability of dual registered loan players, although there has recently been better news on the injury front.

The first 6 games saw Henley win 3 of them with away wins at Darlington Mowden Park, Loughborough Students and their only home win over Wharfedale, and an away draw at Ampthill & District. Losses include heavy ones to Rosslyn Park, Blackheath, Hartpury College and Richmond. There has been a marginal improvement since in losing to Plymouth Albion, Hull Ionians and last week at home to Fylde, where at least they gained a losing bonus point.

Coventry supporters will recognise a few old boys with prop Henry Sandys and former Blaydon flanker Rob Bell. Coventry will also recognise a few old foes with Loughborough Students supplying lock Jake Albon and centre Jack Bradford. Flanker Ollie Spanswick has come in from Blackheath; with Liam O’Neill and Elliott Cox at full-back both coming from Nottingham, with lock Charlie Davey from Cornish Pirates.

Other new recruits include hookers Ed Church, Tom Emery and Tom West, with Curtis Langdon sometimes available from London Irish Academy. Wingers are Simon Perry and Jamie Davies, with backs William Robinson and Alan Awcock.

Some key players remain from the title winning season with vastly experienced prop Dave Manning, lock and captain Dave Clements just back after injury, as is No 8 Robbie Stapley, who has caused Coventry some problems in the past. Flanker and lock Matt Payne was called out of retirement last week to play, in wingers Xavier Andre and Lloyd Owen Henley do have pace outside as well as centres Fred Pierrepoint, Tom Allen and Jake Randall. At scrum-half they have James Helliwell and Connor Murphy, a member of the NL2 South dream team, with utility back Tom Hall.

Goal-kicking fly-half James Comben remains and as cover for the back-row is Simon Richardson and Iwan Davies.

A game that on the face of it Coventry Rugby should win easily, however as we have already seen this season many surprises are possible. How strong the Henley side is, could depend on their injury status and whether any dr loan players are available, although it does look like that the injury problems are easing off.

A crowd expected to be a record one for this season is expected at the Butts Park Arena for a 3pm kick off, to see if Coventry Rugby can get their third successive win to maintain pressure on the top 6 in the league.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

25th November 2015.