National league 1 results round up week 12...

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

Fixtures Week 12 Saturday 28th November 2015.

Blaydon                            13        0            Rosslyn Park

Coventry Rugby              29       15           Henley Hawks

Esher                                 43         5           Cinderford

Fylde                                  17      21           Darlington Mowden Park

Hartpury College             13        8            Loughborough Students

Hull Ionians                      20       26           Blackheath

Plymouth Albion             18       13           Ampthill & District

Richmond                         55       12           Wharfedale     

Week 12 saw all top 4 sides winning with leaders Hartpury College the only one not to get a try bonus point. Six points now separate the top 4 with Esher in 4th place still 7 points ahead of Rosslyn Park and Coventry Rugby. It is looking increasingly bleak for the 3 teams at the bottom as they all lost and now at least 4 points from safety.

Leaders Hartpury College duly despatched their fellow students Loughborough Students  but not without a struggle in worsening conditions, as for large periods of the game Loughborough had the bulk of possession. The downside for Hartpury was that they were unable to get the try bonus which allowed Richmond to be level on points with them.

Indeed Richmond had a regulation bonus point win over relegation threatened Wharfedale. Fairly level pegging at half-time then saw the home side take control in the second, led by the evergreen Chris Davies. The win leaves Richmond in 2nd place but now level on points with Hartpury, only second due to a slightly inferior points difference.  

Blackheath stay in 3rd place just 3 points behind leaders Hartpury thanks to a last minute winning try by Greg Gillanders at Hull Ionians. A feature of Blackheath’s play this season has been a competitive pack as well as the ability to eke out a late winner if required.

An easier afternoon was in prospect as 4th placed Esher had bottom side Cinderford as their visitors. The game went as expected although Cinderford put up a doughty performance in the first half before the power of the home pack and the finishing of the threes allowed Esher in for a large win. The win brings Esher within 6 points of the top, but leaves Cinderford firmly rooted at the bottom, now 8 points from safety.

Blaydon seem to find delight in upsetting the odds, and this week it was pre-season favourites Rosslyn Park to suffer. In another game affected by the weather the home side were able to snuff out any Park threat by impressive defence for a deserved win. Rosslyn Park remain in 5th place  but are now equal on points from a chasing Coventry Rugby, with Blaydon now  4 points away from danger.

Coventry Rugby took full advantage of Rosslyn Park’s misfortune with a bonus point win over a visiting Henley Hawks side. In worsening conditions Coventry belied the conditions by gaining the bonus point before half-time with their dominant pack and straight running of centre Rob Knox. Somewhat of a different story in the second half as amidst the gathering Stygian gloom Coventry got sucked into an arm wrestle with a resultant loss of discipline. Two home yellow cards allowed Henley to take advantage with 2 tries but then Coventry steadied the ship as they took control again. The win lifts Coventry up to 6th equal on points with Rosslyn Park, whilst Henley Hawks remain in one of the relegation spots. A test of the improving Coventry side is over the next two weeks as they travel to Darlington Mowden Park and then a home fixture with top 3 side Blackheath.

Plymouth Albion moved into the top 8 after a home win over Ampthill & District who now slip to 7th place. Poor ground conditions were not conducive to a flowing game but a dominant home pack was the difference giving Albion a 8 nil half-time lead. An early 2nd half try sealed it for Albion, before an injury time try gained a losing bonus point for the visitors.

The final game saw Fylde’s topsy-turvy season continue, this time losing at home to Darlington Mowden Park. With a pack more able to cope with the condition Park raced into an early 21 nil lead. The only question was would Fylde see able to fight back, indeed they did in the 2nd half with Park hanging on at the death, helped by a late dropped pass.  This loss drops Fylde to 9th and moves Park up to 11th.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

29th November 2015.