National league 1 results round up week 17...

...Saturday 9th January 2016 including Hartpury College v Coventry Rugby.

Results Week 17 - Round 17 Saturday 9th January 2016.

Ampthill & District                    47         14         Cinderford

Blackheath                                 23         12         Henley Hawks

Darlington Mowden Park        17         10         Rosslyn Park

Hartpury College                       26         17         Coventry Rugby

Loughborough Students           17        32         Esher

Plymouth Albion                          7         17        Hull Ionians

Richmond                                    22         21        Fylde

Wharfedale                                 13         27        Blaydon

Week 17 saw the top 4 all consolidate their lead, whilst with the bottom 3 all losing, relegation seems to be settling between any three of the bottom 5 sides. A number of close battles on Saturday with only 2 try bonus points by Ampthill and Esher gained. Who would have thought it by Round 17 Rosslyn Park and Coventry Rugby would be in 8th and 9th place respectively.

Richmond maintained their margin in the lead with a narrow victory over a visiting Fylde side. Ill- discipline cost both sides 2 yellow cards a piece but it was the home side able to take advantage racing to a 22-7 half-time lead. Back to full strength Fylde in the 2nd half scored 2 tries bringing them within a point but the leaders held out for a deserved victory.

Another tight battle saw 2nd placed Blackheath come back from a 7-12 half-time deficit to beat a Henley Hawks side scrapping to avoid relegation. As the game went on the home pack took control which negated the Hawks adventurous approach, and it was fitting that flanker Dave Allen scored the crucial try , his 11th of the season. The win keeps Blackheath within 3 points of Richmond but leaves Henley 5 points from safety.

Third placed Hartpury College kept in touch with the top two after a hard fought battle against visiting Coventry Rugby. Too many errors kept giving the initiative back to the college and the goal kicking of Robbie Shaw punished them dearly.

Loughborough Students found 4th placed Esher too hot to handle as the visitors raced to an early 18 point lead, as they dominated early possession. A more even 2nd half led to 2 tries apiece but Esher had done enough to gain the bonus point win. The win puts Esher within two wins of the top but leaves the Students only 5 points ahead of the danger zone.

Ampthill & District advanced to 5th place with a relatively easy bonus point win over bottom placed Cinderford. The BP was earned within the first 20 minutes with the visitors starved of possession, and although the rest of the game was more even Cinderford had no chance of clawing back a 26-7 half-time deficit. This loss leaves  Cinderford  2 wins from safety and a lot of work for new player coach Adam Balding to do.

Rosslyn Park continued with their stuttering form with an away loss at Darlington Mowden Park. The largest NL1 crowd of the day saw the home side continue on with their fine recent form as their pack took control. A win that takes them to their highest position of the season in 6th place,but drops Rosslyn Park down to 8th.

In arguably the shock of Week 17 was the home loss in horrendous playing conditions of Plymouth Albion at home to Hull Ionians. The visitors adapted better to the conditions racing to a 17 nil lead and it had to wait until the 70th minute before the home side scored. A loss that drops Albion down to 7th place, but eases any relegation fears for Hull Ionians.

The final game saw another fine first half display by the visitors Blaydon as they rushed into a 21-8 lead over Wharfedale. Blaydon boosted by a number of Falcons players can thank fly-half Brett Connon with his 5 penalties for putting them on the front foot and their better defence and were able to control possession better than the home side. A crucial victory for Blaydon as it finally moves them 5 points above the relegation zone but leaves Wharfedale back in 15th place.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

10th January 2016