National league 1 results round up week 18 - round 18...

...16th January 2016 including Coventry Rugby v Richmond.

Results Week 18 Saturday 16th January 2016.

Blaydon                                          P                  Loughborough Students       Postponed

Cinderford                              26        26           Wharfedale

Coventry Rugby                     21        21           Richmond

Darlington Mowden Park            P                  Blackheath                               Postponed

Esher                                       24        14           Hartpury College

Fylde                                        26        38           Plymouth Albion

Henley Hawks                        16         38           Ampthill & District

Rosslyn Park                           49           0           Hull Ionians 

A mixed bag of results for the top 4 sides with a draw, a loss, a win and a postponement, the results of which leave the top 4 sides separated by just 8 points. A similar tale amongst the bottom 4 with 2 draws,a loss and a postponement, narrowing the gap between them to 6 points.

As expected the key game between league leaders Richmond and Coventry Rugby lived up to expectations as a full bodied, exciting and pulsating encounter somewhat belied the treacherous conditions. Richmond’s early pressure led to an early try as it started to look ominous for the home side for an injury ravaged Coventry squad. Yet two missed try scoring opportunities gave Coventry renewed hope and then two flashes of skill by Gaston Mieres  led to tries by Matt Price, giving his impression of a winger running in from 30m, and then Mieres fittingly weaved his way through the centre for a deserved half-time lead. An early 2nd half Richmond yellow card then gave the Coventry pack encouragement as they were awarded a penalty try. It was now the turn of Richmond to dominate and with 7 minutes to go it was all square. A tremendous last 20 minutes including 10 mins of added time led to tension as a brave Coventry side held out for a deserved share of the spoils. With Blackheath’s game postponed this result increased Richmond’s lead at the top to 5 points.

Esher in 4th place closed the gap on Hartpury College in 3rd and to just 1 point after another hard fought battle. The home side maintained a stranglehold on Hartpury for 70 minutes with great defence and sharp finishing before a late push by College almost brought a losing bonus point, until a late Paul Roberts penalty sealed it for Esher.

Ampthill & District marked their impressive form with a bonus point win over a struggling Henley Hawks side, leaving the home side deep in relegation trouble. Yet a close first half gave Henley hope until the revered Ampthill forwards took control in the 2nd half, helped by a home yellow card. Ampthill ran out comfortable winners bringing them to within 4 points of 4th placed Esher.

It was a strange game at Fylde as the home side raced into a first-half bonus point try lead of 26-10 over Plymouth Albion, but it was different tale in the 2nd half, as Fylde started to make mistakes and defensive errors. Albion were allowed back into the game although it took them well into the final quarter before they took full control with 4 tries for the bonus point win. This win takes Albion up to 6th place just 5 points behind Ampthill.

Rosslyn Park arrested a 3 match losing sequence with an overwhelming victory at home over Hull Ionians. Leading by 20 nil at half-time with 3 tries, helped by winger Mark Kohler, a further 5 followed in the 2nd half as Hull had no answer to the speed of the home backs. A late yellow card didn’t help allowing the Park pack to score two late tries moving them up to 7th place.

The final game saw the relegation battle between Cinderford and Wharfedale end up as a try bonus draw allowing both sides to take home 3 points. Level at half-time the lead changed regularly but with no side able to achieve domination. It was left to a late Wharfedale try and conversion to give them both a share of the spoils. Points gained move Cinderford to within 6 points of safety and that of Wharfedale to within 3.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

18th January 2016