National league 1 week 19 results round up...

...Saturday 23rd January 2016 including Plymouth Albion v Coventry Rugby.

Results Week 19 Saturday 23rd January 2016.

Blackheath                                   20         7        Rosslyn Park

Darlington Mowden Park         45        29       Ampthill & District

Hartpury College                        71        12       Blaydon

Hull Ionians                                 26        36       Fylde

Loughborough Students           43        12       Cinderford

Plymouth Albion                        29        18        Coventry Rugby

Richmond                                    33        19        Esher

Wharfedale                                 26        17        Henley Hawks

Week 19 saw the top 3 consolidate their lead with leaders Richmond now 13 points ahead of Esher in 4th place. The other end of the table saw further defeats for the bottom 2, but Wharfedale in beating Henley allows them to leapfrog Blaydon, leaving the north-easterners in the final relegation spot but still with 2 games in hand over Wharfedale.

Leaders Richmond duly despatched 4th placed Esher with a bonus point win. The league’s leading try scorer Chris Davies set the scene with a trademark early try, as the home side raced into a 21-7 half-time lead, helped by a serious injury to Esher’s Andy Garner. The 2nd half was more even with 2 tries apiece but Richmond were able to see out the game and improve their lead at the top by 1 point to 6, whilst Esher are now surely out of the title race.

Blackheath in 2nd place maintained their pressure on the leaders with a hard-fought victory over a visiting Rosslyn Park. Once again the home side had the ageless Dave Allen to thank for driving his side on, as Park came under increasing pressure giving a series of penalties away allowing Fred Gabbitas to take advantage with kicking 5. Before the largest league crowd of the day Park went into an early lead before the home side took control. A win that leaves Blackheath 6 points behind Richmond but with a game in hand, but drops Rosslyn Park down to 8th.

Hartpury College achieved the highest league win of the season so far by beating visitors Blaydon scoring 11 tries. Blaydon had no answer to the home pack, their excellent half-backs and the incisive backs as they ran riot over a Blaydon side that now drops back into the final relegation place, albeit with 2 games in hand. Meanwhile Hartpury College are now only 1 point behind Blackheath.

Darlington Mowden Park confirmed their recent good form with a home bonus point win over Ampthill & District. The visitors had no answer to the bright home start which saw 5 early tries before an Ampthill fightback both sides of the interval  brought them back to within 1 score of Park. In the end as the home pack took control 2 further tries sealed it for them, a win that takes Darlington Mowden Park up to 7th place but keeps Ampthill in 5th.

An injury ravaged Coventry Rugby side found the poor ground conditions not to their liking as Plymouth Albion eased to a bonus point win. Coventry were not helped by some poor game management decisions and mistakes. A second half fightback saw Coventry back within 1 score of the home side until a late interception try gave centre and captain Jack Murphy a hat-trick and Albion the win. A game that sums up Coventry’s season so far, as they drop to 10th, but moves Albion within 4 points of 4th placed Esher.

Hull Ionians rued an early red card as visitors Fylde took full advantage running in 3 first half tries. Plenty of effort by the home side was not rewarded until the final quarter yielding 3 tries giving Hull a try bonus point. The win moves Fylde to 9th place but leaves Hull Ionians in 11th only 9 points above the danger zone.

The relegation battle between Wharfedale and Henley Hawks went the way of the home side in a feisty encounter, which saw the Hawks take a first half lead, with 2 well worked tries. The home side came strongly back into it in the 2nd half as the pressure told .Penalties against Henley increased with Jamie Guy able to take advantage. This crucial win moves Wharfedale 1 point above the relegation zone   but leaves Henley Hawks 6 points from safety.

The final game saw Loughborough Students ease their relegation worries with a bonus point victory over bottom side Cinderford. The Students were three tries ahead at half-time, Cinderford had no answer to the home backs, and although the 2nd half was more even the Students ran out easy winners. The win leaves Loughborough Students 7 points ahead of the danger zone, but surely leaves bottom side Cinderford too much to do to escape their fate.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

24th January 2016.