National league 1 results round up week 23...

Saturday 20th February 2016 including Coventry Rugby v Esher, plus previews of catch up fixtures Saturday 27th February.

Results Week 23 Saturday 20th February

Coventry Rugby                              12          13               Esher                           crowd   H  1195

Fylde                                                 10            8               Blaydon                                           658

Hartpury College                            15            9               Blackheath                                      380

Hull Ionians                                     24          28               Cinderford                                 L   196

Loughborough Students               19          21               Ampthill & District                        212

Plymouth Albion                            27            8               Henley Hawks                              1171

Richmond                                        14            7               Darlington Mowden Park            702

Wharfedale                                     15          27               Rosslyn Park                                  395

Week 23 saw some close results with only two winning   teams with try bonus points and only two teams unable to get even a losing bonus point. Hartpury College moved up to 2nd place after beating Blackheath, whilst bottom club Cinderford, were the only side amongst the bottom six to get a win.

Leaders Richmond marched on with another win, this time over a hard working Darlington Mowden Park side. In poor conditions Richmond controlled the 1st half managing to get 2 tries. A more even 2nd half saw Park come more into  it and they scored a late try to leave Richmond with a few anxious moments, but it was too late to gain the draw. This win still leaves Richmond with a 10 point lead over their nearest challengers.

Hartpury College moved up to 2nd place with an equally close contest with 2nd placed Blackheath. A narrow half-time lead by the visitors was overturned by College working well with the elements scoring 2 final quarter tries to seal it. Hartpury College are now up to 2nd place 10 points behind Richmond, whilst Blackheath are a further 3 points behind, but with a game in hand.

Plymouth Albion maintained their fine form with a bonus point win over a brave but ultimately outclassed Henley Hawks side. Despite having to play the game a man short for three-quarters of the game , and playing against the elements in the first half they still had a narrow half-time lead of 10-8. Gradually in the 2nd half, now with the elements and their pack taking control 2 final quarter tries gave them the win, which moves Albion to within 16 points of the leaders, but leaves Henley 9 points from safety.

Another game affected by the conditions saw Coventry Rugby lose for the third game running by dint of a heart-breaking 87th minute penalty by visitors Esher, their first ever win at the BPA. Coventry, with the gale force wind behind them in the first half ran foul of the officials and suffered 2 yellow cards. Despite that they battled on and still managed to lead at half-time by 9-3, but surely not enough with the elements against them in the 2nd half. Despite facing the gale Coventry thwarted Esher with fine defence and some fine attacking play, which left Esher increasingly frustrated. It was not until the 78th minute that Esher got a chance with a try in the corner, with Ali Chisholm putting over the excellent conversion. The final 10 minutes including 7 of added time saw a tremendous defensive effort by the Coventry pack leading to a scrum turnover on their own 22m line, but as the ball was moved towards the half-way line a penalty was given away  which Chisholm duly despatched from 48m. The losing bonus point was scant reward for a much better Coventry performance before the largest league crowd of the day.

A lively first half saw Loughborough Students deservedly lead 16-5 at half-time against Ampthill & District. However the visitors stirred themselves in the second period helped by a try and three penalties from former Coventry player Will Maisey, which proved the difference. This further loss by the Students leaves them perilously close to the drop zone, now only 2 points ahead of 14th place.

Another second half fightback saw Rosslyn Park overcome a Wharfedale side, who led 15-3 at half-time, helped by the strong wind. The second half saw Park harness the wind better and the goal and line kicking of fly-half Scott Sneddon proved the difference, as the visitors ran in 3 tries and a penalty. Another loss by Wharfedale leaves them only 1 point ahead of the drop zone but having played one or two games more than their rivals at the bottom.

Another close game affected by the elements saw Fylde come behind at halftime to beat a relegation threatened Blaydon side. Poor conditions saw many unforced errors with Blaydon leading 5 nil at the break. The home side played better in the 2nd period retaking the lead before a yellow card gave the visitors the impetus to re-take the lead with a penalty. Once restored Fylde gained a late penalty to secure the win, but the losing bonus point gained by Blaydon may prove invaluable at the end of the season, as they are now only one point from safety.

The final game saw Hull Ionians and bottom side Cinderford each score 4 tries. Hull Ionians surged into a 17-7 halftime lead with a hat-trick from winger Aquile Smith, who quickly followed it by a fourth try early in the second half. However with nothing to lose Cinderford took control in the final quarter scoring 3 further tries and this time with a goal-kicker won the game. A great and crucial win if Cinderford are going to make the great escape, but even with this win it still leaves them in bottom place and 9 points from safety, and drops Hull Ionians to within 6 points of the danger zone.

PREVIEWS CATCH UP FIXTURES SATURDAY 27TH FEBRUARY 2016

Fixtures Saturday 27th February 2016

Blaydon                                       v            Henley Hawks          14.30

Darlington Mowden Park        v            Blackheath

Fylde                                           v            Ampthill & District

No game for Coventry Rugby this coming Saturday 27th February but 3 catch up fixtures from games postponed earlier in the season.

Blackheath following their loss at Hartpury College last week which put them back to third place, face another difficult game, this time away at Darlington Mowden Park. Park put up a close fight at leaders Richmond, and must fancy their chances at home. A win for Blackheath will take them back to 2nd place, but this is a game which could go either way.

It is a relegation battle between 14th and 15th placed teams Blaydon and Henley Hawks, as the Hawks make the long trek up north. Henley, who are 8 points behind Blaydon can’t look forward to the trip as their recent form is poor, and Blaydon put up a strong fight away at Fylde last week. It should be a home banker for the north-eastern side surely condemning the Hawks to relegation.

The third and final game sees Fylde at home again as 9th place faces a buoyant Ampthill & District side although still in 6th spot, are only one win away from 4th.Another difficult game to predict, which could go either way.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

22nd February 2016.