National league 1 week 24 results round up...

...weekend 4th- 5th March 2016 including Blaydon v Coventry Rugby. 

Week 24 Results Friday/Saturday 4th/5th March 2016.

Friday           Rosslyn Park                                29       17             Esher                        crowd       760

Saturday      Ampthill & District                     24       18             Hartpury College                      248

                      Blackheath                                     6         8             Richmond                                1263

                      Blaydon                                        26         8             Coventry Rugby                       210

                      Cinderford                                   24        21            Fylde                                  L      187

                      Darlington Mowden Park         17        24            Plymouth Albion             H    1348

                     Henley Hawks                              24        31            Hull Ionians                              265

                     Wharfedale                                  21        30             Loughborough Students       485

The weekend results saw only two changes in the league table with Cinderford and Henley Hawks swopping positions at the bottom. 

Two more losses by Richmond’s closest two rivals leaves Richmond 13 points ahead with just 6 games left- only a catastrophic loss of form would now them deny them the title and thus promotion.

Not such an easy scenario at the nether regions of the table with a win by bottom club Cinderford lifting them off the bottom of the table but still 12 points from safety, as no less than 4 of the bottom 6 sides all won.   

The second largest crowd of the weekend saw Champions elect Richmond duly put their third placed challengers Blackheath to the sword in a contest that was as close as the score suggests. A game that could have gone either was settled with a final quarter try and penalty by the visitors despite their line out and scrum coming under increasing pressure. Earlier a chance by Blackheath had gone astray which would have probably sealed it for them.

Richmond’s closest rival Hartpury College had a poor first half against 4th placed Ampthill & District trailing by 24-3 by half-time as the home pack took control. The tide began to turn later in the 2nd half but it took two late College tries to earn the losing bonus point, but surely too little too late to stop Richmond’s inexorable march to the title.

Plymouth Albion travelled to the north-east to meet Darlington Mowden Park before the largest league crowd of the day, as they managed to turn round a narrow half-time deficit with two late Herbie Stupple tries to supplement his first half try. The win moves Albion to within 3 points of 2nd placed Hartpury College. Not bad for a largely rebuilt side.

Friday night was local derby night as Rosslyn Park overcame an Esher side with a bonus point home win. Not for the first time in recent seasons has Esher fell off the pace when challenging for the title, whilst Park have finally started their season, but too late for this season. A dominant back row set the scene with 3 out of the 4 tries before a late Esher surge gave a gloss to the final score.

Previously bottom side Cinderford  gave themselves a slender lifeline with a gutsy home win over a Fylde side, whose away performances has seen them languish in 9th place. A close game saw the home side lead 15-7 at half-time with the third quarter witness to two changes of leads before two late Chris Eden penalties sealed the win. This still leaves Cinderford 12 points from safety although now off the bottom.

Another side to suffer away day blues was Coventry Rugby as they travelled to Blaydon and were well beaten. A forward battle ensured in the poor conditions with Blaydon able to use the power of their pack to extract 3 first half tries, and then set up a late penalty try in the last quarter to seal a bonus point win. Still with a game in hand Blaydon arguably only need one more win for safety.

Henley Hawks took over from Cinderford at the bottom of the league with another loss, this time at home to a struggling Hull Ionians side. In another close fought contest the lead changed  several times with the visitors taking the lead early in the 2nd half. A home fight back saw the lead back to the Hawks before  final quarter try sealed it for Hull Ionians. This crucial win for Hull saw them climb to 10 points clear of danger, but leaves Henley Hawks 15 points from safety.

The final game saw two struggling sides Wharfedale and Loughborough Students fight out another close match. A narrow home lead 21-17 to Wharfedale was overturned in the final quarter with two Students tries, as the home side were unable to add to their first half score. This loss leaves Dale in the final relegation place and 7 points from safety.

Final Catch Up Fixture Saturday 12th March 2016         

Blaydon   v   Loughborough Students           14.30

The one outstanding fixture is due to be completed this coming Saturday involving Blaydon in 12th place and Loughborough Students in 13th. Blaydon have scored 16 match points in their last 4 games with only one defeat and must fancy that they can beat the Students, with surely only one more win required to make them safe for another season. Loughborough Students are still only 6 points ahead of the relegation zone so also require this win.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

7th March 2016