National league 1 results round up Saturday 9th April...

...including Coventry Rugby v Darlington Mowden Park.

Week 27 Results Saturday 9th April 2016.

Blaydon                          45          25        Cinderford                                       crowd     L   220           

Coventry Rugby            27          10        Darlington Mowden Park                                 1043

Esher                              52             7        Henley Hawks                                                      548                                           

Fylde                              30            45       Blackheath                                                            855

Hartpury College         31            27       Rosslyn Park                                                         305

Hull Ionians                  34            36       Ampthill & District                                              244

Plymouth Albion         30            10       Wharfedale                                                 H     1393

Richmond                     29            12       Loughborough Students                                    715

Week 27 saw little change, at the top 1 more win for Richmond would see them promoted, whilst at the other end Cinderford and Wharfedale live to fight another week, but with Hull Ionians and Loughborough Students only requiring one more win to ensure safety, odds are they will be relegated.

Leaders Richmond duly beat Loughborough Students, but not before trailing 11.12 at half-time. Fitness and running the ball from all angles gave the Students an initial edge, but as Richmond cut out the mistakes they gradually took control although missing out on the try bonus point. A simple equation next week for  Richmond as a win over Hartpury College would see them promoted.

Somewhat of a strange scoring game at Hartpury College, who despite conceding 5 tries to Rosslyn Park still ran out close winners thanks to 8 penalties by home full-back Gareth Thompson. Plenty of home possession counted for little as Park showed them how to score tries. In the end ill-discipline cost Park the game. Hartpury College will need to win next week over Richmond to keep their title ambitions going.

Ampthill & District confirmed their fine form with another bonus point victory, this time at Hull Ionians. A much better home performance gave Hull Ionians a vital 2 bonus points, which now means they only require one more win to confirm their safety.

Fylde found the back-row of Blackheath in imperious form as both Dave Allen (2) and Anders Nilsson (1) ran in 3 tries in the first 10 minutes. Both sides were determined to run the ball as the home side fought back leaving the half-time score 15.30 to the visitors. A more even 2nd half gave Fylde a try bonus point but the more effective Blackheath pack proved the difference. Can Blackheath really allow Dave Allen to retire at the end of this season?

Plymouth Albion, before the largest NL1 gate of the day, put their off field troubles behind them with a win over relegation threatened Wharfedale. Despite the possibility of a 30 point deduction Albion are now safe but Wharfedale face a crucial wait as another defeat for them would seal their relegation. Albion did enough against a never say die Wharfedale side, a result which leaves Albion, at least for the present in 5th place, but Dale 11 points from safety.

No such hope for already relegated Henley Hawks as they conceded 8 tries at Esher, confirming Henley’s record of having the worst defensive record in the league. With the try bonus point already in the bag by half-time the win moves Esher up to 6th spot at the expense of Darlington Mowden Park.

Coventry Rugby made it 3 wins from 3 as they defeated high flying Darlington Mowden Park before another 4 figure crowd at the BPA. Despite an early porous defence and a scrum that struggled most of the afternoon, Coventry stuck to their task looking more incisive in the backs with Caolan Ryan and Rob Knox making a series of telling breaks. A much better defensive performance after those first minutes gave Coventry a much deserved victory over a then top 6 side. A win that moves Coventry Rugby up to 9th, taking that spot from Fylde, whilst defeat for DMP drops them to 7th place.

The final game saw Blaydon make their NL1 status safe with a bonus point win over relegation threatened Cinderford. The visitors could not cope with the home pack’s scrum and driving maul. Trailing 24-10 at half-time Cinderford then got within 4 points of Blaydon before the home side re-established themselves with 3 further tries. A loss that leaves Cinderford one more defeat away from relegation.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

11th April 2016.