Week 28 - round 28 national league 1 previews...

...Saturday 16th April 2016 including Blackheath v Coventry Rugby. 

Week 28 Saturday 16th April 2016 Fixtures.

Ampthill & District                       v         Fylde

Blackheath                                    v         Coventry Rugby

Darlington Mowden Park          v          Esher

Hartpury College                         v         Richmond                   14.30

Henley Hawks                              v         Blaydon                      14.30

Loughborough Students            v         Plymouth Albion       14.00

Rosslyn Park                                 v        Cinderford

Wharfedale                                  v        Hull Ionians

Week 28 could see both the title and relegation settled, as the top 2 meet each other, and at the other end of the table both Cinderford and Wharfedale have difficult fixtures where a win is essential to keep their slim survival chances alive.

It is bust of boom for 2nd placed Hartpury College as they entertain leaders Richmond. Any sort of win or a draw would see Richmond promoted, whilst a win for the hosts would see the contest for the title go on for at least another week. The greater overall experience of Richmond should see them through having only lost 3 games all season.

Attention now switches to the bottom end of the table as 15th placed Cinderford have to travel to Rosslyn Park requiring a win to keep their slim survival chances alive. A narrow away defeat by Park at Hartpury College still rankles having scored 5 tries to 1, so they will not be in a charitable mood against a Cinderford side whose forwards were battered somewhat at Blaydon.

The other side praying for miracles 14th placed Wharfedale have 13th placed Hull Ionians as their visitors, so they should be confident at home, especially as Hull Ionians has seen their form slump. Hull Ionians will be boosted by taking 2 points off Ampthill and they are still 11 points ahead of Dale, so a win on Saturday will make them safe but relegate Wharfedale. A hard uncompromising contest is in prospect not for the faint hearted.

High flying Ampthill & District will be looking for a Hartpury College slip to enable  them to take over 2nd spot, that is if they can beat their visitors Fylde. It should be a high scoring game but whether Fylde have the power in their forwards to match that of Ampthill seems doubtful. An entertaining game should go to the advantage of the home side.

Two old adversaries meet at the Rectory Field as Blackheath have Coventry Rugby as their visitors. Both sides  will be looking to continue winning runs with 4 for Coventry, and 3 for Blackheath. The home side who until recently were in contention for the title are now in 4th place but only one win behind Hartpury College, whilst Coventry cannot get any higher than 9th ignoring what penalties might in store for Plymouth Albion. A full bodied encounter is in prospect on Saturday. A full preview will follow.

It is a battle over 6th place, as home side Darlington Mowden Park have Esher as their visitors. Both sides had contrasting fortunes last Saturday with Esher basking in a  large win, whilst DMP were coming up against a resolute Coventry Rugby side and were well beaten. On their own patch Park should be capable enough to win this one thus taking them back to 6th spot.

Loughborough Students, despite a brave performance against Richmond still require a win to ensure league safety, but in entertaining Plymouth Albion face an equally youthful side but with a sprinkling of experience. A game that could go either way.

The final game sees already relegated Henley Hawks at home to Blaydon, who are now safe in their NL1 domain. With only pride to play for Hawks will show plenty of endeavour but in Blaydon will face a tough pack, who should be too strong giving them a victory.

MATCH PREVIEW SATURDAY 16TH APRIL 2016 BLACKHEATH V COVENTRY RUGBY

This coming Saturday 16th April sees Coventry Rugby travel to one of their traditional rivals Blackheath at their Rectory Field ground with a kick off at 3pm. Founded in 1858 Blackheath was one of the founder members of the RFU  in 1871. Steady progress in the leagues   under DOR Simon Legg saw them finish in 6th place last season. With Simon Legg resigning just before the start of this season saw a return to the club of Colin Ridgway as DOR, assisted by player/ coach and centre Simon Whatling.

Earlier in the season there was mention of Blackheath moving to a new ground to increase club income and that is expected to take place for the start of next season. Currently Blackheath are 4th in the league on 92 match points having won 19 games, with 1 draw and 7 losses. They were challenging Richmond and Hartpury College at the top of the league before a slump in form around Week 23 saw a run of 4 straight losses, putting them out of the title race.

Key wins were away at Coventry Rugby 24-16, Fylde and doubles over Rosslyn Park and Ampthill, and home wins over Darlington Mowden Park, Hartpury College, Plymouth Albion and Esher. The 7 away losses include a double against leaders Richmond the only team to beat them at home, and  to Blaydon, Wharfedale, Hartpury College, DMP and Plymouth Albion.

Like most London clubs Blackheath have connections with various Premiership clubs such as Wasps and Bath, with occasional dr players drafted in. Over summer Blackheath has recruited well with some interesting captures such as flankers Anders Nilsson from Ealing Tfs, Tom Ellis from Cambridge, and dr loan player Tom Baldwin from Bath. Prop forward Terry Read and hooker Harry Fry add to the front row as well as former Coventry , Bedford and London Scottish lock/br Greg  Gillanders.

In Freddie Gabbitas they have a proven goal-kicker and fly-half who came from Plymouth Albion, with new backs including winger Leo Fielding, full-back Hamish Graham and centre Dan Hamilton from Medway. Flanker Devin Montgomery has come in from South Africa.

Despite the new recruits Blackheath still have a strong backbone of last season’s squad led of course by No 7 Dave Allen, whose try scoring exploits belie his age-whether as suggested he will retire at the end of the season remains to be seen. Flankers Tom Stradwick and Shaun English remain, as does prop forwards Kieran Scutt and Aston Croall, with hooker Scott Wright.

Plenty of experience remains in the backs with full-back/winger Geoff Griffiths still scoring tries backed up by Tom Chapman and Jake Lloyd. Centre Marcus Burcham is still causing mayhem  assisted by coach Simon Whatling. Two very experienced scrum-halfs remain with Jack Walsh and Sam Eydmann.

A difficult game for Coventry Rugby as they will want to consolidate 9th place, with  Blackheath still in sight of finishing in 2nd place. Blackheath have a strong pack of forwards, led by the ubiquitous Dave Allen and plenty of pace outside, as Coventry go looking for their 4th win in succession, needing to show the same spirit and doggedness required in beating DMP last Saturday.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

12th April 2016.