By Tom Little.
October 2 2012

previews: Week 5 29th September results round up:

Blackheath                            41           23         Blaydon

Esher                                    54           41         Old Albanian

Fylde                                    12           11         Sedgley  Park

Loughborough Students          10           32         Wharfedale

Macclesfield                          36           10         Cambridge

Richmond                              27           27         Ealing Tfs

Rosslyn Park                         27           15         Coventry

Tynedale                               36           30         Cinderford

 A week which saw the bottom side win for the first time and the top side lose their 100% record, giving hope to all the teams in this league. Macclesfield  did it at last confirm that they are getting better with their 6 try win over Cambridge, putting them up to 15^th place just one point and place behind struggling Cambridge.

Newcomers Richmond surprised the pundits and indeed league leaders Ealing by drawing with them, but from a winning position leaked three late tries to give Ealing the draw, proving that Ealing can never be written off. There is now only one side yet to win, that of Loughborough Students who found the Wharfedale pack just too powerful, a defeat that puts the Students is last place.

Previously unbeaten Cinderford  lost for the first time away at Tynedale, whose home form proved decisive, with the score looking closer than was really justified as serious injuries allowed the Foresters in for three late tries .

In a disappointing game Rosslyn Park continued their move up the league with a lacklustre win over a subdued Coventry side, whose defeat dropped them to 11^th place.

There was obviously a dearth of defensive coaches in Surrey as a total of 14 tries and over a point a minute was scored as Esher over-ran Old Albanians. One of the pre-season favourites Blackheath confirmed their credentials with a bonus point   win over a resilient Blaydon side, with the ever green No 7 Dave Allen still running  the show-ignore him at your peril.

A close north-west derby saw Fylde sneak a close win with an improved 2^nd half display, with new signing fly half Chris Johnson kicking the winning conversion.

A Saturday that saw the first dent in Ealing’s record and title ambitions and a first defeat for Cinderford.  Geoff Wappett must be over joyed at Macclesfield’s first win of the season which sees them overtake Loughborough Students in bottom place- now the only side yet to register a win.

Any team that can find the consistency to get a winning run together will find them surging up the league, with still only two bonus point wins separating the top 12 sides.

Week 6 6^th October fixtures with match previews:

Blaydon                v      Esher

Cambridge            v     Tynedale

Cinderford             v     Richmond

Coventry                v      Macclesfield

Ealing Tfs                v     Fylde

Old Albanian(s)      v     Wharfedale

Rosslyn Park            v    Loughborough Students

Sedgley Park            v    Blackheath

Week 6 or reaching 20% of the season’s fixtures sees another series of key games at both ends of the league.

Leaders Ealing Tfs after their late draw away at Richmond, face what would have been last season the tie of the round. However with Fylde still struggling to get their season going, although their win last week broke a sequence of three losses, perhaps the better all round game of Ealing will prove decisive.

Second placed Blackheath face a tricky visit to the north-west to face Sedgley Park, with the home side always capable of springing a surprise, perhaps a game too close to call.

Macclesfield buoyed with their 6 try demolition of Cambridge, which suggests their improving form, face a difficult visit to Coventry still smarting from their display at Rosslyn Park, another one which home advantage should count.

There should only be one victor as improving Rosslyn Park face visitors Loughborough Students, firmly anchored at the bottom of the league and yet to win their first game, with the Students finding it difficult to cope with the power of the National  League 1 sides.

Third placed Cinderford who found the trip up north to Tynedale a step too far, face another form team Richmond, pleased after almost lowering Ealing’s colours, another close game is expected.

Cambridge still struggling to get out of the relegation zone face another difficult fixture, this time at home to 6^th placed Tynedale, whose power should prove too strong.

Free scoring Old Albanians whose defensive frailties also lets them down, face a difficult home fixture against another powerful northern side Wharfedale.

The final clash is the mid table battle  between Blaydon and Esher, whose well matched packs might balance each other out, but home advantage might tell.

A more detailed Coventry Rugby v Macclesfield match preview will come out later on in the week.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

1^st October 2012

Week 5 results round up with week 6, 6th October match...

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