By Tom Little.
January 7 2013

Coventry Rugby v Loughborough Students.

Week 18 Fixtures 12^th January.

Blackheath                  v      Old Albanian

Esher                            v      Wharfedale

Fylde                             v      Blaydon

Loughborough St        v      Coventry

Macclesfield                 v     Cinderford

Richmond                      v     Sedgley Park

Rosslyn Park                  v     Cambridge

Tynedale                        v      Ealing Tfs

A Saturday that should see the top four maintain their grip on this league and the relegation three confirm that they have too much to do.

Although the top two clubs both have away fixtures on the face of it they don’t look too tricky, but if they do slip up then Esher and Rosslyn Park have easier home fixtures to help them reduce the gap to the top two.

Leaders Ealing face the long trek up north to face Tynedale, who have finally found some form winning two out of their last three games and a narrow defeat at Blaydon. Ealing cannot afford to take them too lightly but still should have enough all round firepower to record the win.

On form Blaydon now on a run of 11 winning games face a trip to Fylde, whose form especially away from home has been erratic. However Fylde, despite losing three of their last five games can still be dangerous at home if their backs get enough possession. Blaydon have shown they have a better all round game and resilience and should prove too strong.

One of the early pacemakers Rosslyn Park, now in third place have only won once in five games need to win to keep in touch with the top two, whose lead over them has stretched to 12 points. They have the ideal opponent in Cambridge who have lost their last three games and already seem doomed to relegation.

Esher in 4^th place face a struggling Wharfedale looking for their first win in four and are now back in 13^th place just 12 points above Sedgley Park. Esher having just completed a good win over Loughborough Students should be too powerful and strong enough to win and keep in touch with the top three.

In case any of the top four slip up, then the crucial clash between Blackheath and Old Albanian may prove to be a pointer on how far the winner can go. Both sides are in form so another one too close to call may in the end just go with home advantage.

Another crucial mid table clash comes at Loughborough Students as they entertain Coventry. The Students found they had too much to do coming from behind at Esher but still have the ability to score tries from all parts of the field and their fitness and pace always make them dangerous opponents.

Coventry for their part, have put on two successive excellent team performances and now that they have picked up their 2^nd away win must be confident to beat their near neighbours. Even in defeat the Students scored 4 tries at Esher, whilst Coventry scored 7 at Cambridge, spectators are in line for an exciting and high scoring game.

The final two games both involve two of the relegation candidates both now running out of time and fixtures to reverse their fortunes. Macclesfield have the better chance at home to Cinderford having put up a brave show in losing away at leaders Ealing. Enough spirit was shown to give them a chance over their visitors. However, Cinderford arrested a decline in form with an emphatic home victory over third placed Rosslyn Park, so another game which could prove close.

Sedgley Park face a difficult visit to Richmond whose winning performance at Blaydon was just thwarted by a late penalty goal. A Richmond side showing enterprise and firepower as well should prove too strong.

Coventry Rugby v Loughborough Students match preview.

This Saturday 12^th January Coventry Rugby face their second successive away game as they travel to the Loughborough campus to face Loughborough Students on the 1^st team pitch. Please note this is another early kick off at 2pm.

Tracing their foundation back to 1919, the merger in 1976/7 of the Loughborough Colleges saw the club renamed Loughborough Students Rugby Club. In 1996 the club decided to join the RFU National leagues, and steady progress through the leagues has followed bringing them promotion to National League 1 this season.

Under Head Coach Dave Morris the Students found the introduction to this league somewhat difficult losing their first six games. However, since then they have found their collective feet which has brought them 8 wins, the same as Coventry Rugby, and are currently in 11^th place but just 3 places and 3 points behind their visitors.

Until this season Coventry Rugby have never played LS in the league structure but have played each other a couple of times between 1990/93.Earlier in the season Coventry won at BPA by 41-34 in a game which summed up the Students season so far. A large deficit was clawed back but they were left too much to do for Coventry to record a bonus point victory.

An impressive away record has seen them beat Macclesfield, Tynedale, Richmond and Fylde, whilst their 4 home wins have come against Old Albanian, Sedgley Park, Cinderford and Cambridge.

Last week the Students lost a high scoring game at Esher, yet still managed 4 tries after coming from 24 points behind .Their role was reversed against Cambridge as a lead by 34 nil was eventually narrowed by a Cambridge fight back-similar to the one Coventry saw last Saturday.

Loughborough use their fitness and pace with the ability to run in tries from anywhere on the field, as Coventry almost found to their cost in September.

Although technically now an open club Loughborough Students mainly rely on recruitment from their University base, which has its advantages but also loses continuity of the squad. The club is famed for providing a groundwork and shop window for its players who wish to progress further up the rugby ladder.

Key players include fly half Andy Hall who is 5^th in the list of the league’s leading goal kickers and his scrum half partner Jordan Brookes. Pace is found with full back Craig Holland, captain and wing Chris Kinloch and centre Callum Wilson. Experienced locks include Jack Collister from Caldy and Matt Rogerson.

A fluid back row has Jake Parker as No 6 and Wasps player Joe Burton as No 8.

Coventry Rugby will need no warning as to how dangerous Loughborough Students can be with their game plan and any loose kicking will be severely punished. They never give up as their fitness and pace start to tell but Coventry will themselves be buoyant after their last two winning bonus point displays where arguably for the first time this season they played as a team, with a verve and smile on their faces.

An exciting high scoring game is in prospect on Saturday. Please note the early 2 pm kick off, and detailed instructions and map is available on the website for those Coventry supporters wishing to travel. The Coventry team were very appreciative of the vocal support made by the large numbers of their supporters who travelled to Cambridge.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

7^th January 2013

Week 18 - 12th January 2013 match previews including Cov...

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 07/01/2013 18:52

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