By Tom Little.
March 3 2013

Results 2^nd March

Blaydon             27             42     Loughborough Students

Cambridge         26            58     Blackheath

Cinderford          37           41     Esher

Coventry             23           24     Fylde

Ealing Tfs             41           13     Wharfedale

Macclesfield        31           29    Tynedale

Rosslyn Park        28            20    Richmond

Sedgely Park        38            39    Old Albanian

A high scoring round with no fewer than 4 games settled by less than one score, once again not without controversy with last minute scores. Leaders Ealing are now galloping to the finish line, 13 points ahead and one game in hand, surely their promotion for the taking. Meanwhile Blaydon didn’t get out of the starting blocks and are being caught by Esher and Rosslyn Park.

As usual with leagues at this time of the year more interest at the other end of the table with teams trying to escape relegation. Surely all over now for Cambridge, the good news is they won’t have to meet Dave Allen again! Whilst Sedgley Park still have too much to do. Macclesfield on the other hand have seen the escape hatch and are half way through it, now within easy reach of Wharfedale and Tynedale. Whatever happens another northern side to go down, leaving more calls for the northern ring fencers to plead for special favours and funding, whether social engineering should be part of the RFU’s remit is surely one for the academics to ponder.

Away from polemics to the actual results, another bonus point win for leaders Ealing, unbeaten now in 11 games thus being the form side- a lesson for all future promotion prospects? A six try easy win over  strugglers Wharfedale , despite leading goalkicker Tom Wheatcroft having an off day. A loss for Wharfedale that now puts them only 4 points ahead of Macclesfield and the relegation zone-worrying times indeed for them.

Ealing’s closest challenger Blaydon had an off day against a Loughborough Students better all round game, especially in the second half which proved decisive. This loss effectively ends Blaydon’s promotion hopes for this season, whilst removing any lingering doubts of the Students being sucked into the relegation fight.

Third place Esher now looking to overtake Blaydon had a hard fought bonus point win at Cinderford, with seemingly both defences having an off day. Despite being three scores behind a late fight back by the Foresters just failed.

Rosslyn Park continue to pressurise both Blaydon and Esher had another hard fought win this time over London rivals Richmond, who despite being out muscled in the forwards were unlucky not to get a losing bonus point.

Macclesfield did their survival chances no harm with a bonus point victory over visitors Tynedale, their 4th win in a row. A game that ebbed and flowed but came down to a last minute penalty to win the game for Macclesfield. This win puts them just 4 points behind Wharfedale and 8 points behind Tynedale, a nervous time for all three teams.

Sedgley Park saw a lead disappear as Old Albanian sneaked another late win with a try by James Shanahan, a loss that removes any lingering hopes of Park surviving relegation.

Likewise Cambridge, despite scoring 4 tries met with a second half blitz by a rampant Blackheath side who ran in 10 tries including a record beating quintet by Dave Allen, bringing him up to 17 tries for the season.

More last minute woe, this time for Coventry for the second game in a row as a late drop goal denied them the victory over Fylde, despite being reduced to 14 men for the last 51 minutes.

Despite not arguing about the sending off some controversial decisions in the 2^nd half kept Coventry on the back foot, once again a slow start to the game cost Coventry the early impetus they needed.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

3^rd march 2013.

National League 1 round 23 results round up 2nd March 2013.

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 03/03/2013 12:52

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
03/03/2013 12:52

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