By Tom Little.
November 20 2013

23rd November 2013 including Coventry Rugby v Tynedale. 

Fixtures Week 12 - 23^rd November 2013.

Blaydon                        v         Wharfedale

Cinderford                   v         Fylde

Coventry Rugby          v         Tynedale

Henley Hawks             v         Blackheath

Hull Ionians                 v         Loughborough Students

Old Albanian               v         Doncaster Knights

Richmond                    v        Worthing Raiders

Rosslyn Park               v         Esher

Key games involving the top 4 sides are now coming thick and fast and Week 12 is no exception with the top two London sides, Rosslyn Park in 2nd and Esher in 3rd meeting. With now only 6 points separating the top 4 sides any slip by those 4 can affect the positions.

Keen rivals Rosslyn Park entertain Esher with both sides needing the win to maintain pressure on new leaders Doncaster Knights. Both sides are on 43 points, they have effective packs but with Esher looking to have the slightly stronger backs, Park have recently found a rich vein of try scoring form and in the end home advantage may just swing the result.

Leaders Doncaster Knights are now back on track after a couple of surprising defeats, travel to an Old Albanian side whose form has been somewhat a shadow of last season’s. However, Old Albanian have at last to found some form which was underlined by last Saturday’s creditable  home draw with an improving Blaydon side.  A match that Doncaster cannot afford to take too lightly.

Likewise no complacency can be in order as Coventry Rugby entertain a Tynedale side struggling back in 15th place. Two successive excellent victories by Coventry have put them back in a strong position and with their visitors yet to win away there must be optimism for a home victory. A more detailed match preview of this game follows at the end of this general preview.

There is an intriguing battle in prospect as Blaydon take on Wharfedale. After a poor start Blaydon are now approaching last season’s form and are up to 7^th place, face a Wharfedale side defying the pundits and probably their own supporters by being up to 5^th place. With both sides needing the win to keep pressure on the top 4 sides a close and hard fought game is expected with home form slightly edging it for Blaydon.

Cinderford now back in a relegation spot face a Fylde side that has been showing some inconsistency. However, if they can get their fast off-loading game going they should be favourites but with home advantage the Foresters will be fighting for their lives, so a closer game than expected is in prospect.

Two mid table sides meet as Henley Hawks play Blackheath. With both sides struggling to find winning form which has brought them both too close to the wrong end of the table, a nervous and close game is expected with Henley slight favourites.

Two more sides struggling to find form are Richmond and Worthing Raiders, although both sides did manage to win last Saturday. A game difficult to predict but the Richmond pack might have a slight edge over Worthing but with the Raiders having  an effective counter attacking game plan, so a close call.

The final game sees Hull Ionians face a Loughborough Students side who have struggled recently and are now back in 8^th place. With Hull Ionians still yet to win the Students should be too powerful as they get back to winning ways.

Coventry Rugby v Tynedale match preview

This Saturday 23^rd November at the Butts Park Arena, sees Coventry Rugby meet Tynedale in a 3 pm kick off.

Founded in 1876, Tynedale are currently in 15^th place on 10 points with only 2 wins and 9 losses and with the worst defensive record in the league, in comparison with Coventry Rugby’s 8 wins and 40 points and the highest points scored in the league.

Last season Coventry completed the double over them with  an away victory under difficult circumstances with a last minute try and conversion winning it 25-24 whilst the home victory was by 29-19.Tynedale finished in 12^th position on 69 points winning just 11 games with Coventry Rugby winning 13 games with 72 points.

This season Chairman of Rugby John Shotton has seen his side make a poor start and are now in a run of 5 successive loses as well as losing all 6 away games to Henley Hawks, Old Albanian, Blackheath, Fylde, Doncaster Knights and Esher. In addition, they have lost 3 games at home to Wharfedale, Loughborough Students and Rosslyn Park last Saturday. Their only two wins have both been at home over Blaydon and Worthing Raiders-two of the sides that have beaten Coventry.

Tynedale have maintained close links with Premiership side Newcastle Falcons with approximately five dual registered players from their Academy on their books, including influential mazy runner and goal-kicking No 10 Craig Willis and No 15 or centre Chris Harris.

New players in include winger Dan Rundle from Westoe, winger Sep Visser returns from Scotland, Gavin Beasley back from Rugby League in the backs and experienced former Falcons lock Andy Buist.

Some experienced players well known to Coventry Rugby were retained such as scrum half Matty Outson, Hamish Smales winger and captain at no 15 Jack Harrison The other Beasley brother Grant,  is still making a nuisance of himself in the back-row.

This is a game that on paper suggests a win for Coventry Rugby, but despite their very poor form and results Tynedale still retain a large number of players that can cause defences problems. Not good travellers Tynedale need this win to start catching up with those teams just above them in safety as they are still 10 points from safety.

Coventry Rugby on their part are looking for their third win in a row, a win that is required to maintain pressure on the three teams above them in the league.

Another 4 figure crowd is expected at the Butts Park Arena for this 3pm kick off which will make this 6 successive games of this magnitude- a record for Coventry Rugby in National League 1.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

19^th November 2013.

National league 1 match previews week 12...

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 20/11/2013 07:09

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
20/11/2013 07:09

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