By Tom Little.
January 20 2014

Saturday 18th January 2014.

Week 19 Results - Saturday 18^th January 2014

Cinderford                                        v                      Richmond – match postponed

Coventry Rugby                      15          37              Blaydon

Esher                                        26          28               Wharfedale  

Fylde                                         25          17              Doncaster Knights

Hull Ionians                              14          28             Henley Hawks

Loughborough Students         28         20             Worthing Raiders

Rosslyn Park                              37         13            Old Albanian

Tynedale                                    31         10            Blackheath 

What an upside down world this league is turning out to be.

By a strange quirk of results the previous week saw only Doncaster Knights and Coventry Rugby win from the top 6 sides, but this week it was the same two sides  from the top seven who  were the only sides who failed to get even one point. A loss that dents Coventry Rugby’s ambitions but puts even more pressure on the Leaders Doncaster who now have Rosslyn Park on their tails with the Knights still to visit Park.

Tynedale with their third successive bonus point win are now out of the relegation zone which puts more pressure on Worthing Raiders and Richmond not to be sucked into danger, although with the postponement of the Cinderford/Richmond game Richmond now have two games in hand over their rivals.

Not for the first time this season Fylde rose to the occasion as they beat leaders Doncaster Knights. Always well in control the home side in front of a large crowd were not going to lose this one. A red card for the Knights Adam Kettle didn’t help but before then they were being comprehensively beaten. A flurry of late yellow cards didn’t affect the outcome as Doncaster failed to get even a losing bonus point, a loss which reduces their lead to just 3 points but leaves Fylde up into 3^rd place.

Second placed Rosslyn Park duly dispatched their visitors Old Albanian with a bonus point win bringing them to just 3 points behind Doncaster. Another  team always in control despite plenty of possession for their visitors but with Park’s defence ruling the day with the speed and finishing of winger Dave Vincent the result was never in doubt.

A flurry of yellow cards led to a feisty afternoon as Esher lost a close game to visitors Wharfedale. Leading for most of the game the home side made too many mistakes and a late red card didn’t help. A loss that takes Esher down to 4^th place but moves Dale up to 5^th just 4 points behind them.

Another game with plenty of mistakes this time by the home side saw Coventry Rugby comprehensively beaten by a streetwise and effective Blaydon side. Out muscled and out thought by a well drilled side who punished all of Coventry’s mistakes, helped in no small matter with some poor home tackling. A loss that drops Coventry to 7^th still with a game in hand but moves Blaydon to 6^th and within sight of a top three finish.

Loughborough Students were back on winning ways with a home victory over Worthing Raiders. Seemingly well in control leading 28-6 a home yellow card gave Worthing the impetus with 2 late tries but it was too little too late. A loss that leaves the Raiders just 5 points ahead of the relegation zone.

Tynedale are now out of the relegation area with their third successive bonus point victory this time over Blackheath. What a changeover in fortunes over the past few weeks with experienced players now back in harness the home pack paved the way for an overwhelming win with 4 tries from centre or should it be flanker Ben Frankland.  A win that allows Tynedale to move out of the relegation zone but firmly keeps Blackheath in it. Dale are still far from safe but the impetus is with them and in this league confidence or lack of it can be a crucial factor.

The final game saw another defeat for bottom side Hull Ionians  as their visitors Henley Hawks beat them in a bonus point victory. Always leading it took 2 late second half tries for Henley to clinch the victory, the win that gives them some daylight between them and the danger zone.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

19^th January 2014.

National league 1 results round up week 19...

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 20/01/2014 11:45

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
20/01/2014 11:45

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