By Tom Little.
April 20 2011

This Saturday 23rd April kick off 3pm sees Coventry visit Otley at their Cross Green ground, in both teams penultimate league fixture. Founded in 1865 Otley are no strangers in facing Coventry, as they met twice in the Old Third Division in 1995/6, then twice a season between 2001/2 and 2008/9, apart  from 2007/8, when Otley were relegated  for one season.  Following the re-organisation into the Championship, Otley were relegated into NL1 two seasons ago.  Earlier this season Coventry beat Otley at home by 18-10 after Otley had survived an horrific journey down. 

Director of Rugby is Gary Walker and Head Coach is Mark Luffman, and currently they are 15^th in the league and last Saturday’s narrow defeat away to Macclesfield has seen them relegated being unable to catch Sedgley Park on number of games won.

Their 6 wins have come over fellow strugglers Launceston, Redruth, as well as Cinderford and Wharfedale, as well as over Blackheath and Macclesfield.

A strong running side, who have recently run the top teams close, Coventry certainly cannot take them lightly.

Players to watch out for are Jervis Manupenu, a goalkicking No 10 or centre, winger James Twomey , who has scored 16 tries, and flanker  captain James Sutton, Ollie Stedman a barnstorming No 8 and there is also a sprinkling of Leeds Academy players.

A crucial game for Coventry as a win would make them safe, but they as well as Otley do play better against the teams above them in the league.

Fixtures 23^rd April previews:

Blackheath           v      Barking

London Scottish   v      Launceston

Otley                    v     Coventry

Redruth                v     Blaydon

Rosslyn Park        v     Wharfedale

Sedgley Park        v     Cinderford

Stourbridge           v    Cambridge

Tynedale               v    Macclesfield

At the top of the league of the 2 contenders it is Barking that have arguably the toughest task away to Blackheath, but increasingly it looks like the decider will come down to when Barking and London Scottish meet on the 7^th May.

The real excitement, nerve tangling and nail biting comes at the other end of the table. With two relegation places already known in Launceston and Otley, it is a battle between 6 others for the 3^rd relegation place.

Some crucial games with the key game between Redruth , boosted by their win over Coventry at home to Blaydon, who recorded their own bonus point win over Rosslyn Park.

A win for Blaydon would make Coventry safe, but a win for Redruth, could take them out of the bottom 3, and put more pressure on the 5 teams above them.

A win for Coventry away to Otley would make them safe whatever happened elsewhere, whilst Wharfedale and Sedgley Park also face tricky fixtures against Rosslyn Park and Cinderford respectively.

It does appear that the relegation issue will not be fully resolved this Saturday but could even extend into May with some teams having to catch up with fixtures cancelled due to the earlier bad weather.

Results roundup fixtures 16^th April:

Barking                   75                   7   Sedgley Park

Blaydon                   60                 20  Rosslyn Park

Cambridge               32                 37  Tynedale

Cinderford               38                 41  Stourbridge

Coventry                  26                27   Redruth

Launceston               31                40  Blackheath

Macclesfield             28                25  Otley

Wharfedale               24                31  London  Scottish

At the top of the league another great win for Barking, but London Scottish had a much closer affair at Wharfedale, still too close to call for these teams for the promotion spot.

There were good away wins for Tynedale and Stourbridge, which cement their possible top 6 aspirations.

However it was the fight against relegation that saw the most intriguing results. Narrow losses by both Launceston and Otley see them both relegated, but it is the fight to keep out of the 3^rd relegation spot which is too hard to call.

The surprise win by Redruth away to Coventry, although still keeping them in 14^th place, increases the pressure on the 5 other teams above them. Blaydon somewhat negated this Redruth win by an excellent BP win at home to Rosslyn Park. 

Losses by Coventry, Wharfedale and Sedgley Park increase the pressure on them, but Wharfedale and Sedgley Park do have a game in hand on Coventry. Cinderford are still not mathematically safe but do have 2 games in hand.

A weekend that summed up the season so far, still too close to call for most games in the bottom half of the league.

Coventry Rugby press office.

Otley v Coventry rugby match preview and results roundup.

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 20/04/2011 08:41

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
20/04/2011 08:41

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