By Tom Little.
January 28 2013

Coventry Rugby v Tynedale Saturday 2nd February 2013. 

Fixtures 2^nd February

Blaydon            v      Wharfedale

Cambridge       v       Richmond

Cinderford        v      Fylde

Coventry           v      Tynedale

Ealing Tfs           v     Blackheath

Old Albanian     v     Loughborough Students

Rosslyn Park      v     Macclesfield

Sedgley Park      v     Esher

The whole raft of postponements over the past two weeks has left the league positions virtually the same with only leaders Ealing finding some comfort as 2^nd placed Blaydon lost to Esher. The winner of the league is expected to come from within this top four band with Ealing firm favourites especially now with a game in hand over their nearest rivals. Equally the relegation zone three sides are as far as way from safety as before and it will need a seismic change of fortunes for any one of the teams to escape.

Of the top sides in action this Saturday only Ealing face a potentially difficult task facing their London rivals Blackheath. Yet Ealing are unbeaten in seven games and are showing the better form which should negate any home advantage for Blackheath.

Second placed Blaydon are back at their beloved home after two straight away defeats and should be too powerful for Wharfedale who are still struggling to move away from any danger of relegation.

The two other games involving top four sides should be easier to predict. Rosslyn Park now back in 4^th spot after Esher’s recent win, but with a game in hand need to win to keep pressure on the top. They should be too powerful for a Macclesfield side, who although showing better form, are possibly now too far from safety.

Esher now up to 3^rd and pressing hard on the heels of Blaydon, have much better overall game to beat a struggling 14^th placed Sedgley Park.

Bottom side Cambridge, now without a coach and staring relegation in the face can’t fancy the visit of Richmond, who have the power and confidence to put pressure on Old Albanian in 5^th place. There should only be one winner in this contest.

The remaining three games all involve teams in the crowded mid table.

Cinderford whose form has been poor of late face a visiting Fylde team, who are at last showing the verve of last season after an indifferent start. Despite the Foresters home advantage form suggests that it will be the northerners who will win.

Old Albanian in 5^th place but with Richmond breathing down their neck, face a Loughborough Students side who should now be over their recent defeat by Coventry Rugby. The better all round game of the home side should prove to be the winner here.

The final game sees Coventry Rugby now back in 9^th place go for their 4^th win in a row as they face a Tynedale side who don’t always travel well. The north-eastern side who are too close to the relegation zone for their comfort are capable of giving any side in this league a close contest so Coventry cannot take the game too lightly.

Coventry Rugby v Tynedale match preview

This Saturday 2^nd February sees Coventry Rugby return home to the Butts Park Arena as they meet the north-eastern side Tynedale  in an earlier kick off than usual at 2.30 pm. Both sides have had their last two games postponed due to the weather and both sides need to get back to league action.

Founded in 1876 Tynedale, under coaches Tom Borthwick and Ian Peel, are currently in 12^th place with 6 wins and 12 losses and 7 points behind Coventry in 9^th place. A bright start to the season with 3 home wins over Old Albanian, Sedgley Park and Cinderford, has since seen them only win three more games, another home win over Fylde and away wins at Sedgley Park and Wharfedale.

Despite this recent record Tynedale put up an excellent show at home to leaders Ealing and are capable of belying their league position.

Last season Coventry did the double over Tynedale and this season who can forget the emotional day when Coventry Rugby won the earlier away game with a last minute try and conversion.

Tynedale have close connections with former Premiership side Newcastle Falcons and the now Championship side have a number of dual registered players at Dale. Recent news suggest that Newcastle have just signed back row forward Ollie Steadman from them, but they have an equally impressive back row forward Sam Reynolds as replacement.

Some of Tynedale’s recent defeats have been due to a lack of a reliable goal kicker but with fly half Jack Harrison and Matty Outson back as well as scrum half Harry Peck there is plenty of experience now in the backs.

In wingers Hamish Smales and Alan Rogers there is plenty of pace coupled with their try scoring full back Andrew Moralee now with 12 tries, who gave Coventry plenty of problems in the earlier game so Coventry can’t afford to the give the backs any space or be too complacent over their visitors.

Coventry Rugby will be looking to build on their recent form as they go for a record 4^th win in a row and make some inroads towards a top six spot.

Please note that there is a re-arranged earlier kick off time of 2.30 pm for this game at the Butts Park Arena on Saturday 2^nd February for those rugby fans wishing to catch the Internationals in the clubhouse.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

28^th January 2013

National league 1 round 21 match previews including...

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 28/01/2013 18:35

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
28/01/2013 18:35

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