By Tom Little.
February 27 2013

including Coventry Rugby v Fylde

Round 23 Fixtures Saturday 2^nd March

Blaydon         v        Loughborough Students

Cambridge    v        Blackheath

Cinderford     v        Esher

Coventry         v        Fylde

Ealing Tfs         v       Wharfedale

Macclesfield    v       Tynedale

Rosslyn Park     v      Richmond

Sedgley Park     v      Old Albanian

After last week’s three results mainly affecting the nether regions of the league it is back to a full quota for Round 23. The top two sides are not really expected to slip up in their home fixtures.

Leaders Ealing, unbeaten now in 10 games face a Wharfedale side who finally put a losing run of 8 games behind them last week by beating Loughborough Students. With Dale still looking nervously over their shoulder at Macclesfield now only 9 points behind .Ealing should be too powerful for their visitors a win needed  to maintain their own lead of 9 points.

Second placed Blaydon might find their own visitors Loughborough Students more of a handful. An important game for Blaydon if they want to maintain any sort of pressure on Ealing. Despite the Students seemingly ability to come from behind a weakened side lost last week at Wharfedale. Blaydon should be too powerful but another loss for their visitors could bring them into the relegation mix.

Rosslyn Park’s home fixture with near neighbour Richmond is a difficult one to predict. Richmond have only lost once in 5 games meet a Park side still smarting from their surprise away defeat at Tynedale. A must win for Rosslyn Park if they want to maintain even a slight chance of catching Ealing, whilst a Richmond win will put them in sight of 4^th place, not a bad return for their return to this league.

The final top 4 side Esher, have a difficult away trip to the Forest. Cinderford have won their last three home games and Esher succumbed to a late loss to leaders Ealing, their 2^nd loss in a row. Home form in the end might just swing it for Cinderford.

Bottom side Cambridge having lost last week to Macclesfield have surely left it too late to escape relegation face another difficult home match this time to Blackheath, who have won their last two games. Blackheath within 3 points of 5^th place may have the better all round game helped by the dual pronged attack of goal kicker Rory Teague and try machine No 7 Dave Allen. Surely a game too far for Cambridge.

Macclesfield making a slow break out for safety following their bonus point win at Cambridge, have a home tie with Tynedale, who themselves could be sucked into the relegation fight, despite their recent win over Rosslyn Park.The greater need and form of Macclesfield now on a run of three consecutive wins should just get them the win.

The other relegation zone side is Sedgley Park, who last week slumped to a 9 try demolition by Fylde, entertain Old Albanian who have the ability to trouble any side in this league, but losing their last 2 games has seen them back into 6^thplace. A must win for Sedgley Park if they even have a slight chance to escape relegation.

The final game sees what promises to be a close fought battle between two sides in the crowded mid table with Coventry Rugby facing Fylde. Coventry Rugby still smarting from their last minute defeat at Richmond face a Fylde side whose 9 tries against Sedgley Park, saw them get their fast offloading game on song, the win taking them into 7th place.

A more detailed Coventry Rugby v Fylde match preview follows.

Coventry Rugby v Fylde match preview

Coventry Rugby resume their home league fixtures as they entertain one of their traditional rivals Fylde at the Butts Park Arena this Saturday 2^nd March kick off 3 pm. Founded in 1919 Fylde are based on the Lancashire coast. After floating between various leagues they were promoted back to National League 1 last season and finished a very creditable 4^th. This season under Head Coach Mark Nelson assisted by player/coaches Paul Arnold and Richard Kenyon, Fylde are currently in 7^th place on 60 points with 11 wins and 10 losses, compared with Coventry Rugby’s 10 wins, 10 losses and 1 draw making 53 points.

Fylde’s form like Coventry has been somewhat erratic and their last 10 games have seen them win 5 and loss 5. Away wins have been obtained at Cambridge, Sedgley Park, Blackheath and they held Ealing to just one score. Home form has also been erratic with a win over Blaydon but a surprise loss to Cambridge.

Fylde got their fast offloading game going against Sedgley Park last week with 9 tries including a hat trick by winger Oli Brennand and an obligatory try by Paul Arnold. Earlier in the season Coventry lost their away game 22=20 with a controversial yellow card giving Fylde the chance for their late winning try.

The Fylde side not only includes some fast moving backs but also some experienced forwards such as locks Paul Arnold and Josh Beaumont and an impressive back row of Sam Beaumont, Gareth Rawlings, Evan Stewart and Ben Vernon, as well as hooker Alex Loney. There are some well-known backs including winger Oli Brennand now on 14 tries for the season, and Oliver Viney who caused Coventry so much trouble earlier in the season.

Half backs include Richard Kenyon and new signing Chris Johnson, fullback Warren Spragg has returned from Italy whilst centres include brothers Chris and Steve Briers, as well as Scott Barrow.

Scrum half’s include Namibian player Ryan De La Harpe and former Coventry player Martin Wallwork.

A key game for both sides as Fylde go for the win which could put them in 5^th place, whilst Coventry Rugby need the win to break back into the top half and also stop a losing sequence of 2 games.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

26^th February 2013

National League 1 round 23 match previews Saturday 2nd March

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 27/02/2013 16:24

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
27/02/2013 16:24

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covmick/Michael Carter
28/02/2013 00:07

Quote:

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Difficult time for the Little family at present Tom has done very well to get this quality preview out for us to view. Well done Tom, Hope the family illness clears up soon.


covmick/Michael Carter

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