By Tom Little.
October 21 2013

Saturday 19th October 2013.

Week 7/Round 7 Results 19^th October

Blackheath                   8             21           Rosslyn Park

Blaydon                       24             14          Cinderford

Doncaster Knights     32               3          Loughborough Students

Fylde                            38               3          Tynedale

Henley Hawks             18            10          Richmond

Old Albanian               29            13          Hull Ionians

Wharfedale                 38            26          Coventry  Rugby

Worthing Raiders       19            25          Esher    

A week of consolidation at the top by Doncaster Knights but with main rivals Esher now setting out their title stall, but a gap opening up for the three teams in the relegation zone.  

Doncaster Knights  saw off their closest challengers Loughborough Students with another clinical finishing display led by a hat trick from centre Matt Clark ably assisted by Paul  Jarvis. Never overwhelmed the Students still didn’t have enough firepower or ability to break down an efficient home defence to trouble the unbeaten leaders. A win that leaves the Knights six points ahead of their nearest challenger.

Coventry Rugby once again found their trip to the north a chastening experience as a leaky defence let in 5 tries to Wharfedale. Not until the last quarter did Coventry find the necessary cutting edge to make sure of the try bonus point, a loss that drops Coventry from 3^rd to 5^th place.

Esher travelled down to the south coast getting another hard fought win over Worthing Raiders. A game that ebbed and flowed with the home side leading at half-time. Once again Worthing couldn’t hold on to win but were not helped by a late yellow card which gave Esher the impetus. Two tries from leading try scorer Andy Wright showed the away side the way. A win that jumps Esher from 5^th to 2^nd place, perhaps justifying their pre-season position as one of the title favourites. Worthing have now received 8 bonus points but need to quickly turn these into winning games or they will be sucked into the relegation places.

Still unbeaten Rosslyn Park managed a close win at Blackheath, in what was described as a dire spectacle. Grinding out a win using their effective pack especially in the scrum. Park are still maintaining their title ambitions but their lack of bonus points, only 2 in 7 games may prove decisive in the end.

Fylde halted a losing run with an overwhelming win over luckless and struggling Tynedale. Once again the imperious lock Paul Arnold scored a brace of tries making him now the league’s leading try scorer. His influence gave the home pack the edge allowing the offloading game to take over, with 6 tries scored in total, despite having a red card in the first half. A win that moves Fylde within one win of third place whilst a loss that takes Dale into the relegation zone and a danger of being separated from the teams above them.

Henley Hawks maintained their unbeaten home record in beating Richmond in a close but somewhat error strewn contest. It was a brace of tries from full-back Liam O’Neill with the goalkicking of James Comben that proved the difference, a win that moves the league newcomers into the top half of the league but leaves Richmond only 1 win above the relegation zone.

Blaydon made it three wins out of three with a home bonus point victory over Cinderford. Not un-similar to Coventry’s visit two weeks ago, Cinderford had plenty of possession but not the cutting edge as they found it difficult to break down the home defence. Better finishing by Blaydon led by a brace of tries from centre Tom Banks proved the difference, a loss that leaves Cinderford in the relegation zone still with only one win.

The final game saw Old Albanian get only their 2^nd win of the season in putting another nail in the coffin of winless Hull Ionians. The home side already 17 -0 up at half time had to withstand a Hull fight-back in the 2^nd half but ran out bonus point winners as their pack took control. A loss that leaves Hull Ionians in bottom place still with only 1 point and odds on favourites to return to National League 2 North at the end of the season.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

21^st October 2013.

National league 1 results round up week 7...

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 21/10/2013 16:01

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
21/10/2013 16:01

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