By Tom Little
February 23 2015

...including Coventry Rugby v Hartpury College plus catch up fixtures.

Fixtures Saturday 21^st February 2015.

Blackheath                             27        23           Esher

Blaydon                                   34        27          Wharfedale

Coventry Rugby                     20        22          Hartpury College

Ealing Trailfinders                 29        17          Darlington Mowden Park

Fylde                                        33       26          Tynedale

Loughborough Students      29        13          Richmond

Old Albanian                          20          7          Cinderford

Rosslyn Park                           35        12         Macclesfield

“They think it’s all over” well it is for Coventry Rugby in their title aspirations this season and their second successive loss leaves them too much to do. However Ealing and Rosslyn Park march on with bonus point wins although with Ealing still with a match in hand they must be firm favourites.

It is still very fraught at the nether regions with all three bottom sides losing, with it looking increasingly like Tynedale will join Macclesfield for the drop. The third relegation spot is effectively between the present incumbent Cinderford and Old Albanian.

As expected Ealing Trailfinders found their visitors Darlington Mowden Park a tough nut to crack with two late tries sealing the bp win and denying Park perhaps their just reward. Not for the first time this season Ealing have proved their pedigree by playing for the whole 80 minutes. Once again a sparse crowd watched the leaders and one has to question the rationale of subsidising a team unable to generate a large audience even when they were in the Championship.

Rosslyn Park had their expected bp win over bottom side Macclesfield with the try bonus earned before half-time. Park were not going to let their pressure on Ealing falter as their pack took early control with a penalty try, with the backs taking over putting the icing on the cake. The win keeps them within 4 points from Ealing,but have played one more game.

A second successive loss for the first time this season saw a lacklustre Coventry Rugby falter in their title ambitions as they were outplayed especially in the scrum and line-out by an impressive Hartpury College side. Another good crowd at the BPA, which was virtually the same as the average of the 6 Championship games the same day, went home disappointed at a sub- standard display. Coventry Rugby could still be the kingslayer as they have to meet both Rosslyn Park and Ealing Trailfinders away.

Two sides struggling to pull clear of the relegation zone Old Albanian and Cinderford went the way of the home side, who overcame a half-time deficit  with two last quarter tries sealing it. This win moves them 6 points ahead of Cinderford  who remain in the third relegation spot, and surely now it is between these two sides as to who survives.

Surely it is too late now for 15^th placed Tynedale as they lost again this time away to Fylde. However two late tries did give them two  bp but this still makes them 12 points from safety and too much to do. The win for Fylde keeps them on the tail of Blackheath as they fight over 4^th place.

Loughborough Students made their season safe with a bp win over a Richmond side who have fallen from grace after their recent hard fought draw over Coventry. Despite losing at half-time the Students powered on in the second half for a comprehensive victory which takes them 13 points ahead of danger.

Wharfedale gained two valuable bp in their away loss at Blaydon. Another late show gave them two tries  to secure the points , despite this loss it does move them 11 points away from the danger zone, and still with a game in hand they should now be safe.

Blackheath continues on their merry way with their unbeaten run extended to 9 games with a close hard fought win over Esher. Perhaps another example of a team taking too much out of themselves in beating Coventry! Blackheath’s win  ensured  4^th place with them just  still keeping ahead of Fylde. At last the home side seem to have at last found a reliable goal-kicker in Ryan Squires whose 15 points including a try, sealed it for them.

Championship News

With just 6 games to go in the Championship race to  avoid relegation to National League 1 seems to have come down to a battle between Doncaster Knights on 26 points, Moseley on 23 points and Plymouth Albion on 20 points. With bottom side Albion finding some form it is not a foregone conclusion, either way next season will see Coventry Rugby renew acquaintance with one of their old time rivals.

Catch up fixtures  Saturday 28^th February 2015

Macclesfield         v       Ealing Trailfinders

Wharfedale          v       Esher 

There is no preview this coming week for Coventry Rugby as they have no game, with only two catch up fixtures taking place. Bottom side Macclesfield have the unenviable task of entertaining, if that the right word, leaders Ealing Trailfinders. A loss for Macclesfield will seal their relegation whilst a bonus point win for Ealing will put them 9 points ahead of Rosslyn Park.Can’t see any other than an easy win for the leaders.

The pressure is off realistically for Wharfedale as they meet Esher. Virtually guaranteed another season in NL1 they can relax and take advantage of the Esher side.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

22^nd February 2015.

Week 24 national league 1 results round up Saturday 21st Feb

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 23/02/2015 08:23

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
23/02/2015 08:23

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Reply Quote Report

fordy69uk
23/02/2015 17:15

Come on Macc!

Reply Quote Report

Goto: Forum List•Message List•Search• Log In

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.

We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net