National league 1 round 18 results round up 12th January...

Results:

Blackheath               27              32   Old Albanian

Esher                         64              20   Wharfedale

Fylde                          23              19   Blaydon

Loughborough St        6             27    Coventry

Macclesfield              35             24    Cinderford

Richmond                   32             13    Sedgley Park

Rosslyn Park             104               5    Cambridge

Tynedale                      22             25    Ealing Tfs  

No less than 7 of the 8 games provided bonus point wins, only Coventry Rugby lost out, although their performance did not deserve so. There were wins for three of the top four with leaders Ealing, Rosslyn Park and Esher, with only Blaydon missing out but they did gain a losing bonus point.  A win that gives Ealing a 7 point cushion and still keeps the top four at least 8 points ahead of the chasing pack. This is led by Old Albanian in 5^th place 5 points ahead of a group of 5 teams separated by just three points.

The relegation zone saw losses for both Cambridge and Sedgley Park, but a win for Macclesfield brought a lifeline for themselves as they are now only 2 points behind Sedgley Park, but still 14 points from safety.

Leaders Ealing Tfs proved once again that they can never be written off coming from 15 points behind to defeat Tynedale with a later winning penalty from leading points scorer Tom Wheatcroft, a win that puts Ealing 7 points clear of Blaydon.

Blaydon lost their 11 games winning run away at Fylde, always behind they couldn’t cope with the evergreen Paul Arnold’s 2 tries, and it was only a last minute try that earned the visitors a losing bonus point. Fylde with a game in hand over their nearest rivals move up to 7^th place just 6 points behind Old Albanian in 5^th.

There was embarrassment as a rampant Rosslyn Park ran in 16 tries over a demoralised Cambridge side now just awaiting the death throes of their continued presence in National League 1. Leading try scorer former Wasps No 8  Hugo Ellis grabbed another 7 tries, setting up a mouth-watering clash with Coventry’s Jacques Le Roux next week. A win that moves Rosslyn Park just 5 points behind 2^nd placed Blaydon.

Esher’s 10 tries over Wharfedale keeps them in the top four. Three tries for winger Andy Wright helped them on their way Wharfedale were not helped by being down to 13 men after injuries shipping three late tries, but they must be anxiously looking over their shoulder at the bottom of the league.

Old Albanian keep on re-writing the history books in their first year in this league as they came from behind with a last minute try to beat Blackheath. For the 2^nd week running outside centre Terry Adams proved the star of the game with his incisive running. A win that moves OA clear in 5^th place with the chasing pack now 5 points behind.

A confident and dominant Coventry side gave Loughborough Students little space with a series of immense tackles, leading them nowhere to go. The pacey Coventry team then scored three excellent tries. A win that although keeping Coventry in 8^th place moved them to just 2 points behind 6^th spot.

Equal on points with Coventry are Richmond, who as expected were too strong for a Sedgley Park side short of confidence and staring at relegation together with Cambridge.

There was better news for Macclesfield, who are showing the better form of the three bottom sides, as they had a justified bonus point win over a fading Cinderford side. This win brings them to just 2 points behind Sedgley Park and 3 wins behind Wharfedale in 13^th place.

A full preview of the Round 19 fixtures on the 19^th January together with a more detailed Coventry  Rugby v Rosslyn Park match preview will be published shortly.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

13^th January 2013