National league 1 week 20 - round 20 results round up....
By Tom Little.
January 27 2014
Saturday 25th January 2014.
Week 20 Results - 25th January 2014.
Blackheath 38 10 Esher
Blaydon 14 14 Hull Ionians
Doncaster Knights 27 9 Richmond
Fylde 56 22 Loughborough Students
Henley Hawks 5 12 Cinderford
Old Albanian 25 13 Coventry Rugby
Wharfedale 3 45 Rosslyn Park
Worthing Raiders 29 19 Tynedale
Week 20 is the two thirds mark of the season with the results this Saturday showing that only Doncaster Knights, Rosslyn Park and Fylde managed to win from the top half of the table. The net result of this was there is now a splinter group at the top of the table with these three sides surely now providing the eventual Champion. The remaining top half 5 sides have all found it difficult to remain consistent and have probably left it too late to overhaul the top three.
The result of the day must be bottom side Hull Ionians in their away draw at Blaydon, too late for them, but the remaining 2 relegation places are still wide open with no less than 6 sides in fear of filling them.
In what was supposed to be the tie of the round ended in anti-climax as Rosslyn Park overwhelmed Wharfedale. Not for the first time this season Park’s forwards reigned supreme providing the platform for 6 tries. Injuries and yellow cards didn’t help the home cause but Rosslyn Park were in no mood to be charitable as the win keeps them just 3 points behind leaders Doncaster, but with the Knights having to visit Park must be slight favourites.
Fylde maintained their excellent form especially at home with another bonus point win, this time over Loughborough Students. Realistically only they and Rosslyn Park are the two sides left to battle with Doncaster over promotion and the win leaves them just two bonus point wins behind the leaders. The Students had no answer to the running and passing ability of the home side the win which also puts third placed Fylde 6 points ahead of the chasing pack.
Blackheath finally rewarded their long suffering supporters with a bonus point win over a fading Esher. Helped by returning experienced players Blackheath soon raced into an unassailable halftime lead of 31-6, with Dave Allen leading the way with another hat-trick of tries, with Esher having no answer. Despite this crucial win Blackheath stlll fill the final relegation spot, but Esher are now surely out of the promotion hunt.
As already mentioned the surprise of the round must be bottom side Hull Ionians earning a justified draw at high flying Blaydon. Despite giving away two first half penalty tries Hull Ionians fought back for the rest of the game and deserved their drawing try in the second half. A draw that is too late for the Ionians, but also halts Blaydon’s surge up the table.
An out of sorts Coventry Rugby came up against a determined Old Albanian side as they looked for their first ever win at Woollams. Not for the first time this season a good start by Coventry came to nothing as they lost control as possession dried up, not helped by a misfiring lineout. With weather forcing both sides off the field in the second half for 10 minutes, a bizarre home try sealed it for them, although Coventry will point to a refusal to award an penalty try as well as a disallowed try when over the line as contributory factors.
Another sudden squall also forced both sides off at Dry Leas as Cinderford enhanced their survival chances with a close win over Henley Hawks. With the away side more able to cope with the atrocious weather, an early try was defended by Cinderford all game, a win that takes them just above the relegation area but also leaves Henley Hawks rather too close to it.
The final game saw Tynedale’s Great Escape surge come to a sudden halt at Worthing Raiders, whose first half blitz left Tynedale chasing a lost cause. They were not going to surrender such a lead as they held out for the important bonus point win. A win that must make Worthing favourites for survival but puts Tynedale back into the second relegation spot.
REVIEW OF POSSIBLE NEW TEAMS IN AND OUT OF NATIONAL LEAGUE 1 FOR SEASON 2014/15.
With two thirds of the season gone both in National League 1 and the feeder leagues for next season now is the time to review what changes in overall teams may be expected for the next season.
We have already seen that promotion from National League 1 to the Championship has still not been settled but most probably will comes either from Doncaster Knights, Rosslyn Park or Fylde.
It is also difficult to judge who will be the overall three candidates for relegation from this league apart from Hull Ionians, who will surely take one place. The remaining two places could be from any of the following 6 teams:- Tynedale, Blackheath, Richmond, Cinderford, Henley Hawks and Worthing Raiders.
Relegation from the Championship down to National league 1 is also not clear cut with three teams currently in the mix, with newly promoted Ealing Tfs favourites for a quick return, who are 4 points behind Jersey and 10 points behind Nottingham.
There will be three teams promoted to National League 1 ,one as Champions of National League 2 South, and one as Champions of National League 2 North, with the third team being taken by the winner of the playoff between the two teams who are runners up in the respective two leagues.
Currently Hartpury College are running away with the South Division as they are 12 points ahead of their closest challengers Canterbury. The North Division is a lot closer with leaders Darlington Mowden Park 1 point ahead of Macclesfield and 2 ahead of Stourbridge, so everything still to play for in this division. Either way Coventry Rugby will be meeting and visiting new teams in the new season.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
26th January 2014.
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