Week 16 national league 1 previews...

...for Saturday 20th December 2014 including Coventry Rugby v Loughborough Students.

Week 16 Fixtures Saturday 20^th December 2014.

Blackheath                                v       Rosslyn Park

Coventry Rugby                       v       Loughborough Students

Darlington Mowden Park      v       Wharfedale

Ealing Tfs                                  v       Old Albanian

Esher                                         v       Richmond

Fylde                                         v       Macclesfield

Hartpury College                     v      Cinderford

Tynedale                                   v      Blaydon

Week 16 sees the first game of the second half of the season for most teams, which if the first half is anything to go on will include excitement ,heartbreak, broken dreams in equal measure at either end of the league. Three of the top four sides Ealing, Coventry and Fylde are all at home with only second placed Rosslyn Park facing a  tricky away fixture, whilst at the other end of the table both Cinderford and Darlington face difficult games, wins for both of them would pile more and more pressure on those teams just above them.

Leaders Ealing Trailfinders suitably buoyant after seeing off their closest rival Rosslyn Park have Old Albanian as their visitors. Although languishing in 11^th place after a poor start to the season OA have started to find some form, and on the artificial surface at Ealing should have the capability to score tries. Whether they have the pack to match that of Ealing remains to be seen but the leaders more pragmatic approach should see them home.

The disappointment faced by our next combatants Blackheath and old rivals Rosslyn Park as they meet at The Rectory Field after their losses last Saturday to Coventry and Ealing respectively, may have a tangible effect on their performances. Park have more to lose as Coventry Rugby are within sight of overtaking them in 2^nd place, so a full bodied encounter is expected with Park slight favourites to keep the pressure on Ealing.

Coventry Rugby, before what is expected to be the largest League crowd of the day, go looking for their 12^th successive victory over a Loughborough Students side. A win that Coventry need, to maintain pressure on the top two, whilst the Students are only 3 points ahead of the danger zone. A full preview of this game will follow.

The easiest game to predict is surely the visit of bottom club  Macclesfield, with only one win so far to 4^th placed Fylde. Still unbeaten at home Fylde will be in no generous mood to their opponents as a large bonus win is expected for them to maintain sight of the top three.

An important game for other reasons is that of the Gloucestershire derby between league newcomers Hartpury College and long established NL1 members  opponents Cinderford. Not only local bragging rights are at stake but more importantly Cinderford are currently in the 2^nd relegation place. A must win scenario for the visitors who have shown better form with 3 wins out of 4, but Hartpury will be confident after their surprise win at Blaydon. A close and hard fought contest is expected with Cinderford’s greater need just tipping the balance.

Another side at the wrong end of the table Darlington Mowden Park have Wharfedale as their visitors. Darlington MP have flattered to deceive since their promotion but despite an effective pack have not always closed off games they should have. This lack of wins has seen them drop into the final relegation spot for the first time this season, yet they are still only 1 point from safety. Wharfedale themselves ate still too close to the danger zone but home advantage is expected to give Park the slight edge.

The north-east sees the local derby between Tynedale and Blaydon. The visitors will still be reeling after their surprise loss at home to Hartpury College, whilst Tynedale have now lost 5 consecutive games, amidst their very public injury woes. The Blaydon pack should have the edge in what is expected to be a hard fought and close battle, a loss that would leave Tynedale too close to the danger zone.

The final game sees two relatively safe mid table sides Esher and Richmond meet. A home win is expected in another close contest but it may depend on how much Richmond late loss to a controversial penalty try against Fylde may have affected them.

COVENTRY  RUGBY  V  LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS MATCH PREVIEW

This coming Saturday 20^th December 2014  sees Coventry Rugby meet Loughborough Students at home at the Butts Park Arena, kick off as usual 3 pm. Before what is expected to be the largest NL1 crowd of the day sees 3^rd placed Coventry Rugby  not only go for their 12^th consecutive league win, but also to complete their first double of the season, and if that wasn’t enough the win may even propel  them into second place in the league above Rosslyn Park.

Founded in 1919 the merger of the Loughborough Colleges in 1976/77 saw the club renamed Loughborough Students Rugby Club. After allowed to be part of the League structure pyramid system Students have made steady progress through the leagues currently being in NL1 for the past three seasons. The nature of University rugby has seen the usual high turnover of players with a high proportion of their elite squad going on to play professional or semi-professional.

Last season after a steady start a mid-winter slump, saw them close to the danger zone but a win on the final day of the season saw them finish 12^th. This season they had a catastrophic start to the season losing their first 5 games. However since then they have won 5 of their next 10 games, with home wins over Blaydon, Cinderford, Hartpury College and Tynedale last week, coupled with an away victory at Old Albanian, which has seen them in 12^th place on 30 match points. Even in their 10 losses Loughborough have been competitive and are always capable of using their effective backs too score tries as Coventry Rugby almost found to their cost earlier in the season when Coventry Rugby won 30-27, after leading 22-8.

It has already been mentioned that the nature of Loughborough Students is there is always a high turnover of players which can bring its own problems but set against that there is always a freshness to the side and with close connections to many Premiership Clubs a sprinkling of dr or loan players are usually available. Key players retained from last season include the Pons brothers Jack at full-back and Ben at No 8, centre Rhys Owen, locks Jack Collister and Jake Albon, with back-rowers Matt Rogerson and James Freeman.

An increasingly influential player is Saracens Academy scrum-half Henry Taylor and a player known to Coventry prop Josh McNulty, has come in on loan from Worcester Warriors. Another Saracens player fly-half Josh Sharp is one to watch, as well as try scoring wingers Will Edwards ,Gair Currie, Sam Pointon and Yiannis Loizias. More speed is found in centres Jack Bradford and Jack Wardle. Isaac Miller is an ever present at hooker and new recruit Gabriel Carroll is earning positive reviews as open side flanker as is indeed fellow back-rower Ed Taylor.

A crucial game for both sides as another loss for Loughborough Students could see them into the final relegation place, whilst Coventry Rugby need the win to maintain pressure on Ealing and Rosslyn park just ahead of them. The support of the Coventry faithful has been growing steadily and another 4 figure crowd is expected this Saturday at the BPA as the Coventry side go into this match with increasing confidence.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

16^th December 2014.