Week 26 preview including Birmingham Solihull v Coventry RFC
By Tom Little.
March 18 2012
Week 26 fixtures 24th March.
Birmingham Solihull v Coventry
Blackheath v Macclesfield
Cinderford v Barking
Ealing Tfs v Tynedale
Jersey v Cambridge
Rosslyn Park v Fylde
Stourbridge v Sedgley Park
Wharfedale v Blaydon
No full results round up from last week as the only game played was the north-east derby as Blaydon were at home to Tynedale, with the winner taking over 7th place from Cinderford. In the event it was a narrow home win to Blaydon by 25-19, which takes Blaydon up into 7th place, just 6 points ahead of Coventry in 10th.
This week’s fixtures see the possibility of two teams being relegated if Stourbridge and Barking are defeated. However bottom side Barking last week surprised all the odds by beating league leaders Jersey, their first defeat after 18 straight wins. With games running out Barking need to win away at Cinderford to keep their slim chances of escape alive.
Stourbridge on the other hand face the less daunting prospect of facing Sedgley Park at Stourton Park, but after a run of 8 losses, and Sedgley Park looking for their third win in a row to banish their own relegation worries, another difficult game for Stour.
However, for those of a nervous disposition, and with delicious irony the midland derby between Birmingham Solihull and Coventry could see Birmingham Solihull relegated. Any type of win by Coventry over their near neighbours will remove any slim lingering worries for Coventry, but will relegate Birmingham Solihull if other results go against them.
Wharfedale and Cambridge will also be looking over their shoulders if any of the bottom three sides win, with Wharfedale possibly having the easier task at home to Blaydon, whilst Cambridge face the daunting visit to leaders Jersey, wanting to put behind them their surprise loss to Barking.
The other promotion candidates Ealing Tfs and Fylde both need to win to keep the pressure on Jersey. Ealing on paper have the easier fixtures facing Tynedale at home, whilst Fylde, still shell shocked by defeat at Coventry, now face another difficult away game at Rosslyn Park.
A loss for both and a win for Jersey will give them a straight run in for the title.
Birmingham Solihull v Coventry Rugby match preview.
This Saturday 24th March, Coventry face the short but no less important trip to Damson Park to face their nearest neighbours Birmingham Solihull, kick off 3pm.
In a delicious twist of fate and irony this match could see Birmingham Solihull relegated if they lose, a reversal of what happened two season ago when Birmingham Solihull survived despite losing all their normal season fixtures but managed to send Coventry into relegation in the playoffs. However last season, Birmingham Solihull were unable to effect the “great escape” again and they were finally relegated. This season, remaining under DoR Russell Earnshaw, they are currently in 14th place with 10 wins and 15 losses.
After being in bottom spot at Christmas, Birmingham Solihull have started to show some form, with 6 wins out of their last eight played, and are now on a run of 4 straight wins. Doubles have been achieved over Wharfedale and Macclesfield, admittedly the last one over a weakened Macclesfield, without their Lancashire stars.
Russell who has recently been in the starting line up, has been helped by returning players such as important goalkicker Mark Woodrow and try scoring winger Simon Hunt, when available from England 7’s duty. Russell Earnshaw has recruited from the lower leagues as well with flyhalf Jack Jolly making the step up from Nuneaton, and lock Liam Dunne from Kings Norton. There is also some experience in the backs with former Coventry player Jon Lowden, and centre Rob Connolly in the centre and Dan Hawkes, whose speciality is drop goals.
Coventry cannot afford to take the home pack, or their discipline too lightly as they seem to have a penchant of picking up penalty tries, with two against Cambridge, as well as working the ball into positions for Mark Woodrow to kick the penalties.
Coventry for their part will be buoyed by their excellent all round display in the win over high flying Fylde, which makes them unbeaten in the last three matches under captain Matt Tibbatts. Coventry have been boosted by their recent recruits who are now settling well into the side, and they will be looking to extend their unbeaten streak, putting pressure for the 7th place position in the league.
The tremendous support shown for Coventry at the Butts Park Arena is expected to be transferred to Damson Park as the Coventry supporters will be looking for them to complete the double over their neighbours.
Tom Little - Coventry Rugby press office
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woods, it's in the hipflask! (Steve Emms)
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