National league 1 results round up week 30...

...Saturday 30th April 2016 including Wharfedale v Coventry Rugby. 

Week 30 Results Saturday 30th April 2016.

Ampthill & District                             20          13            Esher                       crowd    570

Blackheath                                           45         17            Blaydon                                  852

Darlington Mowden Park                  52         22            Cinderford                 H        1245

Hartpury College                                 68        21             Hull Ionians                            500

Henley Hawks                                      12        31             Rosslyn Park               L          375          

Loughborough Students                    57        17             Fylde                                        475

Richmond                                             39        40             Plymouth Albion                    837

Wharfedale                                          28        24             Coventry Rugby                      525

The last results round up of the season says goodbye to promoted Champions Richmond, a sad farewell to relegated Henley Hawks, Wharfedale and Cinderford, a warm welcome to Moseley ( soon to be known as Birmingham Moseley), to Macclesfield and Cambridge and to either Old Albanian or Sedgley Park pending their play-off due to be on the 14th May.

A second successive loss by Champions Richmond at home to Plymouth Albion somewhat tarnished their overall record in an exciting but mistake ridden game. The idea of Richmond remaining amateur in the Championship (whatever that really means?), or with Plymouth Albion having to possibly re-build again for the new season, saw a fluctuating game with Albion able to maintain a slender half-time lead. The win gets Albion into 8th place despite the 30 point deduction, but with news filtering through that a large number of the existing squad are on their way out-it should be a busy pre-season.

Hartpury College keep 2nd place with a crushing 10 try defeat of Hull Ionians. It was fitting that the league’s leading points scorer Gareth Thompson maintained his lead with a try and 9 conversions, assisted with another hat-trick by leading try scorer winger Jonas Mikalcius. However with Jonas rumoured to be on his way and DOR Alan Martinovic on his way to Bristol Rugby, it will be interesting to see how they cope with the new season.

Blackheath finished in 3rd place after a bonus point win over Blaydon. Yet it was 12 all at half-time thanks to a try brace from Blaydon’s and the league’s leading try scorer No 8 Jason Smithson. Yet Dave Allen on his farewell performance scored a brace of tries himself as Blackheath took control, in an emotional game before Blackheath move to their new site. Blackheath, a side to watch for next season.

Ampthill & District were unable to hang on to 3rd place as they were unable to get the try bonus point in beating Esher at home. Yet the win sees them finish in 4th position in their first season in NL1, but Esher finish in 7th place after their early season promise evaporated.

Rosslyn Park completed their season in 5th place, after being of the pre-season title favourites, with a hard-fought battle at relegated Henley Hawks as Park turned on the power for the second half. In the end a creditable finish for Park after a poor start to the season, seemingly being helped by a change of DOR, mid-way in the season. This promise should manifest itself into being one of the pre-season favourites for next season.

A large win for Darlington Mowden Park over relegated Cinderford before the largest league attendance of the day, saw the home side finish in 6th place. Another team that could challenge for the title next season in view of an expected influx of experienced players.

It was a game too far for Coventry Rugby as they travelled to the Dales and were beaten by a Wharfedale side with plenty of pride to play for. Despite being 21 all at half-time Coventry were unable to sustain the intensity of their recent performances as their lead was overturned by a late bonus point winning try by Dale. A disappointing end to a game which sums up Coventry’s season, only time will tell if they can re-group for next season.

The final game saw Loughborough Students throw off the shackles with an exciting blend of running rugby in putting 9 tries past a Fylde side unable to reach the heights of last season. The game was effectively over by half-time before 2 late Fylde tries gave the score-line a more respectable look. With some key departures already on the cards for the Students, it will be interesting how they will cope for the coming season.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

3rd May 2016.