COVENTRY RUGBY V OTLEY MATCH PREVIEW

This Saturday 11th December, kick off 3pm, sees Coventry at home at the BPA, to face Otley in their NL1 fixture.  Coventry will not have played for 3 weeks due to the inclement weather, whilst Otley managed to play 2 weeks ago away to Cambridge. Founded in 1865  Otley are no strangers in facing Coventry, as they met twice in the Old Third Division in 1995/6, then twice a season between 2001/2 and 2008/9, apart  from 2007/8, when Otley were relegated  for one season. Following the re-organisation into the Championship, Otley were relegated into NL1 two seasons ago.

Out of the 18 league matches played between both sides, Coventry lead 14-4, with Coventry having won the last 6. Otley last won on Coventry soil in 2003/5 at Coundon Road, completing the double over them. 

Director of Rugby is Gary Walker and Head Coach is Mark Luffman, and currently they are 13^th in the league on 22 points, with 3 wins and 10 losses, just 4 points behind Coventry, and last season they finished 13^th just above the relegation zone.  Their 3 wins have come over fellow strugglers Launceston, Redruth and Cinderford, although they have been involved in high scoring games with  the top 4 sides Barking, Cambridge , London Scottish and Macclesfield, often picking losing bonus points.  A strong running side, Coventry certainly cannot take them lightly.

Players to watch out for are Jervis Manupenu, a goalkicking No 10 or centre, winger James Twomey and flanker captain James Sutton. Will Nelson is another goalkicking No 10, James Keinhorst is a strong running fullback , Ollie Stedman a barnstorming No 8 and there is also a sprinkling of Leeds Academy players.  With both sides wanting to get back to playing rugby another high scoring match is expected.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press release