Week 11 results round up with week 12 - Nov 12th preview.

Week 11 results round up with week 12 - November 12th previews including Coventry Rugby v Birmingham Solihull preview

Week 11 results:

Birmingham Solihull      21       17   Macclesfield

Blackheath                      22       20   Tynedale

Cinderford                      58        22   Blaydon

Ealing Tfs                       32        21   Cambridge

Fylde                               45        14   Coventry

Jersey                              51        21   Barking

Rosslyn Park                   33        24   Stourbridge

Wharfedale                      28        29   Sedgley Park

With 1st against 3rd and 2nd against 4th it was always going to be an interesting weekend.  In the end it was the home form that had it, with Fylde putting up the best performance against Coventry.  The winners Ealing and Fylde consolidate themselves at the top of the pile, whilst Coventry slip to 6th.  Cinderford with a large home win over inconsistent Blaydon start moving away from the relegation zone, but more narrow losses for Wharfedale and Stourbridge still leave them adrift in the bottom three.

However, result of the weekend must be Birmingham Solihull winning for the first time after three losses to Macclesfield, who are now on a run of 5 losses. However, it does still keep BS in the bottom three but adds spice to next weeks encounter with Coventry.

Jersey continue their recent impressive form with another big win, this time at home over Barking who lowered Ealing’s colours last week.

With 7 out of 8 home wins this week, perhaps home form is the main and most important factor in this league.

There are still only 8 points separating Fylde in 2nd place and Jersey in 7th.

Week 12 fixtures 12^th November

Barking          v    Cinderford

Blaydon          v   Wharfedale

Cambridge      v   Jersey

Coventry         v   Birmingham Solihull

Fylde               v   Rosslyn Park

Macclesfield    v   Blackheath

Sedgley Park    v   Stourbridge

Tynedale          v    Ealing Tfs

Tie of the round must be improving Jersey away to 3rd placed Cambridge - one that is too hard to call.  Fylde, impressive winners over Coventry face another tricky home fixture with Rosslyn Park, with both playing similar styles of rugby.

Tynedale, improving at home, face the daunting task of welcoming leaders Ealing Tfs, whose recent success over Cambridge must make them favourites, both for this game and the league.

In the relegation zone all three teams face difficult away matches, with no quarter expected at BPA as Birmingham Solihull visit local rivals Coventry, with Coventry wanting to forget their Fylde performance and Birmingham Solihull no doubt still surprised at beating the odds in defeating Macclesfield.

Coventry  Rugby  v  Birmingham Solihull preview.

Saturday 12^th November sees the eagerly awaited clash of the two midland rivals as Coventry Rugby face Birmingham Solihull, here at the Butts Park Arena kick off 3pm.

Coventry still smarting from BS pipping them at the post in the relegation dog fight two seasons ago, but since then Birmingham Solihull have gone through their own financial meltdown and subsequent relegation. Not unlike Coventry, they lost the majority of their Championship players but still managed to keep a core of 10.

Under Director of Rugby Russell Earnshaw, they have found this season back in National League 1 a hard struggle in the relegation third from bottom place with only 4 wins over Cinderford, Wharfedale, Blaydon and Sunday’s excellent home win over Macclesfield. Their narrow win over Macclesfield sets up the scene as they will be confident after this win, although the red card issued to Russell Earnshaw may keep him out of the side.

Birmingham Solihull have the same number of try bonus points as Coventry but their backs have scored more tries, so Coventry cannot afford to be complacent or take their try scoring abilities too lightly, with Greg Evans and Alex White in the centre.

In fly half Dan Hawkes they have a proven and leading goalkicker who will punish Coventry if they offend. Former Coventry players on show include fullback Jon Lowdon, Ollie Winter and Charlie Sadler.  Other players to note are hooker and captain Jack Preece and prop Mark Hopley, abrasive lock Tom Quarrie and winger Jack Pons.

It all promises to be another exciting game next Saturday at the Butts Park Arena as Coventry renew old rivalries, with Coventry needing to learn from their defeat away at Fylde and determined to get their challenge back on track in chasing the teams above them in the league.

As usual kick off at the BPA is 3 pm.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office.