Week 26 results round up with week 27 previews 31st March...

including Coventry Rugby v Blackheath match preview.

Birmingham Solihull         25          26   Coventry

Blackheath                      41         27   Macclesfield

Cinderford                       39         18   Barking       R

Ealing Tfs                        56         15   Tynedale

Jersey                             51         14   Cambridge

Rosslyn Park                    24         44    Fylde

Stourbridge                      33         29   Sedgley Park

Wharfedale                      34          3    Blaydon

No surprises at the top of the league with all the top three, Jersey, Ealing and Fylde, having large wins. On current form it looks as though the promotion place won’t be known until the last Saturday of the season.

At the other end of the table the first casualty is known, with the relegation of Barking following their loss to Cinderford. Stourbridge’s win over Sedgley Park, keeps their survival prospects open for another week. Birmingham Solihull, despite losing to Coventry gain a vital losing bonus point, which again keeps them alive for another week, but with their difficult run in still keeps them favourite for relegation.

Coventry’s win over Birmingham Solihull puts them up to 9^th just 4 points behind 7^th placed Cinderford.

Week 27 fixtures previews 31^st March 2012

Barking                         v               Wharfedale

Blaydon                        v               Stourbridge

Cambridge                    v               Cinderford

Coventry                       v               Blackheath

Fylde                            v              Birmingham Solihull

Macclesfield                   v              Ealing Tfs

Sedgley Park                 v              Rosslyn Park

Tynedale                      v              Jersey

The top of the league sees leaders Jersey visit the misfiring Tynedale, whilst Fylde entertain relegation favourites Birmingham Solihull. It is difficult to see both Jersey and Fylde slipping up; a defeat for Birmingham Solihull would see them relegated.

Likewise a defeat for Stourbridge away at Blaydon would see them relegated, no matter what happens elsewhere.

If Coventry beat 5^th place Blackheath, then they could go up to 7^th from their current 9^th, and still with a game in hand.

A Saturday of fixtures that could finalise the last two relegation places, but would still leave wide open the race for the one team for promotion.

Coventry Rugby v Blackheath match preview.

This Saturday 31^st March Coventry Rugby entertains Blackheath here at the Butts Park Arena, kick off 3pm. With both sides finding some form, Coventry unbeaten in 4 games, and Blackheath on a run of 6 straight  winning bonus point wins, including last Saturday’s win at home to Macclesfield, which has seen them up to 5^th place on 81 points, the same points as 4^th placed Rosslyn Park.

Currently they have won 15 games, lost 9 and drawn one, taking them 19 points ahead of Coventry in 9^th place, who have a game in hand. Yet Blackheath have yet to beat any of the top 4 sides, although they have managed to get a losing bonus point from all 4 in close games, plus a draw at home to Ealing.

Earlier in the season Coventry lost an exciting encounter 34-25, not helped by the late withdrawals of Alex Nash and Sam Herrington. In the end the powerful No 7 Dave Allen proved the difference with two tries, since then he is the league’s third highest try scorer on 20.

A well balanced side Blackheath have key forwards in Captain Tom Bason at lock, the ubiquitous Dave Allen and No 8 James Catt.

Amongst the backs are leading goalkicker Adam Armstrong on 134 points, and another leading try scorer James Stephenson on 15. Other backs to note are scrum half Jack Walsh, and brothers Sam and Richard Windsor at No 10 and centre.

Last season Coventry in renewing their long standing ties with Blackheath won the home fixture by 17-16, before a record BPA National League 1 crowd of 1541, so another tense and exciting duel is expected as Coventry try and stop Blackheath from achieving the double.

The Coventry team were buoyed by the exceptional number of Coventry fans who made the short trip away to Birmingham Solihull, numbers estimated at over 500, and another record attendance is expected this Saturday as Coventry face another form team, Blackheath, as Coventry go for their 5^th unbeaten game in a row, to put pressure on the team in 7^th place.

Once again Saturday 31^st March at the Butts Park Arena is the place to be with kick off  at 3pm.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office