Week 1 results roundup with...
By Tom Little.
September 2 2012
8th September match previews.
Week 1st September Results
Cambridge 25 30 Cinderford
Coventry 13 37 Ealing Trailfnders
Fylde 39 22 Esher
Loughborough St 20 57 Blackheath
Macclesfield 19 43 Blaydon
Richmond 34 24 Wharfedale
Rosslyn Park 20 14 Sedgley Tigers(Park)
Tynedale 38 22 Old Albanians
The first week of league combat saw 7 bonus point wins in a generally high scoring round, with perhaps only one real surprise, that of Blaydon’s large away victory over Macclesfield, unusually with the home side’s front five struggling . Last season’s front runners again proved their pedigree especially with runners up Ealing TFS finding a front five from somewhere to go with their undoubted promise in the backs. With 10 debutants Coventry hope that that will soon play as a team not as individuals. Largest win goes to Blackheath who humbled newly promoted Loughborough Students suggesting that callow youth is not always a panacea to the top.
Despite a misfiring lineout Fylde once again proved that they will be one of the contenders with a good win over newly relegated Esher, who despite being able to keep most of last season’s squad are going to find that National league 1 has improved in quality and competition since last time they were in it.
The other two London teams Rosslyn Park and Richmond both had wins, with highly fancied Rosslyn Park having a hard struggle over a resilient Sedgley Tigers, whilst newcomers Richmond in beating Wharfedale proved that at this level you need a reliable goal kicker.
One of the other newcomers Old Albanians found their visit to Tynedale a journey too far giving the north-east a 100% record.
Coventry’s opponents next week, Cinderford had a an excellent away win over Cambridge helped by tries to the Foresters speedy wingers Nev Codlin and Lloyd Stapleton.
Overall an exciting set of results which seem to confirm that last season pace setters will continue to be so with most teams having improved their squads.
Week 2 Match Previews 8th September:
Blaydon v Tynedale
Cambridge v Loughborough St
Cinderford v Coventry
Ealing Tfs v Rosslyn Park
Esher v Blackheath
Old Albanians v Richmond
Sedgley Tigers v Macclesfield
Wharfedale v Fylde
Week 2 provide a series of intriguing local derbies throughout the country. The North West provides two with Macclesfield visiting near neighbours Sedgley Park or is it Tigers? with Macclesfield hoping to put behind then their disappointing home defeat against Blaydon and coming to terms with life without the Mulcrones, whilst Sedgley Tigers will be boosted by their narrow defeat away at Rosslyn Park. Even further north sees Wharfedale face highly fancied Fylde whose win last week over Esher has put down a marker for all other promotion candidates.
Not to be outdone the North East also provide a crunch fixture between unbeaten Blaydon and Tynedale. Somewhat unfalrly this might be considered a battle between the Newcastle Falcons Academy , although both sides have enough quality away from any dual registered players.
Coventry will be looking to put behind them the horrors of last week’s performance but not having even scored a point in their last two visits to the Forest of Dean will find Cinderford no easy target especially after their win away at Cambridge.
Crunch matches in London see title favourites Ealing Tfs and Rosslyn Park go head to head, with Ealing perhaps more confident after their comprehensive win over Coventry, whilst Rosslyn Park struggled to beat Sedgley Tigers. Esher no doubt disappointed with their loss at Fylde face another title contender in Blackheath who had the league’s largest win last week over Loughborough Students.
Two of the newly promoted sides Old Albanians and Richmond meet with Richmond more satisfied and probably favourites after last week’s win over Wharfedale. The final fixture sees the battle of the east as Cambridge having been denied at the death to draw with Cinderford face Loughborough Students smarting from their large defeat.
A more detailed Cinderford v Coventry match preview with Coventry’s side will be provided later on in the week.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
2nd September 2012
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