Coventry Rugby v Cambridge RUFC match preview with team news

This coming Saturday 15th September sees Coventry Rugby meet Cambridge in Week 3 of the National League 1 season at home at the Butts Park Arena, kick off 3pm. Last week saw Cambridge get their first win of the season over Loughborough Students, after losing their first game also at home to Cinderford, whilst Coventry are still looking for their first win, seemingly from a winning position had to settle for two points away from home at Cinderford.

Cambridge, after their financial traumas of the past two seasons, seem to have consolidated late last season, where they finished in 12^th place, with 13 wins and 17 losses, just one place and 3 points ahead of Coventry, their position helped in no small measure by getting 14 try bonus points compared to Coventry’s 7, after the previous season’s 3^rd place.

With New Zealander Glen Remnant taking the helm as Head Coach assisted by Backs Coach Richard Horne, they have managed to keep the majority of last season’s squad that had remained. Despite losing lock Len Ashcroft-Leigh and scrum half Toby Berridge both to Plymouth Albion, Cambridge have been boosted by the return of prop Tom Fidler from Ealing Tfs. In addition Rob Conquest a lock comes in from Loughborough Students and Plymouth Albion, and a face known to Coventry supporters, winger Mick Gillick moves from Moseley, after a short loan spell at Coventry last season, with Mike scoring two tries in the win over Loughborough Students. Prop forward Chris Cutts has also signed from Rotherham Titans.

Cambridge, like Coventry have close links with Northampton Saints Academy and a number of players have been registered on a dual registered basis.

Key players to note includes the ubiquitous No 8 Steve Hipwell, who has caused Coventry plenty of problems in the past, as well as the key half back pair of No 9 Dan Hunter and fly half and goal kicker Elliott Bale. Experience comes in the shape of former Bees and Rotherham lock Gareth McComb, as well as South African hooker Jarrod Taylor.

Coventry and Cambridge have met 4 times over the past two seasons with Coventry yet to win, losing last season’s home match 27-29 and the away match 27-35. Therefore a history of close encounters with Coventry needing their first win over them to get their season up and running and therefore cannot risk taking Cambridge too lightly. Cambridge in losing narrowly at home to Cinderford by 25-30, with their pack playing well, it needed a last minute try ruled out to stop them getting the win. Last week saw Cambridge beat Loughborough Students by 25-18, with them scoring 5 tries, a final result which somewhat flattered the students. They employ a running style, and are very capable of running in tries from deep, as Coventry found to their cost at Cinderford.

The narrow loss by Coventry at Cinderford , although giving the Coventry supporters sight of the best Coventry pack performance of the season, the team still needs work to find the right combinations in the backs to cover for the continued absence through injury of key players such as Luke Myring and James Otutaha.

The Coventry and Cambridge sides to face each are expected to be shortly announced and will appear on the websites as soon as are known.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

12^th September 2012