Week 15 results round up with week 16 - 22nd December...

match previews.

Week 15 - 15^th December results with results round up.

Blackheath                 14          17       Fylde

Blaydon                      28           22       Rosslyn Park

Ealing Tfs                    47           11       Cambridge

Esher                           19           23       Richmond

Loughborough St      28            25      Cinderford

Old Albanian              32             6      Macclesfield

Sedgley Park               19           17     Coventry

Wharfedale                 15           34     Tynedale

The season has reached half way with this Saturday bringing two hiccups from two of the top four sides, yet leaders Ealing Tfs go serenely on increasing their lead at the top now to  4 points. Esher lost their unbeaten home record whilst team of the season Blaydon beat previously 2^nd placed Rosslyn Park, swopping places with them.

A salutary lesson to the club’s administrators once again occurred as it appears that Cambridge may be deducted 5 points for fielding an ineligible player, this follows on from the same deduction for Macclesfield last week. The importance of all clubs having a robust system of checks and balances over registrations especially concerning loan players cannot be stressed enough.

Leaders Ealing Tfs achieved the largest win of Saturday with a 7 try demolition of Cambridge, possibly still reeling from the deduction news. In the end the power and pace of the Ealing backs led by Phil  Chesters proved decisive .Depending on any appeal this will leave Cambridge in bottom place.

2nd placed Rosslyn Park found the long trip to Blaydon a step too far, as they were 21-5 down by halftime. A late flurry of tries made the score respectable but the surprise side of the season so far deserved their victory.

In possibly the surprise of the round before the best crowd of the afternoon saw Esher lose their unbeaten home record to London neighbours Richmond, who put their somewhat erratic form behind them as they held on to a deserved 1^st half lead.

At the bottom of the league Macclesfield found they had no answer to the wide game of Old Albanian in the 2^nd half as the home side ran in a further 3 unanswered tries, leaving them now 17 points from safety.

There was better news for third from bottom Sedgley Park, who despite giving away 2 penalty tries took advantage as Coventry had three disallowed tries with a late penalty goal that gave the home side their first victory in 9 games. A fractious game Coventry not for the first time this season were unable to capitalise on a half time lead. This loss drops Coventry into 13^th place but still 10 points ahead of Sedgley Park

Tynedale after their heroics against Esher last week took on the victors of Rosslyn Park and had achieved the try bonus point by half time with some inspired backs running, helped by the goal kicking of Matty Outson. A belated 2^nd half fight back was not enough for Wharfedale who are now only one point ahead of their rivals.

The final two games saw more close finishes just separated by a penalty goal. In only their 2^nd away win of the season Fylde managed to survive a battering from the home side as they defended their three point lead for most of the 2^nd half. In the end the pace and invention of the Fylde backs proved decisive.

In a topsy turvey game the students came from behind 17 nil at half time to beat their visitors from Cinderford. This season has already seen how Loughborough have the pace to scare other teams and so it was in the 2^nd half as they got their game together as they won their 5th game out of the last six.

WEEK 16 FIXTURES 22^ND DECEMBER WITH MATCH PREVIEWS

Blackheath                  v         Esher

Coventry                      v         Cinderford

Fylde                             v         Wharfedale

Loughborough St        v        Cambridge

Macclesfield                v        Sedgley Park

Richmond                     v       Old Albanian

Rosslyn Park                 v       Ealing Tfs  

Tynedale                       v        Blaydon

The key game of Round 16 must be leaders Ealing at Rosslyn Park. Ealing are now on a run of 4 consecutive wins and despite a couple of losses early in November have re-discovered their try scoring ability. Rosslyn Park after a run of 9 wins have lost their last two away games but are still unbeaten at home, so another close contest is expected  as they want to revenge their away loss to Ealing by 29-22.

The remaining top four sides Esher and Blaydon both face local derbies. Esher visit Blackheath with Club still smarting from their surprise loss to Fylde, whilst Esher will be wanting to make up for losing their home record last Saturday to Richmond, another one too close to call which could turn into a forward battle.

The north-east derby sees Blaydon in 2nd place visit Tynedale. A game that the teams current league position is negated by local rivalry, Both sides are on form after last week but if the weather holds out a there could be a record score for such a fixture.

At the other end of the league sees Macclesfield at home to Sedgley Park. A crucial game for both sides, as another defeat for Macclesfield would leave them with a mountain to climb as they are already 17 points from safety. Likewise after Sedgley Park beating Coventry they are now in sight of 13^th place only 10 points behind, another defeat would leave the Park with surely too much to do.

Cambridge with their news of a 5 point deduction expecting to come through will leave them in bottom place 21 points from safety. Surely too much to make up and they can’t fancy their visit to Loughborough Students, who have settled into this league and are proving such a difficult side to beat.

Old Albanian now up to 5^th place face a difficult visit to Richmond who lowered Esher’s home colours last week. Although the home side should be slight favourites if OA can get their wide game going then they may cause a surprise.

Out of sorts Coventry back at home need to get back onto winning ways after slumping to 13th place having lost their last three games, despite stronger 1^st half performances. Cinderford will still be shocked from losing a 17 point lead to Loughborough Students.

The final game sees Fylde at home to Wharfedale. Both sides have been equally inconsistent recently but Fylde should have the speed in their backs to allow home advantage to count.

A more detailed Coventry Rugby v Cinderford  match preview will shortly be available.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

18^th December 2012