National league 1 results round up round 29

week ending 20th April 2013.

Results 17^th April

Coventry            35              24          Esher

Results 20^th April

Cambridge         32               64          Ealing tfs

Cinderford          36               41         Loughborough Students

Coventry             61                 7         Sedgley Park

Fylde                    44               28        Blackheath

Macclesfield        22              28        Old Albanian

Richmond            17              36        Esher

Rosslyn Park        34              27        Blaydon

Tynedale              32              31        Wharfedale   

The mid-week fixture saw a fired up Coventry side effectively retain their status by a bonus point victory over 2^nd placed Esher. Despite conceding an early try to Charlie Walker Coventry played a controlled game in very blustery conditions keeping the ball in hand for long periods in probably their best performance of the season. They tackled well and deserved their first win this season over a top 6 side. A win which took them into 9^th place before Saturday’s results.

Coventry continued this controlled try scoring form in a 9 try demolition of Sedgley Park whose defeat confirmed their relegation. With James Otutaha punching holes in the midfield and a hat-trick of tries from the club’s new record points scorer Cliffie Hodgson, as well as dominant pack performance, this win puts Coventry up to 8^th place with two games to go.

The final relegation place has now been narrowed down to just two teams Wharfedale or Macclesfield, following their narrow losses on Saturday.

In the end it was the form of the opponents goal kicking that denied both teams victory. Despite holding a halftime lead Wharfedale were denied a win by a last minute penalty, although to be fair Tynedale did score 5 tries to 3. A not too dis-similar tale at Macclesfield as the home side had a narrow halftime lead only to be thwarted as the game went on with Richard Gregg’s 4 conversions compared to just one for Macclesfield. However a last minute converted try for Macclesfield did give them 2 losing bonus points, which keeps them one point ahead of Wharfedale, although Dale have a game in hand. Old Albanians for their part stay in 5^th place with an outside chance of catching Rosslyn Park in 4th-not a bad send off for player coach James Shanahan before his move to Plymouth Albion.

Leaders Ealing Tfs celebrated their last away game in National League 1 with a comprehensive 10 try win over relegated Cambridge, including a hat-trick by winger Owen  Bruynseels. However a stunning 2^nd half fight back proved that Ealing’s defence can be porous as Cambridge rattled in 4 tries of their own.

The chase over minor places saw a series of high scoring matches. At Cinderford despite their halftime lead, Loughborough Students came back strongly in the second half-which seems to be their mantra for this season. The home sides impressive No 8 George Evans scored a hat-trick but the Students just held on for the win.

Another thriller at Fylde saw the home side run in 6 tries including a hat-trick for winger Oli Brennand, as Blackheath slumped to their 5th loss in a row. However the try bonus for Blackheath was enough to guarantee their safety this season.

Esher soon recovered from their mauling mid-week at Coventry by seeing off their local rivals Richmond with 5 away tries. Esher set out their stall for next season with this win virtually guaranteeing themselves 2^nd place in the league. Their much better finishing and overall power play proved decisive and should prove an interesting challenge to newcomers Doncaster Knights, whose relegation to National League 1 has now been confirmed.

The final match saw unbeaten at home Rosslyn Park doing enough to stay in 4^th place and dent Blaydon’s chances of regaining 2^nd spot from Esher. Once again the goal-kicking of former Loughborough Students alumni Sam Katz proved decisive with his 5 penalties.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

21^st April 2013