National league 1 match previews week 30 - 27th April
By Tom Little.
April 21 2013
including Coventry Rugby v Ealing match preview together with details of the final re-arranged fixtures.
Fixtures 27th April
Blackheath v Loughborough Students
Blaydon v Macclesfield
Cinderford v Cambridge
Ealing Tfs v Coventry
Esher v Fylde
Old Albanian v Tynedale
Sedgley Park v Rosslyn Park
Wharfedale v Richmond
Re-arranged fixtures 4th May
Cambridge v Wharfedale
Cinderford v Old Albanian
Macclesfield v Fylde
Sedgley Park v Loughborough Students
Re-arranged fixture 11th May
Wharfedale v Coventry ** if necessary
Saturday sees the regular final round fixtures for this season, however due to earlier postponements the season may run into a further two weeks. The only decision left to sort out is the final relegation place now narrowed down to between Wharfedale and Macclesfield. If by the 4th May Wharfedale are either safe or indeed relegated then the final proposed fixture on the 11th May between Wharfedale and Coventry may not need to be played-subject to NCA/RFU/Clubs approval.
The two key games on the 27th April are Wharfedale at home to Richmond and Macclesfield away at Blaydon. With both sides being cruelly denied wins after leading at half time last Saturday, with Macclesfield only having two games left compared to Wharfedale’s three, defeats in both Macclesfield games against Blaydon and at home to Fylde, would see Wharfedale only requiring one win to survive and relegate the Cheshire side.
Difficult to see Macclesfield winning away at Blaydon, and indeed matters do not get any easier the next week as they entertain high flying Fylde, who are now a rich vein of form and looking to overtake Old Albanian in 5th place.
Meanwhile Wharfedale have on the face of it an easier run in with a home fixture over Richmond, whose form has been patchy of late. Wharfedale put up such a strong showing at Tynedale they should be strong enough to beat Richmond. More pressure is mounting on Macclesfield as the following week Wharfedale travel to relegated Cambridge so a win should be in order.
The pick of the remaining fixtures are Champions Ealing Tfs v Coventry Rugby and Esher v Fylde.
Two mouth- watering challenges at Vallis Way as the best attacking side meets the best defensive one. With Coventry Rugby also finding some try scoring flair with 22 tries in 4 games, something has to give. Matters are made even more interesting with the personal duel between the league’s leading goal and points scorers Tom Wheatcroft and Cliffie Hodgson. A more detailed Coventry Rugby v Ealing Tfs match preview follows.
The final match requiring comment is that of Esher entertaining Fylde. Both sides have recently been showing their pedigree and Esher require the win to confirm their 2nd place, whilst Fylde still have an outside chance of overtaking both Old Albanian in 5th and Rosslyn Park in 4th. I suspect that the power and control of the home team should just edge it for one of the pre-season favourites next season.
The remaining fixtures involve sides playing for pride and their final league position, but as we have already seen this season surprises may still occur and with this most competitive of leagues no quarter will be given.
Coventry Rugby v Ealing tfs match preview
This Saturday 27th April sees the final league fixture for new Champions Ealing Tfs as they meet Coventry Rugby at their Vallis Way ground, kick off 3 pm.
By far the most consistent side in the league this season Ealing’s DOR MIke Cudmore and Head Coach Kieron Power has been their side win 24 games so far, with only 3 losses and 2 draws in the process they have scored 1028 points and no less than 142 tries. Two of their three losses came in November against Old Albanian at home and an away defeat at Blaydon. Their final loss came in March away to Fylde. With wingers such as Phil Chesters on 30 tries and Own Bruynseels on 15 Ealing play a non- stop fast offloading game with a liberal use of the cross-kick and ability to be dangerous from any area of the field.
Last season in their home game Coventry were able to deny them possession but this season in the first game of the season Coventry lost 13-37, their biggest defeat of the season. Since then Ealing have gone on to be deserved Champions, but Coventry’s forwards have improved since that first game and although their season has been inconsistent have recently found their try scoring touch with 22 tries in the last 4 games.
The game promises to be intriguing with Coventry’s best defensive record in the league facing the top offensive team. Since last season Ealing have improved their pack with Sam Shires coming in at No 8 with the former London Scottish locks Steve Pape and Ben Thomas, to go with an effective front row.
The speed and finishing power of the two wings Phil Chester and Owen Bruynseels need no introduction, coupled with Peter Hodgkinson at full back and former Jersey centre Andrew Henderson. In Tom Wheatcroft they have the league’s top points and kicking maestro closely followed by Coventry’s own Cliffie Hodgson.
Ealing will be looking to finish off their season in style in their last game at home in this league, whilst Coventry will be needing the win to ensure a top half finish and put down a marker for their future progress.
For those Coventry supporters making their own way to Ealing the full address is Ealing Trailfinders Sports Club, Vallis Way, Ealing, London W13 0DD, more detailed directions can be found by going onto the official Ealing Rugby website at www.ealingrugby.co.uk
On a personal note I will be missing the last two games of the season so this is my last preview and indeed results round up until hopefully I will return for the new season.
However I will be in a position to up- date squad news on signings and re-signings later in May together with a statistical review of the season and its comparison over the past three seasons.
May I take this opportunity to wish all Coventry supporters and indeed all rugby fans a pleasant off-season although I suspect withdrawal symptoms will soon set in.
Tom little
Coventry Rugby press office
21st April 2013.
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With regard to the Esher v Coventry then Richmond games last week,Esher changed their entire tight five for the Saturday game, and Richmond left out at least four if not more of their best players. The point I'm making is that what appears to be inconsistent form can be based on nothing more than squad rotation and it is very difficult to make predictions when you don't know how strong the actual teams are going to be.