Results final week National League 1 - 4th may 2013.
By Tom Little.
May 6 2013
Results 4th May
Cambridge 12 28 Wharfedale
Cinderford Old Albanian cancelled
Macclesfield 29 28 Fylde
Sedgley Park 12 106 Loughborough Students
At last the season finally comes to an end, assuming that the Wharfedale/Coventry fixture will not now have to go ahead as the final relegation place has been taken by Macclesfield. In the end it was also decided that the Cinderford/Old Albanian game would not go ahead as it was a dead rubber, a decision that keeps Coventry Rugby in 9th place. One has to question the reasoning of letting the other dead rubber-relegated and a severely weakened Sedgley Park play Loughborough Students whose score 0f 106 points not only distorts the integrity of this league but also its effect on the season’s statistics. Andy Hall‘s 36 points takes him above Cliffie Hodgson as the league’s highest points scorer, as the Students ran in 16 tries. Craig Holland signed off before his move to Cornish Pirates with a try.
Back to the real story despite a surprise home win by Macclesfield over Fylde it was still not enough to save them as Wharfedale got the try bonus win they required at Cambridge.
A brief analysis of the final league table saw the table effectively split into three leagues. The bottom 4 provided the three relegation spots, whilst the next 6 teams provided the crowded mid-table. The top 6 were a class ahead of the chasing pack and the big test for next season will be if any other team are able to break into this cabal. The league says goodbye to the best funded one in Ealing who is supplemented by an even greater funded one in Doncaster Knights, whose full time status will provide a real test for any other aspirants.
Esher would be the obvious challengers closely followed by Rosslyn Park under new DOR Alex Codling. Blaydon will still remain competitive due to their geographical position and close links with Newcastle Falcons, although already some of their key players are on the move. Old Albanian will have to put up with life without James Shanahan, will they keep enough of their players and links with the Saracens to not suffer from 2nd season blues ? Fylde have consolidated after their first season but do they have the resources to mount a consistent challenge?
It is a real test for teams below this top 6 to find the consistency and overall squad to challenge the perceived order of things. Closer to the start of the new season when most comings and goings are known for the teams a detailed review of all the team’s chances will be published.
Two promotions to National League 1 were also confirmed on Saturday with Henley and Hull Ionians winning their respective leagues. Strangely the two early season favourites Stourbridge and Worthing Raiders both slipped up at the last, and now they play each other possibly at Stourbridge to find the third promotion spot.
A more detailed statistical analysis of Coventry Rugby’s season 2012/13 in National League 1 will be published as soon as available.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
5th May 2013
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Lasts weeks win by Henley giving them promotion was before a crowd of 3270
tom little
Hull Ionians nice ground am told
Henley
Worthing, plus relegated Doncaster
As we have known from the past & as Stourbridge do now as well, not over until the last kick. They must feel really sick though.
tom little