National league 1 match previews week 1
By Tom Little.
September 2 2013
7th September 2013 including Hull Ionians v Coventry Rugby.
Fixtures Saturday 7th September 2013
Blaydon v Loughborough Students
Cinderford v Rosslyn Park
Doncaster v Blackheath
Henley Hawks v Tynedale
Hull Ionians v Coventry Rugby
Old Albanian v Fylde
Richmond v Esher
Wharfedale v Worthing Raiders
A warm welcome back for a new season of National League 1 previews, this first one is somewhat longer as normal to cover some of the changes in the various teams. This season sees no fewer than at least 9 changes of Director of Rugby or Head Coaches, what impact if any this will have on their sides will provide an interesting sideshow to the more important issues of promotion and relegation. Whatever happens I am sure this season will be just as exciting and hard fought as last.
Well, it is goodbye to promoted Ealing Tfs and relegated Macclesfield, Sedgley Park and Cambridge. A warm welcome to Doncaster Knights relegated from the Championship and a welcome back to promoted Henley Hawks with debuts for Hull Ionians and Worthing Raiders.
The first fixture sees Blaydon, who finished a very creditable 3rd last season possibly on their own admission better than expected, meeting a Loughborough Students side who after an horrendous start finished a comfortable mid-table position. As usual with Blaydon a very settled squad, again with close ties with Premiership side Newcastle Falcons both with players and coaches. A hard abrasive pack they should prove a handful for the Students who have lost a large number of last season’s stars to Premiership and Championship sides including leading points scorer Andy Hall. It will take the Students some time to get into their stride so Blaydon should have too much experience.
It is a battle of new coaches as Cinderford take on Rosslyn Park with Andy Deacon taking on the much travelled Alex Codling. Cinderford with their close connections with Gloucester Rugby as well as Hartpury College, also have a new backs coach in Brad Davies and have recruited heavily. Rosslyn Park appear to be some of the press’s pre-season favourite for promotion and have recruited two of the best players from Ealing namely Peter Hodgkinson and Sam Shires. Park with their extra experience and quality should be slight favourites.
Doncaster Knights relegated for the first time meet Blackheath, with the Knights being able to keep a hardcore of players from last season, helped no doubt by maintaining a full-time squad of 28 players and a budget to match. Yet history is not on their side to go straight back up. Blackheath themselves have been making waves under their new Head Coach Simon Legg, with 29 new players but more importantly have kept the basis of last season’s pack including the ubiquitous Dave Allen. A good test for both sides but Doncaster should have enough firepower both in their backs and forwards to win.
The next game sees newly promoted Henley Hawks meet Tynedale. Henley promoted as Champions of National League 2 South have a fast off-loading style and under Head Coach Nigel Dudding have recruited well and will continue on with a close relationship with Premiership side Wasps taking some loan players. Tynedale who struggled to get to 11th place last season usually make a slow start to this league, although they have been boosted by a number of loan players from Newcastle Falcons. Henley should have enough power and spirit to win this one.
Another newly promoted side, this time Hull Ionians entertain Coventry Rugby. Ionians with a new DOR Sean Carty have managed to keep most of last season’s squad, whilst Coventry Rugby have made some crucial recruitment decisions. A more detailed preview will follow at the end of this general preview.
Two of last season’s most enterprising sides Old Albanian and Fylde meet, both with new Head Coaches. Will the departure of player/coach James Shanahan to Plymouth Albion leave an insurmountable void? In appointing previous player Andy Holloway continuity seems the watchword and with very few players moving on, Andy should have a settled squad. However the loss of impressive centre Terry Adams for work reasons and Ollie Marchon for possible 7’s duties will be hard to replace, although experienced centre Ian Vass has been recruited .Brian Ashton has returned to lead Fylde with the continuation of their fast free flowing style and keeping the vast majority of his side. An exciting game is in prospect which could go either way.
It is a South-West London derby as Esher are the visitors to Richmond, back into this league for the first time last season Richmond achieved a creditable mid-table position. Another year of consolidation is expected for Richmond with very few players in or out, but they always have a combative edge to their game with an effective pack. Esher who challenged Champions Ealing all the way last season have had their share of pre-season angst with the sudden resignation of Head Coach Ollie Smith, who was soon picked up by Ealing, whilst new Head Coach Craig Chalmers coming in from Chinnor was not without its own controversy. Perhaps the loss of Harlequins duo Jack Clifford and Charlie Walker are more of a blow, but Esher should still have enough youth and experience to overcome Richmond.
The final game has somewhat cruelly already been described in some circles as a relegation decider. Despite Wharfedale flirting with relegation for some years now, they can never be written off especially at home, although they often take time to find their feet in this league. The use of Leeds Carnegie loan players might prove decisive. Their visitors Worthing Raiders, newly promoted following their shock defeat of Stourbridge in the playoff final, appear to have been somewhat quiet in the player movement market and whether they have enough fire power and experience to cope remains to be seen. Wharfedale should be able to do just enough to win this one.
Hull Ionians v Coventry Rugby match preview.
Saturday 7th September 2013 kick off 3pm sees the first visit of Coventry Rugby to Brantingham Park and indeed the first ever meeting between these two sides. Hull Ionians were formed in 1989 from the merger between Hull and East Riding, who are able to trace their history back to 1875, with Ionians who were formed in 1926. The merged clubs moved to their new site Brantingham Park in 1995. Ionians with their new Director of Rugby Sean Carty assisted by experienced Head Coach Gary Pearce have kept at least 27 players from last season’s successful squad. A sprinkling of new players including James Tyson flanker from Leeds Carnegie/Wharfedale and Ally Thompson-hooker from Doncaster Knights adds some more experience. Experienced lock forward Joe Makin is captain and in Adam Thomas they have a very promising scrum half.
Hull Ionians cannot be under-estimated with its mainly local settled squad and having not lost a home game for over a year. Last season they managed to beat pre-season favourites Stourbridge, a win that proved crucial and gave them the title and automatic promotion. Playing a fast off- loading game with the added steel from defensive prowess picked up from their Rugby League neighbours, they must relish the visit of Coventry Rugby for the first time.
Coventry Rugby under new Head Coach Scott Morgan have retained 20 players from last season including key players such as No 8 Jacques Le Roux, fullback Cliffie Hodgson and scrum half Lewis Barker. They have gone on to recruit some additional key players to meet any shortcomings of last season. Speed on the wings is found with Ian Clark and Mark Kohler, whilst experience and a cutting edge is provided by Matt Jones at fly half and centres Will Hurrell and Barry Davies.
The already impressive back row has been further strengthened with the recent signing of Crosskeys flanker No 7 Rob Nash, and James Tyas from the Cornish Pirates. The problem areas in the front row has seen hooker Chris Locke coming in from the Bedford Blues whilst experienced prop forwards Andy Brown and Tim Ryan, as well as Lithuanian International Ignas Darkintis brings even more competition for places.
It is imperative that Coventry Rugby make a positive start to the season and they will have been buoyed by their performance away last Saturday at Championship side Jersey.
For those fans travelling to Humberside the full address of the ground is Brantingham Park, Brantingham Road, Brough, East Yorkshire, HU15 1HX. Detailed directions can be obtained from the Hull Ionians official website www.pitchero.com/clubs/hullionians/ .
The Coventry Rugby team selected for this game will appear on the website later on in the week when available.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
2nd September 2013.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.
The ground is modern with a good clubhouse and a big sky around you as it's all so flat with glasshouses past the far side of the extensive ground.
The train has cost me £34 return I believe the same train tickets are now costing £49 wonderful.
Hoping to see a good Cov performance and a win. I will willingly take a 3-0 win right now, that means we score just one penalty
The boys need to take it to them and keep it tight, but at the same time you dont win by playing in a shell.
Expansive, intelligent use of the ball.... and don't give it away !