National league 1 previews week 4 Saturday 28th...
By Tom Little.
September 23 2013
including Coventry Rugby v Henley Hawks.
Fixtures Week 4/ Round 4 28th September 2013
Cinderford v Doncaster Knights
Coventry v Henley Hawks
Esher v Old Albanian
Fylde v Worthing Raiders
Hull Ionians v Richmond
Loughborough St, v Blackheath
Rosslyn Park v Blaydon
Tynedale v Wharfedale
Well three games played and only one surprise in the top six with Loughborough Students making the running, with 4 of the pre-season favourites still unbeaten, plus a good start from Fylde matching their early form in this league 2 seasons ago. The other end of the table sees still 4 teams yet to win including league newcomers Worthing Raiders and Hull Ionians.
This week sees for the first time all 8 fixtures capable of having an impact on both top and bottom of the table.
New League leaders Doncaster Knights again face a bottom half side in Cinderford, Doncaster already with maximum bonus points are scoring plenty of tries with their effective and pacey backs. A much better performance by Cinderford gave them their first win on Saturday and their pack efforts gave their own excellent backs space and time to score 4 tries. A much closer game is expected for Doncaster with them slight favourites to get the win in the Forest.
Can Loughborough Students continue their 100% form as they entertain Blackheath? Despite a heavy loss at Doncaster, Blackheath subsequently beat Worthing and if a last minute conversion had gone over would have forced a draw with high flying Fylde. An exciting and entertaining match is expected from these two high scoring sides with the Students slight home favourites.
Coventry Rugby, back on their own turf before what should be the largest crowd of the season, face one of their old rivals in Henley Hawks. Henley have made a steady start in their National League 1 return with a win and a draw and a narrow loss to Esher. A more detailed match preview of Coventry Rugby v Henley Hawks follows at the end of this general preview.
Esher, another side with 3 straight wins face an Old Albanian side pleased with their first win of the season against Tynedale. Yet Esher after excellent away wins at Richmond and Blaydon and a home victory over Henley must fancy they have the firepower, especially in their pack to see off the St.Albans side. However, the Old Albanian pack seems to have been strengthened and an even contest is expected with the home side slight favourites.
Of the top 5 sides Fylde are expected to have the easier fixture as they meet newcomers Worthing Raiders. Fylde still unbeaten seem to have found a steely edge amongst their experienced forwards which should ensure an easy victory over the league newcomers who are yet to win a game. Worthing’s own excellent backs need to see enough ball to give them a chance.
The final unbeaten side Rosslyn Park face a Blaydon side still reeling from losing 3 games in a row. Yet Park have found it difficult to score enough tries being bottom of the try scoring league, but equally have the meanest defence in the league. A full bloodied encounter is expected with the end result possibly going down to the fewer penalties conceded.
Two of the bottom 4 sides meet on Humberside, as Hull Ionians meet Richmond. With both sides looking for their first win of the campaign Hull Ionians can possibly take comfort in that they had the most difficult of starts. However, it is a steep learning curve if you are new to this league and although your forwards may be competitive you also need the clinical cutting edge. Richmond on the other hand have run Esher, Rosslyn Park and Coventry very close and they should have the edge in their competitive pack to ensure a close victory.
The final game sees the battle of the North-East and North-West Dales as Tynedale have Wharfedale as their visitors. Both teams have won one game and scored the same number of tries. With both sides finding it hard to win on the road Tynedale must be slight favourites, a win for either will leave the loser looking nervously over their shoulder.
Coventry Rugby v Henley Hawks match preview.
This Saturday 28th September sees Coventry Rugby meet one of their old rugby rivals in Henley Hawks, here at the Butts Park Arena, kick off 3 pm. Another record crowd for the season is expected as Coventry Rugby are still unbeaten for the season with 3 wins out of 3 and are 3rd in the table.
Henley Hawks were founded in 1930 and reformed after the war in 1954 and became known as Henley RFC in 1963, with them recently adding the sobriquet Hawks. They were promoted this season to National league 1 as Champions of National League 2 South. Since the leagues were founded Coventry Rugby and Henley Hawks have met each other 10 times going back to season 1999/2000 in the old Division 2 days. Currently Coventry have won 7 lost 2 and one drawn 26 all in 2003/4.The only time Henley have won on Coventry soil was in 2003/4 by 12-29.
Under Director of Rugby Mike Poulson and Head Coach Nigel Dudding Henley have made a steady start to their campaign with a large home win over Tynedale, a 10 point loss away to Esher after leading at half-time and last week a creditable draw with fancied Rosslyn Park. They are currently in 8th place on 7 points and have scored 10 tries compared to Coventry’s 14.
Their last 2 games have taken their toll with injuries, with influential former Wasps Academy fly-half James Comben, former Coventry prop forward Dai Maddocks and winger Xavier Andre all missing the Rosslyn Park game. Another prop Dave Manning was also injured against Park.
It is expected that at least some of these players will be back for the Coventry game. Henley have maintained a close relationship with Premiership side London Wasps with a number of players dual registered and playing for them.
Henley Hawks have recruited well for the new season with Liam O’Neill coming in from Wasps Academy as full-back, fast winger Alan Awcock from Newport and an impressive No 8 Liam Dwyer. Captain and centre/fullback Martin Nutt leads a fast and effective back line which also includes Luke Allen, Neil Baggett, Tom Allen centre/fly-half and centre goal-kicker Danny Wells.
The pack is experienced enough with newcomer Matt Reeves in the back row coupled with Liam Dwyer. Locks Josh McNally and Dave Clements add some grunt.
Henley are a side that likes to play a fast offloading game and of the three newcomers to the league this season they appear to have settled the best being competitive in all their games.
A game that Coventry Rugby cannot afford to be too complacent about as they received a salutary shock in their performance to scraping a victory over Richmond.
A fast open and exciting contest is expected here at the Butts Park Arena with two teams capable of running in tries from all over the pitch.
Don’t forget make sure you get early to the Butts Park as a large crowd is expected as Coventry Rugby look to maintain their momentum as they go for their 4th win in a row.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
23rd September 2013.
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