National league 1 weeek 7 Saturday 19th October 2013...
By Tom Little.
October 15 2013
match previews including Wharfedale v Coventry Rugby.
Fixtures Week 7 19th October
Blackheath v Rosslyn Park
Blaydon v Cinderford
Doncaster Knights v Loughborough Students
Fylde v Tynedale
Henley Hawks v Richmond
Old Albanian v Hull Ionians
Wharfedale v Coventry Rugby
Worthing Raiders v Esher
This week sees two key games at both ends of the table, with unbeaten Doncaster Knights at home to 2nd placed Loughborough Students whilst bottom side Hull Ionian, still without a win travel to Old Albanian.
The top of the table clash sees leaders Doncaster Knights entertain Loughborough Students. Not only are Doncaster unbeaten but still the only side to have achieved maximum bonus points. With both sides leading the try scoring league, it should be a high scoring encounter. With both sides capable of clinical finishing and fitness never a problem for the Students the end result may come down to the more experienced home pack. A win for Loughborough would open up the league to the chasing pack.
Third placed Coventry Rugby travel to the Dales to face Wharfedale. The home side have already performed better than most commentators thought but come to this game after a large away defeat by Rosslyn Park. Coventry Rugby need the win to maintain pressure on the leaders. A more detailed preview will appear at the end of this general preview.
Fourth placed Rosslyn Park make the short journey to mid table London rivals Blackheath. With Park finally finding their try scoring prowess, their pack should prove too strong for a Blackheath side well beaten by Esher last Saturday.
Worthing Raiders who are third in the try scoring league entertain an efficient Esher side who struggled at times last week to beat Blackheath. Although Raiders cannot be doubted as to their attacking game until they can sort out their defence, most teams in this league stand a good chance to beat them. Worthing really need to win this sort of game at home whilst Blackheath need the win to consolidate their position in the top half of the league.
Fylde despite their loss away to Loughborough Students in dreadful conditions must fancy their chances at home against Tynedale. Dale will be buoyed by their fight back at home over Worthing giving them an important bonus point win. However, Tynedale don’t always travel well, the fast off loading style of the home side should prove decisive, a win for Fylde will move them closer to the top 5 whilst Tynedale need the win to move away from the wrong end of the table.
It is a mid-table clash as Henley Hawks have Richmond as their visitors. Still unbeaten at home Henley have settled in well to this new league so should be slight favourites at home to beat a Richmond side who have yet to reach their potential.
Looking for their third consecutive win is Blaydon as they meet an out of sorts Cinderford. With the home side at last finding some of last season’s form Blaydon have enough fire power in their pack to provide sufficient ball for their backs. Cinderford cannot be written off as they came from behind to force a draw with Henley but Blaydon should be strong enough to win this one.
The final game sees two of the bottom three meet each other as Old Albanian have Hull Ionians as their visitors. Hull Ionians still without a win face an Old Albanian who should be strong enough in all departments to inflict a seventh straight loss for the league newcomers.
Wharfedale v Coventry Rugby match preview.
This Saturday 19th October kick off 3.00 pm sees Coventry Rugby visit the picturesque Yorkshire Dales to meet Wharfedale at their Threshfield ground. Founded in 1923 “the Greens” as they are known have been continuously in this league or its earlier equivalent for 18 seasons. However, they did do their best to get relegated last season and just survived ending up in 13th spot , with their final game against Coventry Rugby not having to be played.
With former head Coach Tom McGee taking on a coaching role at Leeds Carnegie, Jon Feeley has stepped back into the hot seat, with additional assistance from Tom McGee as well as Alex Howarth. Close contacts are being maintained with Leeds Carnegie Academy and a number of their players are currently attached to Wharfedale on a dual registered loan basis.
Last season Coventry Rugby won the home fixture 27-11 but inclement weather postponed the return leg before it was finally cancelled as being a dead rubber.
It has to be said that Dale were one of the pre-season favourites for relegation after last season’s narrow escape and a poor pre-season. However, to confound the pundits they have made a steady start to the season with 3 wins and 3 losses and are currently in 9th place on 14 points, compared to Coventry Rugby’s 3rd with 24 points. Their only home loss was a narrow one to Loughborough Students-no shame in that. However they did beat Worthing at home and 2 weeks ago a hard fought victory over one of the pre- season favourites Esher. They also picked up a rare away win at northern rivals Tynedale but lost at Fylde and last Saturday lost by 51-20 to Rosslyn Park.
Wharfedale although picking up points have found it difficult to score tries currently having the 2nd lowest totals in the league.
Most key players have been retained from last season although hooker Steve Graham has commenced his coaching career at Ilkley. Captain Chris Steel as lock remains as well as Matt Stockdale as hooker and Joe Altham as prop. An impressive back row has Aaron Myers as No 8 and Dan Solomi, although Aaron does need to refrain from getting yellow cards which helped cost them the game against Rosslyn Park. Backs are represented by centres Tom Davidson and Joe Donkin and Leeds player Christian Georgiou. Phil Woodhead either as scrum half of fullback is experienced and fast.
New recruits include a favourite son of Wharfedale, back rower Rob Baldwin, who has returned from Leeds Carnegie together with fly half and goal kicker Tom Barrett from Doncaster Knights, who is currently leading as the league’s top kicker. Prop forward Tom Margetson has come in from Otley, together with 4 Leeds Academy players, hooker Luke Cole, prop Jake Armstrong, Jake Barnard in the back row and scrum half Matt Dudman.
A game that Wharfedale need to win to maintain their progress this season, whilst Coventry Rugby need to put in a better away performance to keep their season on track.
A game that usually pans out as a close battle between two well matched packs. There can be no hint of complacency for Coventry Rugby as they do find it difficult to win up here.
Coventry Rugby and its players would like to thank all those supporters who have travelled far and wide already this season to support them.
For those fans wishing to travel the full address is Wharfedale RUFC, Wharfedale Avenue,Threshfield, Skipton, N Yorks BD23 5BS. More detailed instructions can be found on the official Wharfedale website www.wharfedalerufc.co.uk
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
14th October 2013.
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