Week 27 national league 1 previews Saturday 28th March 2015
By Tom Little
March 24 2015
...including Ealing Trailfinders v Coventry Rugby.
Fixtures Saturday 28th March 2015.
Cinderford v Fylde
Darlington Mowden Park v Rosslyn Park
Ealing Trailfinders v Coventry Rugby
Esher v Old Albanian
Hartpury College v Loughborough Students
Macclesfield v Blaydon
Richmond v Wharfedale
Tynedale v Blackheath
Not too difficult to pick out the key games on what could be the defining Saturday of the season, as clear leaders Ealing Trailfinders face Coventry Rugby whilst Rosslyn Park face a similar difficult task at Darlington Mowden Park.
Coventry Rugby, only one of the two sides to beat Ealing Trailfinders this season visit Vallis Way looking to complete a winning double over what is expected to be the Champions elect. Trailfinders still with a 100% record at home will fancy their chances as a win would virtually confirm their promotion. A full preview of this game will follow.
A win for Coventry Rugby will do Rosslyn Park a favour, but they have their own tricky fixture at Darlington Mowden Park. Mowden Park now in the top half of the league in their inaugural season have settled in well and will be looking to put down a marker for their ambitions next season. Should be a close call but Rosslyn Park looking for their 11th consecutive win should just edge it.
Cinderford have just been thrown a lifeline with the news that their closest rivals for relegation Old Albanian have been deducted 5 points, thus reducing their lead over Cinderford to just 5 points. The Foresters now face Fylde , who are clear in 5th spot. Another game that could go either way but surely another loss for Cinderford would seal their fate.
Old Albanian, following their 5 point deduction for fielding 2 unregistered players, travel to an Esher side who have recently been very inconsistent. Another close game is expected but the greater need for Old Albanian might just sneak it.
The points deduction for Old Albanian,has probably come too late for Tynedale who have 4th placed Blackheath as their visitors. How much the heavy loss at Coventry took out of Dale remains to be seen, but they should be more competitive at home, but Blackheath have enough quality to shade this.
Safe in mid-table Richmond, entertain Wharfedale, who are not always the best of travellers. However it should be a relaxed afternoon for both teams as they are safe, with home advantage just shading it.
The Higher Education battle sees the new pretenders Hartpury College have Loughborough Students as their visitors. Hartpury, despite their recent loss to Rosslyn Park are in a rich vein of form and should be too powerful for the Students, as a win is required to maintain their 6th spot.
The final game sees bottom club Macclesfield, who even in defeat are capable of scoring tries, have Blaydon as their visitors. Blaydon, by their own standards have somewhat struggled this season being back in 9th place, however a win for them could move them up to 7th place. It could be a lot closer game than first expected.
EALING TRAILFINDERS V COVENTRY RUGBY MATCH PREVIEW SATURDAY 28TH MARCH 2015
Saturday 28th March, with kick off at 3 pm sees third placed Coventry Rugby visit league leaders Ealing Trailfinders, at their Vallis Way ground in West London. Coventry Rugby being one of only two sides to beat Ealing this season, triumphing 32-26 at the Butts Park Arena in November. Coventry then continued on to an unbeaten run of 18 games putting them in third place until a recent run of three losses has left them 19 points behind Ealing.
Ealing were founded in 1869 and moved into their current Trailfinders Sports Ground in 1999 adding Trailfinders to their nomenclature to more represent their sponsor. A steady rise through the leagues saw them reach the Championship in 2013/14, however a poor start to that season saw them playing catch up although they were only relegated by one point at the last game of the season.
Ealing’s avowed aim was to get straight back to the Championship and to assist in this aim have installed a 3G pitch at the start of the season, and more importantly have largely kept a full-time squad where possible. The perceived weaknesses of last season in the pack have been corrected, with a large recruitment either from the Welsh Regions, Championship experience or higher. Having kept a large number of last season’s backs they have also strengthened that area of the team.
An exciting offloading side when they were last in this league, they have taken a more pragmatic approach this season, being quite capable of using their pack to wear down opponents and then spreading the ball wide .
Under new Director of Coaching/ Rugby fly-half Ben Ward, assisted by forwards coach Kieron Power, Ealing have powered onto to 24 wins, with just two losses away to Coventry Rugby as already mentioned and somewhat surprisingly to Cinderford 27-22. They have the highest number of points scored and largest points difference, as well as highest number of bonus points gained, thus helping them to a 9 point lead over their closest challengers Rosslyn Park.
Not only have Ealing recruited well for the start of the season but have continued with later signings before the transfer deadline, seemingly preparing them for life in the Championship. Pre-season recruits saw full-back Luke Daniels arrive from Esher, and despite an early season injury is back creating havoc already with 10 tries. A former Welsh International player Will Harries has also arrived, a Welsh 7’s player whose mazy running from full-back has caused mayhem. Andy Reay as centre and player coach has arrived from London Scottish and Cardiff Blues scrum-half Alex Walker has been a most impressive and consistent performer.
To match these key back recruits Ealing have retained iconic try machine winger Phil Chesters already on 32 tries for the season, and his clash with Dan Rundle or Will Hurrell promises to be an exciting affair. With player coach Ben Ward pulling the strings at half-back with his trade mark chip for the winger, Coventry Rugby will be have to be at their defensive best. In centres Tom Wheatcroft and Sam Wardingly and winger Chris Kinlock, Ealing have proven finishers and line breakers.
The largest recruitment has been amongst the forwards with London Scottish providing prop James Kilbane , props Nathan Buck from Newport Gwent Dragons, Alex Penny from Henley, Kevin Davis from London Welsh, Will Davis from Cinderford and England U 20 prop Tom Smallbone, with Andrei Radoi and Karl Gibson retained as hookers as well as recent new recruit Matt Thompson former Falcons and Darlington MP player, complete a formidable front row.
West Wales has been raided for Scarlets locks brothers Carwyn and Llewelyn Jones, other locks include Gary Johnson from Nottingham and recently signed David Lyons from London Irish as well as Paul Spivey from London Scottish.
A very impressive back row has been assembled with No 8 Arthur Ellis from the Ospreys already on 23 tries, with flankers Redford Pennycock from Bristol, Tom Brown from Jersey and Danny Kenny from Doncaster all providing some key experience. Flankers retained from last season, include Anders Nilsson and Alex Bradley.
Ealing Trailfinders have assembled a very impressive side, but as both Coventry Rugby and Cinderford have shown they are beatable. Coventry will be looking to be the first side to complete a winning double over them and also the first side to lower their colours on their 3G pitch, a win which confirm at least 3rd place for Coventry Rugby.
If there is long term query over support in Ealing it is their disappointing crowds despite current success and initiatives, with Ealing’s average this season more than a 1000 per game less than say Coventry. Coventry Rugby will be hoping to take full advantage of this with their impressive away support in what is expected to be an exciting and influential game for both sides. The full postal address for Ealing RFC is Castle Bar, Vallis Way, West Ealing, London W13 ODD, or regular trains from Paddington to Castle Bar Park changing at Ealing Broadway.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
23rd March 2015.
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