Week 27 national league 1 results round up...
By Tom Little
March 30 2015
...Saturday 28th March 2015 including Ealing Trailfinders v Coventry Rugby.
Results Week 27 28th March 2015
Cinderford 37 14 Fylde
Darlington Mowden Park 12 24 Rosslyn Park
Ealing Trailfinders 24 18 Coventry Rugby
Esher 30 30 Old Albanian
Hartpury College 20 19 Loughborough Students
Macclesfield 7 10 Blaydon
Richmond 34 19 Wharfedale
Tynedale 40 19 Blackheath
The game of the day lived up to expectations as leaders Ealing Trailfinders fought out a narrow victory over a Coventry Rugby side decimated by injuries during the game , playing most of the second half with just 14 and at times down to 13 players. The home side, with its monster pack effectively used the driving maul in the first half with Coventry conceding 3 tries, although the visitors were given hope as a maul was turned over allowing Will Hurrell to get a try back. The second half saw Coventry Rugby play with growing confidence, so much so that a penalty try gave them the lead. It took until 2 minutes from time that the 1/2 men shortage finally told as Luke Daniels scored the winning try. A brave Coventry performance, before another large travelling contingent , saw the point gained guaranteeing them at least third place in the league.
Rosslyn Park kept the pressure on the leaders with their own bonus point win away at Darlington Mowden Park. Another large crowd saw a subdued home side unable to break down a stubborn Rosslyn Park defence and the threat of winger Dave Vincent and No 8 Hugo Ellis proved unstoppable with a try apiece. A late home try almost salvaged a losing bonus point but it was not to be.Will these two teams be among the front runners for the title next season, certainly the Londoners will be, but Darlington still have some work to do.
The battle to avoid relegation livened up with Cinderford ‘s demolition of visitors Fylde in a 6 try win. An excellent pack performance by the home side somewhat belied their lowly league position. This win now brings Cinderford within 3 points of safety.
Needing a win for the same reasons Old Albanian travelled to Esher and gained a 3 point draw which helped to keep daylight between them and the chasing Cinderford. Despite Esher going into an early lead a yellow card against them allowed Old Albanian back into the game with 2 tries. It needed a late late Ian Cross score to rescue a home draw.
Seemingly dead and buried 2 weeks ago after 16 straight defeats, Tynedale finally got their act together or more correctly their pack did, with no less than 3 penalty tries given against their visitors Blackheath. It is still probably too late for Dale but it does bring them within 10 points of safety with 3 games to go. As for Blackheath the loss means they cannot now catch Coventry Rugby in third place.
The Higher Education battle went as close as expected with Hartpury College just beating Loughborough Students by one point. Despite the advantage of a strong first half wind Hartpury were unable to take full control and a more even second half saw Loughborough take the lead before a late home try sealed it for them and brought Hartpury to within 2 points of Fylde in 5th place.
An impressive first half saw Richmond surge into a half-time lead of 34-7. Too good to be true as a Wharfedale side fighting just for pride managed to nil Richmond in the second half and scoring 2 tries of their own-too little too late for them.
The final game saw a gutsy performance by already relegated Macclesfield as they somewhat surprised the odds by holding their visitors Blaydon to just a 3 point margin.Not for the first time Blaydon had to thank their No 10 Andrew Baggett for all their points as his first half try and early second half penalty sealed it for Blaydon.
Relegation from the Championship/ promotion into NL1
The intriguing battle to see who will join Coventry Rugby National League 1 goes on with Plymouth Albion and Moseley fighting it out. Friday night saw Moseley, although losing to high flying Rotherham, managing to gain 2 match points, whilst Sunday saw Albion travel to Cornish Pirates losing with no match points. The net result means that Moseley are now 7 points ahead of Plymouth Albion, with just 3 games to go. It is looking more like it will be Albion joining Coventry Rugby next season.
Henley Hawks have just been confirmed as promoted from NL2 South to NL1, so another familiar face will join Coventry Rugby next season. The other two promotion spots from NL2 to NL1 have not yet been settled.
There will be no preview for the coming Saturday which is Easter Saturday as no NL1 games are scheduled for that day. The next game for Coventry Rugby will be away at Fylde on Saturday the 11th April. A full preview of that game and the rest of Week/Round 28 will be issued after Easter.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
30th March 2015.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.