Week 28 national league 1 previews Saturday 11th April 2015

...including Fylde v Coventry Rugby.

Fixtures Saturday 11^th April 2015.

Blackheath                                   v          Ealing Trailfinders

Blaydon                                         v         Esher

Cinderford                                    v          Richmond

Fylde                                              v          Coventry Rugby

Loughborough Students            v           Darlington Mowden Park

Old Albanian                                v           Hartpury College

Rosslyn Park                                 v          Tynedale

Wharfedale                                  v           Macclesfield   

A Saturday that could see Ealing Trailfinders emerge as champions with Tynedale going the other way, or what is more likely another Saturday to come of exultation or despair in equal measures.

After one hard battle in narrowly beating Coventry Rugby, Ealing Trailfinders are off to another prospective difficult fixture away to 4^th placed Blackheath at Rectory Field. Blackheath, despite a surprise defeat at Tynedale on their last outing, will remember how they should have beaten Ealing last time they met, being thwarted by lack of a goal-kicker. Ealing have shown this season that they have the pragmatic approach and consistency to win so might just sneak a close encounter.

Rosslyn Park, who are still 9 points behind Ealing should have no trouble in beating Tynedale at home, who possibly surprised themselves by beating Blackheath last time out, with an impressive pack performance. Surely Park will not slip up now as they keep the pressure on the leaders, but another defeat for Tynedale could see them relegated.

Two exciting sides Fylde and Coventry Rugby meet at the Woodlands, in what is expected to be a high scoring encounter. A recent series of defeats by the home side has seen them slip to 5^th place, and although Coventry Rugby will be buoyed by their performance at Ealing, they cannot afford to take this game too lightly. A full preview of this game will follow.

Fourteenth placed Cinderford gave themselves a lifeline with a comprehensive victory over Fylde, but now face a Richmond side who can flatter to deceive. The home side should be confident enough to garner a home victory thus putting more pressure on Old Albanian just above them.

Despite an impressive score draw at Esher, Old Albanian will have to be at their best as they entertain 6^th placed Hartpury College. The College are now in sight of an impressive 5^th place and should have enough quality to win a close contest, a defeat for Old Albanian could see them overtaken by Cinderford.

Esher has suddenly found itself still needing one win for safety, but a visit to Blaydon is probably not the place to get it. Home form should just give Blaydon a slight edge, with Esher hoping that other results go their way.

Wharfedale’s up and down season in the same match continued against Richmond with a dire 1^st half and much better 2^nd, however their home fixture against bottom side Macclesfield should give them the opportunity to get a welcome victory.

The final game sees Loughborough Students meet Darlington Mowden Park, with a win for the Students allowing them to overtake their visitors in 9^th place. Another close game is expected with the Students expected to win a close encounter.

FYLDE V COVENTRY RUGBY MATCH PREVIEW SATURDAY 11^TH APRIL 2015

This coming Saturday 11^th April 2015 sees Coventry Rugby make their annual pilgrimage to the seaside to take on Fylde at their Woodlands ground, with kick off at 3 pm.

Founded in 1919 Fylde, based on the north-west coast close to Blackpool, the home side have a rich history in both International and Lancashire County rugby. Promoted back to NL1 four seasons ago,  they have never fallen below the top 6 in the league, and are currently in 5th place on 80 points compared to Coventry Rugby’s 3^rd place with 102 points. Last season they finished 3^rd compared to their visitors 4^th place.

Under Head Coach Mark Nelson, with player/coach Paul Arnold taking over as Head Coach for the next season, Fylde had a good start to the season, but as Coventry Rugby have found have not been so consistent of late. Overall they have lost 11 games, won 14 and drawn 2, but Fylde have a great discrepancy in results, whether they are at home or away. At home they have only lost 3 games and won 14, including wins over Richmond, Blackheath and Rosslyn Park for the 2^nd season running, with losses to Ealing, Darlington M P and Hartpury College. Away they have won only 3 games drawn 2 and lost 8, away results which have seen them back in 5^th place. Fylde’s last 8 games have provided them with only 2 wins and a draw.

However at home they cannot be trifled with and with their fast offloading and re-cycling game from anywhere on the pitch they can score tries from all areas. Last season Coventry Rugby did the double over Fylde, and earlier in this season won at the Butts Park Arena by 62-31, with Fylde coming back strongly in the first half before Coventry took control in the second.

Fylde have been renowned for the past few season for their ability to keep a settled side together, no doubt helped by the close connections with the Lancashire County scene.

Prolific and leading try scorer winger Oli Brennand remains, and after last season’s 20 tries is already on 22 for this season, and overall has already scored more than 200 for the club. Co-winger Jordan Dorrington is also amongst the tries, and a backline which includes the experienced Warren Spragg, centres Chris Briers and Scott Rawlings, full-back Olly Viney and new centres Sam Bedlow and Ralph Dowds are always capable of scoring tries. There are two experienced half-back pairings in Chris Johnson and Ryan De La Harpe, and Richard Kenyon and Martin Wallwork as well as scrum-half Greg Nicholls signed from Bristol Rugby.

An experienced pack is led by back-rowers Evan Stewart and Gareth Rawlings, with player coach lock Paul Arnold adding his considerable refereering skills to his ability on the pitch. A mobile back row also has Sam Beaumont, Ben Vernon, Joe Robinson, hooker cum flanker Danny Maher. In new recruit David Fairbrother from the Royal Navy they have an experienced player in the engine room of the pack.   

A strong front row includes player coach Alex Loney, hooker Tom Burtonwood, new recruit prop Tom Lavelle and props Dan Birchall, Adam Lewis and Simon Griffiths.

An exciting and try scoring bonanza is expected with Coventry Rugby’s more expansive style this season, leaving them needing 3 more tries to break their NL1 try scoring record.  They have already scored their highest ever number of away wins in this league, but they know that Fylde  are capable of scoring tries against any of the teams in NL1 with their fast offloading style and are capable of living off scraps of possession.

For those Coventry Rugby supporters making their own way to the north-west coast, Fylde Rugby’s address is The Woodlands  Memorial ground, Blackpool Road, Ansdell, Lytham St Annes, Lancashire FY8 4EL.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

7^th April 2015.