Photo By Nick Meredith.

By Tom Little.
February 23 2014

Results Catch Up Week Saturday 22^nd February.

Cinderford                              32          13     Blaydon

Coventry Rugby                     20          17     Richmond

Loughborough Students      10          19     Tynedale

The first catch up week of fixtures saw crucial wins at the bottom end of the table for both Tynedale and Cinderford and a hard-earned losing bonus point for Richmond. Results that really open up the bottom half of the table with no fewer than 7 sides scrapping for the remaining two relegation places.

It was the usual nail biting and close encounter at the BPA between old rivals Coventry Rugby and Richmond, as a late added time 58m penalty by Barry Davies won it for the home side. Yet in the 8 minutes of added time the contest could have resulted in any of three possible results as a Richmond penalty for a draw hit the post and the ricochet could have earned Richmond the winning try. Against a cold blustery wind some poor Coventry Rugby first half kicking gave the visitors plenty of field position together with Richmond’s superior rucking game gave them a small half-time lead with the impressive centre Martin Freeman gaining a try from a Coventry breakdown. The second half saw Richmond having to keep the ball in hand against the wind but despite another Chris Davies driving maul try the Coventry defence and Richmond’s ill-discipline finally cost them the game.

The win keeps Coventry Rugby in 5^th place but they are now only three points behind Fylde in third place, so next week’s clash between Coventry and Fylde is one to savour. Richmond’s losing bonus point may prove crucial for them to avoid relegation but Steve Hill’s side should have enough quality to be safe.

It was relief at Cinderford as they finally managed to play a game with a bonus point win over Blaydon. A win that puts them only one point from safety but still with three games in hand. A somewhat controversially weakened Blaydon side had no answer to the pace and finishing of the home backs led by a hat-trick by winger Nev Codlin.

The final game saw an equally important win for Tynedale as they overcame a fading Loughborough Students side. With the impressive Tynedale pack on top especially in the first half they managed to hold off a home fight-back in the second half with a good defensive display.An important victory for Tynedale which at last lifts them out of the relegation zone to the heady heights of 12^th, and being the form side of all the threatened sides, should be good enough to survive.

It is now starting to look ominous for the three promoted sides Hull Ionians, Henley Hawks and Worthing Raiders as they are all now struggling to keep in this league.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

23^rd February 2014.

National league 1 results round up Saturday 22nd February...

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 23/02/2014 16:36

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
23/02/2014 16:36

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