Photo by Nick Meredith

By Tom Little
September 10 2014

Saturday 13th September 2014 including Loughborough Students v Coventry Rugby. 

Week  2 Fixtures - 13^th September.

Blaydon                                    v           Tynedale

Cinderford                                v          Hartpury College

Loughborough Students         v         Coventry Rugby

Macclesfield                              v        Fylde

Old Albanian                             v        Ealing Tfs

Richmond                                  v        Esher Rugby

Rosslyn Park                              v        Blackheath

Wharfedale                               v        Darlington M P

A Saturday made up of local derbies, which after last Saturday’s number of red and flurry of yellow cards promises to be another difficult afternoon for the officials.

Last week also saw how competitive this league was, albeit with no real surprise results and the nature of this week’s fixtures suggest more of the same.

Rosslyn Park fresh from their excellent performance at Coventry face a potential banana skin in their home fixture with one of their London rivals Blackheath. However despite a large number of new recruits this season Blackheath don’t appear to have the same quality as Park and I fully expect Rosslyn Park to enhance their title aspirations and favourites tag with a relatively easy win.

The other main favourite Ealing Tfs have to travel just outside the confines of the M25 to meet Old Albanian, who must be seething after a poor goal-kicking display cost them a rare away victory at Tynedale, despite having plenty of possession but no cutting edge.

There is no fear of Ealing having no cutting edge with their pacey backs and off-loading game. After their relegation from the Championship they have rightly spent money on boosting their pack, which gave them the edge over Loughborough Students last week, and they are expected to be in control over their St Albans opponents.

The second London derby sees Richmond at home to Esher. The home side had a very good win away at Macclesfield and have a settled and experienced pack with speed on the wings. They may well surprise Esher who pre-season lost a couple of key players but as usual with the West London clubs have good contacts enabling them to find suitable replacements. Esher also had a good win over Cinderford but will find Richmond a tough nut to crack, whom I feel will surprise many teams this season.

The North-West derby sees another home match for newly promoted Macclesfield as they face the daunting task of facing Fylde. The home side put up a brave display against Richmond and now face an inform Fylde who finished in third position last season. Fylde should have enough pace in their backs to win although the renowned Macclesfield pack may have other ideas.

The next game is the North-East derby between Blaydon and Tynedale. Both teams were somewhat fortunate to win their opening fixtures, but the home side does seem slightly stronger than Tynedale, and with home advantage should run out comfortable winners.

The Midland derby between Loughborough Students and Coventry Rugby sees both sides looking for their first win of the season. Coventry will be wanting to replicate their impressive away form at the Students last season. A full match preview of this game will follow at the end of this general preview.

Gloucestershire is the venue for the local derby between Cinderford and newcomers to the league Hartpury College. Poor discipline and a red card after just 10 minutes gave the College too much to do in losing to Wharfedale, but they did enough to suggest their fast backs will trouble many of the league’s defences. The Foresters, who had a poor first half in losing at Esher, will have to be at their best to beat Hartpury, but with home advantage should just do it.

The final game sees a northern derby between Wharfedale and league newcomers Darlington Mowden Park. Wharfedale were able to take advantage of poor discipline at Hartpury College, whilst Darlington MP were not so experienced as they were unable to do so after Blaydon’s red card. Darlington MP can only get better as they learn to take their chances the club has certainly brought in experience, so I would not be surprised if they sneak a narrow away victory here.

Loughborough students  v Coventry Rugby match preview.

This Saturday 13^th September kick off 2.00 pm Coventry Rugby visit Loughborough Students at their Campus ground.

Founded in 1919 the merger of the Loughborough Colleges in 1976/77 saw the club renamed Loughborough Students Rugby Club. After being allowed to join the National leagues movement through the leagues has been rapid and they are now in their third season in National League 1 , which is probable the highest they could expect .

Last season a slump in form after Christmas saw the Students possibly facing relegation up to the last day of the season. They survived finally finishing in 12^th place. As usual with the Students a large number of the squad from last season at least 12 in total found professional or semi/professional contracts. Key losses included Craig Dowsett full-back to Rotherham Titans with fly-half Andy Hall and No8 Joe Burton both going to Richmond. This large turnover in players brings its own problems but also a freshness to the side.

Retained key players from last season include the Pons brothers Jack at full-back and Ben at flanker, the Saracens Academy scrum half Henry Taylor, centre Rhys Owen, and scrum-half Tom Pointer. Experience in the pack is provided by Jack Collister and Jack Albon at lock, and back rowers Matt Rogerson and James Freeman.

A number of new players have also arrived  such as Will Millett from Chinnor, wingers Gair Currie, Will Edwards and John Short, Jack Bradford centre and Saracens Academy player fly-half Josh Sharp  ad scrum-half Tom James. The pack contains flanker Harry Betts from Northampton Saints and hooker Isaac Miller and Leicester Academy prop Harry Rudkin.

Last season Coventry Rugby completed the double over Loughborough beating them in arguably their best away performance of the season by 45-22, and winning the return at the BPA 33-14.

Both sides had disappointing opening day reverses, although it has to be said not totally unexpected. A key game for both sides as The Students need to gel quickly as not to be drawn into later relegation battles and Coventry Rugby to prove that they are far better than last week’s performance suggests.

The Loughborough Students game is the closest one to home for Coventry Supporters, with a coach arranged, so the Coventry team can expect a large and vociferous away support.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

10^th September 2014

National league 1 match previews - week 2....

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 10/09/2014 10:24

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
10/09/2014 10:24

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