By Tom Little
September 23 2015
...Saturday 19th September 2015 including Coventry Rugby v Hartpury College.
Week 3 Results Saturday 19th September.
Blaydon 13 43 Wharfedale
Cinderford 25 27 Ampthill & District
Coventry Rugby 21 23 Hartpury College
Esher 30 16 Loughborough Students
Fylde 27 29 Richmond
Henley Hawks 13 47 Blackheath
Hull Ionians 25 21 Plymouth Albion
Rosslyn Park 26 17 Darlington Mowden Park
Five away wins this Saturday including 3 by a margin of just 2 points, including perhaps the surprise of the day with previously unbeaten Coventry Rugby losing at home to Hartpury College. There are only 2 unbeaten sides left in Ampthill and Rosslyn Park and 2 yet to win with Cinderford and Loughborough Students. The close margins of some the wins suggest that this season will be wider open than first suggested.
Ampthill & District are the only side to maintain a 100% record as they won at winless Cinderford. Thery had their nervous moments as a first half lead of 19-7 was overturned with the home side leading 25-24. Finally a late Will Maisey penalty sealed it for the visitors , which suggests that it may not be long before Cinderford are rewarded with a win. This win takes Ampthill to the top of the league .
Rosslyn Park duly kept their unbeaten record going but not without a struggle over a Darlington Mowden Park side who kept fighting despite down to 14 men for most of the second half. All credit to DMP who thwarted Park’s desire to get the try bonus. It won’t be the first time this season that the home side’s backrow, especially Hugo Ellis proved the difference.
For the second season running Hartpury College lowered Coventry Rugby’s colours at the BPA, by the same margin as last season. Despite having 62% of the possession the home side were unable to get the win thanks to some superb defensive work by Hartpury. The loss puts Coventry into 3rd place still just 4 points behind the leaders.
What a topsy-turvy world Henley Hawks must think they inhabit after an excellent win at DMP was turned on its head by a large loss at home to Blackheath. Leading 23-10 at half-time Blackheath pressed home their advantage thanks initially to their pack as the bonus point was gained. The kicking of fly-half Fred Gabbitas with 18 points also settled them in. The win taking them into 5th place. Will this be the season that Blackheath finally fulfil their potential?
Esher won their second game in a row with a home victory over a Loughborough Students side who are still winless. A better display from the Students after last week’s drubbing by Coventry, but again a good second half by the home side saw them through.
Back to the reality of NL1 for Plymouth Albion after 2 home games as they found their visit to Hull Ionians tougher that perhaps they imagined. The impressive home pack with 2 penalty tries saw them surge into a 25 nil lead. All credit to Albion as they came back strongly in the second half with a wider more open game, bringing them to within 4 points of victory. A great start to the season by Hull Ionians and Albion now realise the task facing them.
Fylde continued with their poor start to the season with a home loss to Richmond. The Richmond side don’t always live up to their potential especially away from home, but this time they had ahalf-time lead of 20-10, after an error strewn home performance. However Fylde played better in the second period and got into the lead before a late penalty by Ross Jones-Davies sneaked it for Richmond.
The final game saw somewhat of a surprise at least in the margin of victory as Wharfedale overrun their closest neighbours Blaydon. A dominant Wharfedale backline gave the home side no respite as they ran in 7 tries, to add more gloom to the north-east. A taste of what Dale can do when they get their game together.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
21st September 2015.
