Coventry
National league 1 match previews week 20 - round 20...
By Tom Little.
January 21 2014
Saturday 25th January 2014 including Old Albanian v Coventry Rugby match preview.
Week 20 - Fixtures 25th January 2014.
Blackheath v Esher
Blaydon v Hull Ionians
Doncaster Knights v Richmond
Fylde v Loughborough Students
Henley Hawks v Cinderford
Old Albanian v Coventry Rugby
Wharfedale v Rosslyn Park
Worthing Raiders v Tynedale
After the excitements of the last two weeks will it be back to normal for the top 6 sides with surely only the result of the Wharfedale/Rosslyn Park game allowing the pundits to scratch their heads? If it is expected to be the status quo at the top of the league it would be a foolhardy person to predict what will happen at the other end.
Leaders Doncaster Knights should be too strong for a Richmond side, although fighting to keep clear of the relegation zone may be ring rusty after two recent postponed matches. Doncaster after their latest away defeat will be in no mood to lose their 100% home record, a win that is essential to keep the chasing pack at bay. Richmond will be just pleased to get even a losing point from this encounter.
A much closer contest is expected as second placed Rosslyn Park travel to play 5th placed Wharfedale. With Park now only 3 points behind Doncaster this is a crucial encounter they need to win to maintain this pressure on the leaders, as Doncaster still have to visit Rosslyn Park. Yet Wharfedale have surprised many with their performances this season and stand a real chance at home.
It is the clash of two fast off -loading teams as Fylde entertain Loughborough Students. The home side’s excellent win over leaders Doncaster puts them into fine fettle and also third place so should be strong enough for the Students, although back to winning ways are tending to fade somewhat in the latter stages.
Esher who have struggled of late and are now back in 4th place and seeing their promotion hopes fading should still be strong enough as they cross London to face Blackheath. The home side stuck in one of the relegation spots have found it difficult to get back to winning ways and another loss will put even more pressure on them.
Form side Blaydon fresh from their comprehensive victory over Coventry, face a Hull Ionians side who are now just playing for pride. The home side whose recent form has seen them up to 6th place are quietly waiting in the wings for any slip up from the other title contenders. A game that no bets would be allowed.
Coventry Rugby whose defeat to Blaydon was their worst home performance,visit Old Albanian, who suffered their own bad result at Rosslyn Park. However, Old Albanian perform much better at home and a full match preview of this game will follow at the end of this general preview.
Henley Hawks who gave themselves a breathing space from the danger zone with a bonus point victory at Hull Ionians have Cinderford as their visitors. Cinderford are now back in the relegation zone albeit with a game in hand, are not always good travellers, thus making Henley slight favourites to get this essential win.
The final game sees Worthing Raiders with Tynedale as their visitors. A difficult one to predict as Tynedale have suddenly found some form with three straight wins, helped by returning experienced players. Wins that have seen them escape from the relegation zone. However, both sides are still too close to the danger zone for comfort and both need to get something out of this game. In the unlikely event of both getting a scoring draw there might be a slight home advantage for the Raiders.
Old Albanian v Coventry Rugby match preview.
This Saturday 25th January 2014 sees Coventry Rugby visit Old Albanian at their Woollams Playing Fields Ground, St Albans with kick off at 3 pm. Founded in 1924 in the City of St Albans, Old Albanian have made steady progress through the leagues at their purpose built ground. Last season they were promoted to National League 1 and finished their inaugural season in 5th place under Player coach James Shanahan.
They have still maintained links with Premiership side Saracens and can call on players when required.
With Mr Shanahan moving onto Plymouth Albion new Head Coach Andy Holloway has seen his side struggle to maintain last year’s position. They are currently in 9th place on 46 points with 8 wins, 10 losses and 1 draw, compared to Coventry Rugby’s 59 points from their 12 wins and 6 losses.
Statistics show that they have not been so prolific in scoring tries this season and their points for and against total are equal. A slow start to their season saw them find it difficult to win away from home but their form has picked up of late, with a much better home record than away. They have only lost three games at home to Doncaster Knights, Rosslyn Park and Fylde and a creditable draw with Blaydon-so no disgrace there. Home wins have been over Tynedale, Hull Ionians, Richmond, Blackheath, Loughborough Students, and most impressive a bonus point win over Esher two weeks ago. There have been away wins at Henley Hawks and Worthing Raiders.
The other side of the coin has seen them with 10 losses including the away game at Coventry by 24-10 as the Coventry pack denied them any possession. Other away losses have been at Loughborough Students, Esher, Cinderford, Wharfedale,Tynedale and last week by Rosslyn Park by 37-13.
Despite the departure of James Shanahan the majority of last season’s squad have been retained with the important exception of centre Terry Adams who is unavailable. At one stage it was thought that winger Ollie Marchon would also not be available but he is now back with Old Albanian, often partnering fellow wing Jimmy Speirs who is now getting plenty of tries. Experienced centre Ian Vass has been recruited working well with No 9 Stefan Liebenberg.
Other key players in the backs include Richard Gregg usually at full-back and centres Danny Holmes and Johannes Lombaard. Chris May at No 10 has recently been injured but Lawrence Rayner has been playing well at No 10 including some excellent goal-kicking having scored 159 points so far putting him in 4th place for the league’s top scorers.
The Old Albanian pack should not be under-estimated with props Charles Hughes and Jim Remfrey together with former Coventry hooker Brett McNamee adding power, with lock Hayden Smith discovering a try scoring ability.
An effective back-row has Ollie Cooper-Miller and Lawrence White as flankers.
Old Albanian usually try to play a fast off-loading style and are capable of running in tries for all areas of the pitch. They certainly did that last season earning the double over Coventry but this season at BPA Coventry stifled their ambitions with an impressive pack display, a feat they will need to repeat as Coventry Rugby look for their first ever win at the Woollams and their first ever double over Old Albanian.
Both sides will need to re-group after last week’s 37 point loss, but Old Albanian’s home record is good enough to suggest that they can beat most teams in this league. A lesson, if any is needed that Coventry cannot take this game lightly as they need to put their challenge for a higher placing back on track and take on board the lessons however unpalatable they may be from their defeat against Blaydon.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
21st January 2014.
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