By Tom Little.
November 11 2015

...Saturday 14th November 2015 including Coventry Rugby v Blaydon.

Fixtures Saturday 14th November.

Coventry Rugby                           v        Blaydon

Esher                                             v        Rosslyn Park

Fylde                                              v       Cinderford

Hartpury College                         v        Ampthill & District

Hull Ionians                                  v        Henley Hawks

Loughborough Students            v        Wharfedale

Plymouth Albion                          v       Darlington Mowden Park

Richmond                                     v        Blackheath

 Week 10 sees 2 key London derbies involving 4 of the top 6 sides, whilst the bottom 6 clubs are now only separated by 4 points .

Leaders Esher have Rosslyn Park as their visitors. After a stuttering start Park are now only 4 points off the lead, but Esher at home are playing with purpose and confidence and should be able to consolidate their lead in a tight encounter.

In another key London game 4th placed  Richmond have 2nd placed Blackheath visiting them. Both sides will be looking to take advantage of any slip up from the leaders, another game that is difficult to pick the winner.

Previous leaders Hartpury College, back in third spot have league newcomers Ampthill & District visiting them. With now only one point between the two sides another tight game is expected which could go either way.

Plymouth Albion, who have suddenly arrived in the top half have a home game against Darlington Mowden Park, who are still only 1 point from danger. Although Park played better in defeat last week Albion should have enough confidence to win this one.

Hull Ionians and Henley Hawks  both newly back in the league this season have made steady starts, but worryingly for Henley they have the worst defensive record in the league. Home advantage and the better all round game from Hull Ionians should see them home.

Coventry Rugby have slumped to their third successive defeat will face a Blaydon side buoyant after only their 2nd win of the season last week against Fylde. Over the years Blaydon have largely done well at the BPA and will be confident to cause an upset, whilst Coventry urgently need the win to start building their confidence back up. A full preview will follow.

It is an inconsistent Fylde side, not helped by some discipline problems  who have Cinderford as their visitors. Cinderford, another side who gained only their 2nd win last Saturday, will be looking for another win to move them out of the danger zone. Fylde should be just too strong at home.

The final game sees bottom club Loughborough Students at home to Wharfedale, themselves only 1 point above safety. Another close game in prospect, with the Students having a slight edge.

COVENTRY RUGBY V BLAYDON MATCH PREVIEW SATURDAY 14TH NOVEMBER 2015

This coming Saturday 14th November sees Coventry Rugby face their north-eastern visitors Blaydon here at the Butts Park Arena with a 3 pm kick off.

Another crucial game here at the BPA, as Coventry go to avoid a fourth consecutive loss, whilst Blaydon look for their 2nd consecutive win to move away from the wrong end of the table.

Founded in 1888, Blaydon have vastly experienced former Newcastle Falcons hooker, Micky Ward as both Director of Rugby and coach. Close connections are maintained between the Falcons and Blaydon with a number of promising players available on a dual registered loan basis.

Blaydon do usually play well at the BPA although last season they did lose 34-15 in a bp win for Coventry, but earlier in the season won their home game 21-16.

After finishing a disappointing 8th last season, Blaydon are currently in 15th place after losing 7 games on the trot which has taken them to just 13 match points with 2 wins. Their two wins came in the first game of the season at home against Blackheath 26-16, and last Saturday against Fylde 34-17, after going down to two early tries. Poor discipline by Fylde and a pack that started to take advantage with 2 penalty tries set the scene for a bonus point win. After early heavy losses to Ampthill and Wharfedale a much better defensive performance has seen them competitive since in most games especially amongst their pack. This season has yet to see Blaydon win away from home.

Once again the Blaydon squad has kept fairly constant with a sprinkling of new players, especially those on a DR loan basis from the Falcons. Prop Sam White has come in from Tynedale, winger Alex Ruff from Newcastle Thunder, and 5 dr players from Falcons, influential scrum-half Ruaridh Dawson, wing James Cooney, full-back Nathan Bailey, England U’20’a No 8 Callum Chick, and key playmaker No 10 Brett Connon.

Often Blaydon will play to their strengths of their scrum and driving maul, with an experienced  front row of Robbie Kilbraier, Andrew Foster and Trevor Davison at prop, and hookers David Nelson and Victor Guignourd.

Even more experience is found at lock with evergreen Chris Wearmouth still scoring tries and Shaun English and Andrew Archibald  providing the speed. An impressive back-row has try scorer Gavin Jones at No 8, with player coach Jason Smithson still earning the plaudits, with captain Keith Laughlin and Matt Jenkinson.

Amongst the backs we have already mentioned the Falcons half-back pairing but in Andrew Baggett they have a proven goal-kicker and utility back, with Rhodri Adamson and Nathan Horsfall versatile in the backs. At wing they have Frazer Wilson and Tom Grimes, At centre is Tom Small and Toby Bain, all with the speed and finishing prowess to cause defences problems.

This is a game that Coventry Rugby cannot take too lightly as it is crucial that a win occurs to start the process of building back confidence on the field to show that the team have the necessary skillset  to move up the table.

Tom Little

Coventry Rugby press office

11th November 2015.

Week 10 - round 10 national league 1 previews...

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 11/11/2015 17:41

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
11/11/2015 17:41

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