By Tom Little
January 26 2016

...Saturday 30th January 2016 including Coventry Rugby v Hull Ionians.

Fixtures Week 20 Saturday 30th January 2016.

Blackheath                                   v                 Ampthill & District

Blaydon                                        v                 Richmond                              14.30 pm

Cinderford                                   v                Hartpury College

Coventry Rugby                          v                Hull Ionians    

Darlington Mowden Park          v               Wharfedale

Esher                                             v               Plymouth Albion

Henley Hawks                             v               Loughborough Students

Rosslyn Park                                v               Fylde 

Week 20 sees the league reach the two-thirds mark with still everything to play for at both ends of the table. The title contenders seem to have been narrowed down to the top 3, whilst at the other end  it is increasingly looking that both Cinderford and Henley Hawks will fill 2 of the 3 relegation places, but the final place could involve up to 4 other sides as they are separated by just 9 points.

Leaders Richmond travel to 14th placed Blaydon who last week suffered the largest league defeat of the season, so can’t fancy the visit of the title favourites. Although Blaydon can raise their game at home especially if they can get some Falcon players in, Richmond should be firm favourites for this one.

Blackheath, with a game in hand over Richmond have league newcomers Ampthill & District as their visitors. Ampthill have surprised many with their exploits this season and up to 5th place will be no pushovers. However Blackheath who have their own title ambitions will be slight favourites to take this one at home to keep pressure on the leaders

A mismatch is on the cards in the Gloucestershire derby as Hartpury College travel to Cinderford. Third against the bottom club says it all with Cinderford suffering a large defeat last week whilst Hartpury College was scoring 71 points against Blaydon. Another win for Hartpury will keep them on the shirttails of the top two but virtually a final nail in the coffin for Cinderford.

Esher in 4th place lost last week probably putting them out of the title race, entertain a Plymouth Albion side now up to 6th place after only one loss in 8 games. A difficult game to predict with the home side slight favourites.

Relegation threatened Wharfedale , who gave themselves after a win last Saturday, face a daunting trip to a Darlington Mowden Park side now up to 7th place and within one win of 5th. Dale will need to be at their best to get even a losing bonus point out of this game.

Two sides struggling to reach their high points of last season, Rosslyn Park and Fylde meet at Roehampton. Park put up a strong fight in losing at Blackheath, whilst Fylde used the effect  of a red card at Hull Ionians to get the win. Another close game but Park at home should be just too strong.

Another side struggling to reach last season’s heights Coventry Rugby take on Hull Ionians at the Butts Park Arena. Coventry can point to a lengthening injury list, whilst Hull Ionians after a steady start to the season have lost their early season sparkle and are now back in 11th place, just 9 points ahead of the danger zone. A full preview of this game will follow.

The final game sees another crucial game for Henley Hawks back in 15th place and 6 points from safety, as Loughborough Students are their visitors. The Students had their bonus point win last Saturday which has somewhat eased their worries and are now 12 points ahead of the Hawks. A hard fought battle is expected but the Students should just have the edge.

MATCH PREVIEW COVENTRY RUGBY V HULL IONIANS SATURDAY 30TH JANUARY 2016.

This coming Saturday 30th January 2016 sees Coventry Rugby back at home at the Butts Park Arena as they face Hull Ionians for a 3 pm kick off. Hull Ionians were formed in 1989 following the merger between Hull and East Riding founded in 1875 and Ionians founded in 1926. A few years after the merger, the club moved to a new site at Brantingham Park in 1995. Steady progress through the leagues saw them reach National League 1 in season 2013/14 from NL2 North. A poor initial season in NL1 saw them win only 3 games, with them relegated back to NL2 North They  re-grouped and improved their coaching set up and were promoted back to NL1 at the start of this season as NL2 North Champions.

Sean Carty remains as DOR with new Head Coach and centre Alex Crockett, there are a number of player/coaches with Phil Eggleshaw No 8 from Doncaster Knights, lock Danny Paul from Leeds Carnegie, scrum coach and prop Steve Johnson and coach Andy Forth.

Hull Ionians had a very steady start to this season winning 5 out of their first 10 games including impressive home wins over Hartpury College, Plymouth Albion, Blaydon and Henley Hawks plus an away win at Fylde. However since then they have lost 8 out of their last 9 games with only one win an away win at Plymouth Albion. Narrow losses at home to Richmond and Blackheath and away to Ampthill & District suggest that they have the ability to trouble most teams. Overall Hull Ionians have won 6 games and lost 13 and are currently in 11th place on 36 points one place behind Coventry Rugby but 7 match points behind.

Apart from the new player coaches there have been some new arrivals with centres Alex Benson and Joe Allott from Doncaster and Sandal respectively, lock Ed Falkingham from Driffield and prop Rikki Stout returning from Coventry. Greg Lound  at fly-half has comes from local club Hull and on the wing a speedy  Aquile Smith has come from Bradford and Bingley.

A high number of retained players remain from last season with fly-half James Ferguson replacing the departed Chris Reekes, with scrum-half and goal-kicker Isaac Green and back up Adam Thomas.

The front row has experienced props Dave Laverick, Steve Thompson and Stephen Quigley with hookers Ali Thompson and Pat Carty, although Ali somewhat blotted his copybook last Saturday with a red card. Also remaining is lock Joe Makin and at flanker experienced Mark Wigham returning after long term injury. The back row also has Will Foden. Laurence Cowen , Keane Naylor and Joe Sanders, with  Alex Campbell at No 8. Michael Bateman remains at full-back with centres Luke Thundercliffe and Ben Winterburn backing up player coach Alex Crockett.

There is plenty of pace on the wings with Danny Booth, Steve Slingsby and Sam Wilson.

Earlier in the season Coventry Rugby travelled to Humberside and won in a tight game 21-16, but Hull Ionians have shown that on their day they can match most teams and have a never say die approach.

An important game for both sides as Hull Ionians don’t want to be sucked into a relegation battle and Coventry Rugby, despite their injury problems need to get back on winning ways.

As usual the Butts Park Arena game will kick off at 3 pm.

Tom little

Coventry Rugby press office

26th January 2016

Week 20 - round 20 national league 1 preview...

Discussion started by Unofficial Coventry Rugby (IP Logged), 26/01/2016 11:17

Unofficial Coventry Rugby
26/01/2016 11:17

What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
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Cliff Bennett
26/01/2016 18:21

Thanks as ever, Tom, for the preview. I can't believe I was the only supporter who didn't know that Rikki Stout had left Cov. I don't think there has been any announcement has there, or has there? When was he released? I'm pretty sure he didn't come to Cov from H.I. though, did he, although it was definitely one of the north eastern teams?

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Cliff Bennett
29/01/2016 17:39

Can anyone answer my question about Rikki Stout?

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rustyroof
29/01/2016 18:39

He came from Rotherham, but was on loan to Hull Ionians while at Roth.

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Cliff Bennett
30/01/2016 09:41

Thanks, rr, I was pretty sure he came from Roth. But what about my question as to when he left Cov?

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Paul Ingleston
30/01/2016 10:27

And that Cliff is the problem in a nutshell . Information not forthcoming , supporters not being kept up-to-date. Encapsulates, or at least highlights, the problems Cov have to overcome with their attempts at PR. Onwards and upwards, let's hope for a win today.

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Cliff Bennett
30/01/2016 12:27

It's such a shame, Paul, isn't it, because I simply can't see any need or justification for such an unacceptable standard of communication. What purpose does it serve to be so unforthcoming with snippets, gossip, player profiles, injury updates, team selections, etc? Surely such basics are an essential component of getting supporters on side with insider knowledge?

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