National One: Ampthill continue unbeaten run

After two weeks, it is clear how tight this league maybe as 10 of the 16 teams have won one and lost one match already.

Three teams – Coventry, Ampthill & District and Rossyln have made a 100 per cent start to the season while Loughborough Students, Wharfedale and Cinderford are the only sides without a win to their name.

It is not a surprise to see Rosslyn Park and Coventry at the top end of the table this early in the season. They finished second and third in last year’s division and they have already signalled their intent so far in this campaign. Park sit in third spot - a point behind Coventry - after their superb 15-16 win away at relegated Championship side Plymouth Albion last weekend. As for the Blues, they have been untroubled thus far with comfortable wins against Wharfedale and Loughborough Students.

Sandwiched in between Park and Coventry are National Two play-off winners Ampthill. They have had an excellent start to their first season at this level and they brushed aside Esher in their first match before dispatching Blaydon last week.  As I said at the beginning of the season, they could well be the surprise package this year.

Hartpury College have made a steady start in fourth while Darlington Mowden Park and National Two North champions Hull Ionians find themselves in the top six after solid performances.

Blackheath are seventh and Plymouth Albion are round off the top half. Albion will know that that defeat to Rosslyn Park maybe vital come the end of the season, but they still possess the quality to be promoted this year.

Into the bottom half where we find Esher and Blaydon, but these sides are just a win behind Ampthill. Below them are Fylde who maybe slightly disappointed with their start to this season. They edged out Loughborough Students in the first game of the season before losing to promotion rivals Hartpury last week.

National Two South champions Henley suffered a damaging 62-12 defeat to Rosslyn Park on the opening day of the season, but bounced back with an excellent win away in Darlington last weekend. Richmond are 13^th with Loughborough, Wharfedale and Cinderford below.

National One – Round Three Preview

Round Three sees Coventry and Rosslyn Park face two potentially tough fixtures at home whilst second placed Ampthill travel to bottom side Cinderford.  Loughborough Students and Wharfedale will be searching for their first wins of the season this weekend, but if they do it, it will be away from home.

So, the early pace setters Coventry welcome Hartpury College to Butts Park Arena this Saturday and arguably this will be the first real test the Blues have had this season. Last year, Hartpury won 20-22 at Coventry and they will be hoping to back for a repeat of that after their win over Fylde last week. Coventry did win 21-23 at Hartpury last year and if they are to win this weekend, it will be a real statement made by the league leaders.

Waiting in the wings if Coventry slip-up are Ampthill & District who visit winless Cinderford. The A’s have adapted to life in National One very quickly and with the strength in depth which they possess, they surely must make it three wins from three and leave Cinderford at the foot of the table.

Rossyln Park are the only other side unbeaten and after their narrow win over Plymouth Albion, they will be oozing with confidence when they host Darlington Mowden Park. DMP will have been frustrated with their defeat at home to Henley Hawks last week but aside from that, Darlington have made a good start to this season. It will be a real test of their character against a Rosslyn side who were rampant last time they played at Upper Richmond Road.

Hull Ionians have won their last 16 games at Brantingham Park and they welcome Plymouth Albion to Humberside this weekend. The I’s won their first home game against Hartpury on the opening day, something it took them until early November to achieve on their last visit to that division.  Albion will be disappointed with their defeat to Rosslyn, but this squad is starting to gel after a summer of rebuilding and the quality they possess is something to admire.

The word ‘bouncebackability’ can only describe Henley Hawks’ season so far. After conceding 10 tries at Rosslyn on the opening day they stunned DMP last weekend and now have Blackheath as their visitors. Blackheath, who finished 6^th last season, thumped Cinderford 44-10 last Saturday so with both sides improving, this will be a tight contest.

Esher are back on form after a comfortable 26-46 win away at Wharfedale last week and this Saturday, they entertain Loughborough Students who are playing below-par at the minute.  They are winless and this might be down to the loss of some influential players. Esher are certainly favourites for this encounter.

Like Students, Wharfedale are yet to win this season and have been on the end of two heavy defeats. They travel to Blaydon this weekend who will be looking to build on their home win against Blackheath from the opening day of the season.

The final game of the weekend sees Fylde hosting Richmond with both sides having made a stuttering start to the season.

National One – Round Three Fixtures

Blaydon v Wharfedale
Cinderford v Ampthill & District
Coventry v Hartpury College
Esher v Loughborough Students
Fylde v Richmond
Henley Hawks v Blackheath
Hull Ionians v Plymouth Albion
Rosslyn Park v Darlington Mowden Park