This coming weekend DMPRFC welcome the players, officials and supporters of our National League One visitors today, Coventry RFC, who make the long journey from their Butts Park Arena HQ for the first time.

Coventry RFC are currently in the bronze medal position in the league, with 19 wins, 1 draw and only 4 losses. They have amassed 95 league points, which includes 13 try bonus points and 4 losing bonus points.

Their top points scorer is fly half/full back Clifford Hodgson and their top try scorer is utility back Dominic Lespierre with 15 tries.

Until recently, Coventry RFC were in the hunt for the promotion, vying with Ealing Trailfinders RFC for the title. However, now some 15 league points adrift from the league leaders, although not mathematically impossible to overhaul them, it looks as though Rosslyn Park RFC will be the only team able to provide any opposition for the top spot with only six games left in the league programme.

In the corresponding home game at Butts Park Arena back in mid November 2014, a clinical first half performance saw Coventry RFC , scoring 4 unanswered tries, paving the way for a victory against DMPRFC who bravely fought back after the break to reduce the arrears and although preventing the home side from any further scoring with tries from Henry ROBINSON and Ralph APPLEBY, DMPRFC were unable to overhaul the deficit, losing 29-17.

Coventry RFC lost their last game before the break last weekend at home Hartpury College RFC (20 – 22) and prior to that away at Esher RFC (20 – 17). Prior to those games, Coventry had remained unbeaten in 16 games, with only one draw in the period from early October 2014, until mid February, which made them promotion candidates until recently.

Nevertheless, they are an excellent side and will provide stern opposition on Saturday for mid-table DMPRFC.

Before the break last weekend, DMPRFC had travelled to the current holders of the gold medal position, Ealing Trailfinders RFC. Tries from wingers Ben RATH and Tom KILL, as well as 2 conversions and a penalty from fly half Grant CONNON were not enough to beat the league leaders, going down 29 – 17, but the lads were by no means overawed by their fully professional counterparts and probably deserved at least a point from the game.

So a tough, physical game is expected at the weekend and with both clubs enjoying the best attendances in the whole of the league, a decent crowd is anticipated.

With finishing as high as possible in the league the emphasis for both clubs, the rugby on show should be ‘full on’, ‘fast and furious’.

Kick-off 3pm.