Coventry Rugby pleased with South Wales lessons.
By Tom Little.
August 14 2012
Coventry Rugby return home from last weekend’s pre-season games without a win but pleased overall with the promise and commitment shown in the two games.
Fielding a mixture of 8 debutants or trialists on Friday night against Welsh Championship new boys Tata Steel RFC, Coventry came back in each half with equalising tries from Sam Herrington and Will Maisey. The pack finished strongly encamped in the home half but were unable to get the winning try as it finished as a 12 all draw. Possibly too many players were trying too hard, going for the 50/50 pass instead of keeping possession.
Saturday saw a full bloodied encounter with famous past rivals Welsh Premiership side Newport RFC, finally going down 32-19 after conceding an injury time try. This time fielding 10 debutants in the starting line up and a further 3 amongst the replacements, Coventry had a good first half eventually leading by the 45th minute, helped by a well worked try by Ben Toft and an imperious 100% kicking display by new fly half Cliffie Hodgson. As against Tata Steel, impressive scrum and line out work gave Coventry a chance but some slipshod passing and tackling allowed the home side in for two tries. With Hodgson getting Coventry back to one score behind at 25-19 and looking for the win a careless pass and missed tackles allowed Newport in for the winning try 5 mins into injury time.
Both games saw the new signings settling in well but some careless ball retention and the need to get more bodies into the ruck area especially against Newport cost them dear. The Coventry selectors will certainly have some intriguing choices to make finding the right combinations in the front five and amongst the backs, with still a further 4 backs from last season to play, who were unable to travel to South Wales.
Coventry continue their run of pre-season games back at the BPA this week facing Nuneaton RFC on Friday 17th August, kick off 7.45 pm and on Saturday 18th August, kick off 3pm as they face more Welsh Premiership opposition in Cross Keys.
Tom Little
Coventry Rugby press office
13th August 2012
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Thanks too to JB for his resport on the offy site.
Can I ask John a question, please? If, according to his report, "Newport play in the Welsh Premiership, which the equivalent to the Championship", which Welsh teams play in the equivalent to the English Premiership? Or is my age and mental accuity becoming an insidious issue?
with no promotion or relegation into these sides it is a closed shop. The tier below these teams is the semi-pro Welsh premiership which has just been reduced to 12 sides, as JB says equivalent to our Championship sides.Below that in wales is their Championship league equivalent to our National league 1.
I shall test you all on this in future.
It wouldn't have surprised me if Old Statler had given a put-you-down response to my question. He must be suffering from delayed reaction. Ex-carnivalitis.