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McGlone leads way for dominant Coventry
By Paul Ingleston, The Birmingham Post
February 19 2008
Coventry 29 Plymouth Albion 10. Caretaker coach Dave Addleton is probably thinking of standing down now as it surely cannot get any better than this. Club stalwart Addleton, in his second spell as temporary coach after Brett Davey's resignation last Wednesday, had every right to feel pleased after such a dominant display.

"It was a great win," he said. "Especially to get a double over Plymouth, we haven't done that for quite a while and I am really pleased with the result.

"I am especially happy for the players after such a difficult week that they had to get through and they have really done themselves proud."

From start to finish Coventry controlled this game, albeit taking into account this was the poorest Plymouth side seen in a long while. Plymouth used to have a pack whose game plan was 10-man, stick-it-up-your-jersey game, and very successful it was. Not any more. The Coventry pack, to a man, were more than a match for the visiting eight.

Flanker Darren Clayton's man-of-the-match award by game sponsors Jaguar was deserved for an all-action, rampaging act, but powerhouse No 8 Laurence McGlone also deserves high praise. McGlone's base-of -the scrum power and driving play kept Cov on the front foot throughout.

Addleton agreed. "Laurence was my man of the match today," he said. "He captained the side, he took the ball up, he tackled and everything he needed to do, he did. He was excellent."

In a season that has had more ups and downs than a Blackpool Pleasure Beach ride, Cov took this game because of qualities that have sometimes been lacking: commitment and ball retention.

Clayton's charge down of fly half Brad Davies attempted clearance kick, the ball bouncing back in the goal area, Logon Kirisome claiming the vital touchdown after just 14 seconds. Myles Dorrian converted.

After such an early boost Cov never looked back. Kurt Johnson's 97th league try for Cov on 12 minutes, Johnson showing pure class as he cut inside three defenders coming off his wing to touch down, Dorrian again converting.

Cov repelled a period of sustained Albion pressure, a burst of pick and drives with excellent and solid defence, a Davies penalty on 38 minutes the sole reply.

Cov were slower to start in the second period, only scoring after 51 seconds of the half. Jack Cobden finished off Johnson's attacking verve, the wing this time turned try creator. Dorian's charge down of Ed Lewsey's kick allowed Donavon Sanders to claim the final and fourth try on 73 minutes, minutes after Lewsey had crossed the Cov line and Ross Laidlaw had converted.

Ronnie McLean-Dents converted Sanders try and then iced the cake with an injury time penalty. Replacement McLean-Dents was on after full back Ben Toft's slip and possible damaged knee was Cov's only blight on an otherwise successful afternoon.

Dave Addleton summed up. "Everything went well today," he said. "We've had an indifferent line-out for a bit, the main thing for the line-out we can hit the back ball, and we had a lot of their ball as well, so it went well. On the downside, we picked up a few injuries and we haven't got the biggest squad at the moment, but we have a week off next week, so we'll have a look at it during the week."

Finishing with three scrum halves on the pitch, two as emergency three-quarters, Cov will be hoping for an improving injury list as they hope to build on this prom-ising performance.

COVENTRY: Toft (McLean-Dents, 58) Johnson, Sanders, Kirisome (Slater, 70) Cobden (Jones, 70) Dorrian, Walls, Rimmer, Whitehead (Friswell, 65) Brits (Dugard, 75) Gillanders, Nimmo, Hodge (Venter, 50) Clayton, McGlone (Miller, 80).

PLYMOUTH ALBION: Saumi (Lewis, 50) Lewsey, Cruickshanks (Ritchie, 74) Fisilau, Sestaret, Davies, Cane (Laidlaw, 50) Mathias, Oxley, Zimmerman (Evans, 74) Stewart (Stroud, 66) Hayes, Kettle (Lowrie, 66) Denbee, Bornman. Replacement: Dawe.

Referee: Richard Draper (RFU).

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19 Feb, 2008 18:41 Report
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McGlone leads way for dominant Coventry
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